55% Pakistanis believe COVID-19 threat is exaggerated: Gallup survey

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: A new survey by Gallup Pakistan has found that nearly 55% Pakistanis believe that the COVID-19 threat is exaggerated.

The Coronavirus Attitude Tracker Survey by Gallup Pakistan is about changes in public perception, attitude and behaviour since the beginning of the lockdown in Pakistan; public response and behaviour towards coronavirus initiatives and preventive measures; and the overall changes and impact of the lockdown on the daily lives of ordinary Pakistanis and businesses.


Nearly 55% of Pakistanis believe that the coronavirus threat is exaggerated.

The survey found that 57% of respondents and those from Sindh (65%) are most likely to agree that the threat of coronavirus is exaggerated. Respondents from Pakistan are fourth most likely to believe that the COVID-19 threat is exaggerated. Those from Japan (12%) are least likely to say the same.

The survey findings show that public opinion is split over the COVID-19 pandemic has been brought under control; 47% agree, while 48% disagree — 33% strongly disagree.


67% Pakistanis believe the federal government has been successful in controlling the coronavirus situation in the country.

Every one in five Pakistani (22%) said that someone from within his/her social circle has contracted the coronavirus. In comparison, only 6% Indians reported the same.

Another finding of the survey was that 12% Pakistanis claim to know someone in their social circle who died after contracting the coronavirus. One-third of Pakistanis are sceptical about the number of COVID-19 cases being reported by the government. Since April, a hefty 15% decline in the proportion of Pakistanis has been witnessed who opine that the federal government of Pakistan is controlling the coronavirus situation very well — now 67% agree, while 28% disagree.


55% of Pakistanis believe the number of cases reported by the government are correct.

After a significant decline in early April (29%), nearly two in three Pakistanis (65%) now report a male family member visiting the mosque for Jumma prayer. Respondents from Balochistan (91%) are most likely to say that a male family member offered Friday prayers in a mosque. 42% from Sindh report otherwise.

The survey found that three-fourth Pakistanis report that a male member of their household offered Eid prayers in a mosque this year. One in four Pakistanis claim that their household spending increased this Eid-ul-Fitr as compared to last year.

About 74% of Pakistanis say that they will send their children to school if they re-open. Urban respondents (30%) and females (28%) are most likely to say they will not be sending their children to school if they re-open. The survey found that three in five (59%) Pakistanis are hopeful that life in Pakistan will return to normal by the end of the year.

About 74% of Pakistanis say that they will send their children to school if they re-open.

Public opinion split over further opening up of businesses across the country by relaxing the lockdown with 47% supporting it and 48% against it. The highest proportion of respondents from Sindh (83%) and respondents aged below 30 support further opening up of businesses across the country due to ease in lockdown.


Public opinion is split over further opening up of businesses across Pakistan by relaxing the lockdown with 47% supporting it and 48% against it.

The survey findings show that a significant majority (88%) of Pakistanis claim that their household income has decreased since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan. Since April, 900,000 more households now claim to have reduced the number or size of meals for some family members to cover their household's basic needs. Nearly 1 in 4 Pakistanis (22%).


88% of Pakistanis say their household income has decreased since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan.

Nearly 22 million adults say they have borrowed food or asked for help from a friend or relative in the past 7 days to cover their household’s basic needs. As many as 2.1 million households now claim to have sold some assets in the past 7 days to cover their basic household needs, the survey found.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/294273-55-pakistanis-believe-covid-19-threat-is-exaggerated-gallup-survey

 

[MenInG]

This is how Pakistanis feel. No amount of political change will help.

 

[Bewal Express]

Some "ignorant and stupid" person will blame the govt, but there is deep and underlying mistrust of any official advice. As I have said many times on here, educate, educate and keep educating. But ultimately, people have to own their decisions.

 

[topspin]

Some "ignorant and stupid" person will blame the govt, but there is deep and underlying mistrust of any official advice. As I have said many times on here, educate, educate and keep educating. But ultimately, people have to own their decisions.

If you can't trust the people then you have to ramp up the restrictions and keep in control of the clerics. However, the government have done the opposite in easing restrictions. Incompetence and spineless are two words that come to mind.

 

[Bewal Express]

If you can't trust the people then you have to ramp up the restrictions and keep in control of the clerics. However, the government have done the opposite in easing restrictions. Incompetence and spineless are two words that come to mind.

For a start the number of deaths in PK is relatively small. Can you compare the number of deaths daily relative to the deaths from Covid.

The govt has done what every govt has done in the world and eased restrictions to get the economy. Unless you want to feed 200mn people or have found a novel way to beat the virus and get the economy going, you need to ease restrictions. He opened Mosques, not night clubs, so stop this hate for religion as

 

[Bewal Express]

If you can't trust the people then you have to ramp up the restrictions and keep in control of the clerics. However, the government have done the opposite in easing restrictions. Incompetence and spineless are two words that come to mind.

Btw the Sindh kept the lockdown in theory, can you compare the 2 sets of figures so we can make an informed decision.

 

[King-Misbah]

If you can't trust the people then you have to ramp up the restrictions and keep in control of the clerics. However, the government have done the opposite in easing restrictions. Incompetence and spineless are two words that come to mind.

You need to start being practical, simple fact is that Pakistan can not afford an extensive lockdown.

 

[pakistani pride]

You need to start being practical, simple fact is that Pakistan can not afford an extensive lockdown.

This and the number of deaths on Pak is really low.

 

[Bewal Express]

Every death is tragedy for the families involved but the critics have no ideas as to how to open the economy and keep people safe, when many of those same people dont believe in the threat or accept any advice.

 

[topspin]

For a start the number of deaths in PK is relatively small. Can you compare the number of deaths daily relative to the deaths from Covid.

The govt has done what every govt has done in the world and eased restrictions to get the economy. Unless you want to feed 200mn people or have found a novel way to beat the virus and get the economy going, you need to ease restrictions. He opened Mosques, not night clubs, so stop this hate for religion as

I'm not interested in the stats when everyone knows the numbers reported are not a true reflection of the current number of cases and death toll.

So asking the government to keep the clerics in check by ensuring they do not take laws into their own hands is "hate for religion"???

 

[Jin Chacha]

Easy to blame the common man but those in positions of power also hold similar beliefs and have been consistently downplaying the threat.

Lets be honest, the survey results would have been the same if they had exclusively surveyed parliamentarians and ministers irrespective of which political party they belonged to.

 

[topspin]

You need to start being practical, simple fact is that Pakistan can not afford an extensive lockdown.

No one is asking for a complete lockdown at present because I agree the economical consequences would do harm than good. However, common sense should prevail even if it means angering the religious clerics. The way PTI have bowed to their demands, such as the way mosques were re-opened in the latter half of Ramadhan epitomises the incompetence and the spineless leadership of PTI.

 

[Bewal Express]

I'm not interested in the stats when everyone knows the numbers reported are not a true reflection of the current number of cases and death toll.

So asking the government to keep the clerics in check by ensuring they do not take laws into their own hands is "hate for religion"???

So if you are not interested in stats, then what makes you think you are right. Can you share anything at all except hot air? Its a pandemic, people will die and have died. You avoided any question on how you can open the economy, keep people safe when most people dont see the pandemic as a problem.

 

[sjahmed23]

That's kinda everywhere in the world tbh not just Pakistan. The only people who took this seriously were the Asians because their people are disciplined and obidient.

 

[Syed1]

Pakistan has one of the lowest death rates in the world. In terms of total cases Pakistan is number 13th while our total deaths are at number 21. Our death rate is even lower if you think about how our testing isn't as widespread as the developed world and half the people who developed corona symptoms didn't even bother getting tested and just managed at home.


The English speaking elite class of DHAs, Cliftons, Model Towns, Bahria Towns etc keep barking about lockdown but the silent majority cannot afford to sit at home and just watch Netflix as these elites are hoping for. The solutions of the west cannot be applied on Pakistan. Humsaya mulk tried strict lockdown how did that pan out for them? They will add the highest number of people to poverty in the world while their daily new cases have kept on accelerating. So my advice to the burger class would be to check their privilege before barking 'incompetent and spineless'.


Also as per latest Gallup survey 67% of Pakistanis believe the government has handled the crisis well. This is down from 82% previously but still 2/3 of Pakistanis are in favour of government's decision of easing lockdowns as they simply cannot afford to sit at home. Elite class kahan samjhay gi.

Hakumat ko galliyan dehnay se pehlay yeh bhi dekh lien


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">7 day moving average of infection ratio has dropped to a 24 day low<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronavirus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19Pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19Pakistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/oOC15U5dR6">pic.twitter.com/oOC15U5dR6</a></p>— Ismail Iqbal Securities (@iispl_sec) <a href="https://twitter.com/iispl_sec/status/1274616445608042496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[topspin]

So if you are not interested in stats, then what makes you think you are right. Can you share anything at all except hot air? Its a pandemic, people will die and have died. You avoided any question on how you can open the economy, keep people safe when most people dont see the pandemic as a problem.

Banning mass gatherings (for e.g. in places of worship) would be a sensible start. Before we go there it would be nice to see PTI to stop spreading ridiculous misinformation, as Zartaj Gul did recently, when she came up with her very own novel definition of Covid-19.

 

[Syed1]

Banning mass gatherings (for e.g. in places of worship) would be a sensible start. Before we go there it would be nice to see PTI to stop spreading ridiculous misinformation, as Zartaj Gul did recently, when she came up with her very own novel definition of Covid-19.

She is not the minister for health, she is a junior minister in the climate change ministry. She made a stupid mistake and apologized for it. She shouldn't even be talking about it since its not her domain. However, you are even more stupid for listening to her regarding advice on the corona virus when the PM, health minister Dr Zafar Mirza, and focal person on corona Dr Faisal Sultan hold a press conference on a near daily basis.


Don't blame others for you being ignorant.

 

[Bewal Express]

Banning mass gatherings (for e.g. in places of worship) would be a sensible start. Before we go there it would be nice to see PTI to stop spreading ridiculous misinformation, as Zartaj Gul did recently, when she came up with her very own novel definition of Covid-19.

Lets go with your argument that we ban people reading namaz in Masjids, and i am for that but they did that in Sindh and the figures are much higher, how do you explain that. As far as Zartaj Gul goes, she is in a long line of politicians that is ill informed but the main message of IK since February has been that people need to take it seriously and that hasnt changed, but when you are looking to score some points then its easier to use some idiotic statements then listen to the main message, which is that people need to be aware how serious this is. So back to my question, how do you open the economy, keep people that dont believe that they are in danger, safe?

 

[topspin]

She is not the minister for health, she is a junior minister in the climate change ministry. She made a stupid mistake and apologized for it. She shouldn't even be talking about it since its not her domain. However, you are even more stupid for listening to her regarding advice on the corona virus when the PM, health minister Dr Zafar Mirza, and focal person on corona Dr Faisal Sultan hold a press conference on a near daily basis.


Don't blame others for you being ignorant.

I don't listen to her advice, I just see all the memes on Twitter. So your name calling is misplaced here. It is individuals from the PTI government who are stupid are ignorant.

 

[Bewal Express]

I don't listen to her advice, I just see all the memes on Twitter. So your name calling is misplaced here. It is individuals from the PTI government who are stupid are ignorant.

So have gone from incompetence and spineless, to using Zartaj Gul as your main evidence.

 

[topspin]

Lets go with your argument that we ban people reading namaz in Masjids, and i am for that but they did that in Sindh and the figures are much higher, how do you explain that. As far as Zartaj Gul goes, she is in a long line of politicians that is ill informed but the main message of IK since February has been that people need to take it seriously and that hasnt changed, but when you are looking to score some points then its easier to use some idiotic statements then listen to the main message, which is that people need to be aware how serious this is. So back to my question, how do you open the economy, keep people that dont believe that they are in danger, safe?

I agree there is a lot of people who are naive and don't think they are at risk of catching the disease or dying from it, so face masks should be made compulsory in order to control the outbreak.

With the economy, there is needs to be a strategic plan on gradually easing the restrictions of non-essential services such as entertainment and other industries etc.

There needs to be a proper contact tracing system in place as well. Areas with larger crowds such as shopping malls could do with the resources required to carry out tests.

 

[Syed1]

So have gone from incompetence and spineless, to using Zartaj Gul as your main evidence.

Not only that "memes on social media" are being used to decide if a government is "incompetent and spineless"

 

[Bewal Express]

I agree there is a lot of people who are naive and don't think they are at risk of catching the disease or dying from it, so face masks should be made compulsory in order to control the outbreak.

With the economy, there is needs to be a strategic plan on gradually easing the restrictions of non-essential services such as entertainment and other industries etc.

There needs to be a proper contact tracing system in place as well. Areas with larger crowds such as shopping malls could do with the resources required to carry out tests.

I don't disagree with what you say. I would do it in all enclosed spaces, including Masjid, public transport, shops etc.