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The British believe Christmas gatherings should be sacrificed this year in the battle against the coronavirus as a new Sky News poll reveals public support for a tightening of restrictions.
Most of the public say that existing limits on group size, as well as localized restrictions prohibiting visits to other homes, should be maintained during the Christmas period.
Christmas has become a key criterion for the prime minister who promised over the summer that it would mark a “significant return to normalcy.”
More recently, after the start of the second wave, he declared that he wants to save and protect Christmas even though the restrictions could still be in place by next spring.
However, the majority of the public does not agree that Christmas is a priority. A YouGov poll for Sky News found that 59% want current rules to remain in place during the holiday period, compared to 30% who say they should be relaxed.
The findings also show that the public does not believe that the prime minister will be successful in relaxing the measures by Christmas, and 75% of people think the restrictions will remain in place.
The British take a hard-line attitude towards the restrictions, making it clear that they would support tougher measures if coronavirus gets worse.
About 58% support the closure of pubs and restaurants if cases increase, 52% would prohibit visits to other people’s homes where it is still possible, and 50% would support the closure of non-essential shops and businesses.
Even 46% would support a return to lockdown conditions in force in March, with a ban on people leaving their homes except for essential shopping, work and exercise, while 38% oppose this.
There is less support for this among young people, with 47% of 18-24 year olds opposing a return to the more difficult confinement, and only 32% of those over 65.
The survey found that the British believe that life has changed in the long term as a result of the coronavirus.
48% think there will be a ban on large crowds at sporting events for more than six months and 58% think they will wear masks.
However, this comes at a cost.
50% say they are sadder since the coronavirus started and 53% say they are more anxious, while 28% say they are worse off financially. 29% say they now have a worse relationship with their friends.
The YouGov poll also reveals how public trust in politicians and other key figures has changed.
There has been a big drop in confidence in the ministers involved in handling the pandemic. 31% now trust Boris Johnson to handle the coronavirus, up from 51% in April at the height of the lockdown.
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Meanwhile, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is 23% confident, down from 33%.
However, Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, is still 46% confident, representing a four point increase in April, while Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific advisor, is 33% confident, eight points more than in April.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer’s confidence rating has also risen to 33%, up from 25% in April, weeks after he assumed Labor leadership.
YouGov interviewed 1,678 people on October 5-6.
Sky News has a special coverage day to explore how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the country’s mental health.
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