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It is now possible for the corona virus to spread regionally in an uncontrolled manner, RKI chief Lothar Wieler said at a news conference Thursday. The Robert Koch Institute had previously recorded 10,000 new infections in one day and thus exceeded a magic limit for many. Wieler once again appealed to the population to adhere to hygiene standards.
This has worked relatively well so far, shows the latest survey of researchers led by psychologist Cornelia Betsch of the University of Erfurt. More recently, the majority of respondents in Germany stated that they wear a mask at least often when appropriate. At 93 percent, the value is higher than ever since the start of the assessment. Most people stick to the other preventive measures too, but there aren’t as many as in spring.
86 percent maintain a distance of 1.5 meters at least often. In May it was above 90 percent. Furthermore, people in Germany apparently find it increasingly difficult to restrict their social contacts.
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Private celebrations remained taboo for about 90 percent of those surveyed in spring, and recently only about two-thirds of people (60 percent) avoided them at least frequently, although many of the festivities are likely to have been took place indoors in mid-October. According to the RKI, private meetings are among the most common contagion scenarios.
“Nearly 45 percent of those surveyed have attended private meetings with more than ten people at least once in the past four weeks,” write Betsch and her colleagues. Particularly explosive: in private meetings, according to the evaluation, people show less protective behavior than in other situations, such as when they meet colleagues.
This apparently also applies to stays in bars and pubs compared to visits to restaurants and cafes. An average of three in ten people (30 percent) went to bars or pubs at least once in the four weeks prior to the survey.
Lower trust value in the federal government
At Covid-19 Snapshot Monitoring (Cosmo), Betsch and her colleagues regularly question a representative sample of the population of around a thousand people, how they perceive the risks of the pandemic, how they protect themselves, and how great is the acceptance of the measures.
The last evaluation is from 13./14. October, roughly from the time that people became infected with the coronavirus, whose infections are now being recorded by the RKI and statistics are increasing (read more about the delays in recording infections here).
“Trust in the federal government has reached the lowest value since the survey began,” the researchers write. Anger at the measures and their rejection has increased significantly since the previous assessment.
According to this, 37 percent of those surveyed have (rather) little confidence in the government. This is the highest value since the time series began in early April. “Confidence has declined, especially in the large group of indifferent people,” the researchers said.
Among other things, disputes between federal states are likely contributing to this, most recently also with a view to banning accommodation: only 41 percent agreed with the measure. At the same time, three-quarters of respondents in Germany would like the same rules for risk areas.
People perceive the situation as less risky
People’s exposure has also increased significantly compared to the previous assessment, “especially among younger people under 30, people over 65, and people in risk areas,” the researchers write. According to the evaluation, 45 percent of those surveyed perceive their personal situation as stressful. However, according to the researchers, individual financial concerns are currently “quite stable and low.”
At the same time, people still do not perceive the situation in the study as as risky as it was at the height of the first wave. 38 percent rate the perceived risk, experts speak of affective risk as (quite) high. Between March 17 and March 31 it was roughly half. At 41 percent, there are currently a large number of undecided people. It remains to be seen how they will be expressed in the next poll.
“Affective risk is relevant to protective behavior and acceptance of measures. The increasing number of cases brought a brief increase in perceived risk in August, then habituation was established again,” write Betsch and colleagues. The numbers have risen again.
This is particularly true for the under-30 age group: “The affective risk assessment is as high as that of those over 30,” the researchers write. “So, at least in terms of risk perception, one cannot speak of a ‘new phenomenon’ of neglect among those under 30 years old.”
Appeals against fear are not recommended
It is noteworthy that the acceptance of restrictions has developed up to now depending on the number of cases. The more new infections there were, the greater the acceptance of the legal requirements. Recently, however, the aspects have become uncoupled.
“Acceptance of the restriction of liberty rights is stable at a medium level,” said Betsch and her colleagues. However, the approval of more restrictive measures did not increase in the most recent survey. More recently, 19 percent of those surveyed considered the measures excessive. The last time it was that high was in early June. About half of the people are undecided.
Researchers primarily see men and youth as “target groups for potential interventions.” Knowledge must be imparted between them. However, at the same time, the emotional aspects are also important, since they “activate the behavior”.
“In this case, however, we discourage fear appeals that aim to trigger fear, as these are more likely to lead to counter-reactions,” said Betsch and her colleagues. Instead, target groups should be included in the development of measures. “An appeal for consideration could also promote protective behavior in the Covid 19 pandemic.”
