Fourth wave of surveys in November 2020
Results of the 4th survey wave from 5.-16. November 2020
According to the COVID-19 study, 65 percent of Germans support the current lockdown policy of the corona pandemic: the population is cautiously optimistic about the next few months.
Even if many people in Germany are concerned about the country's economic situation, the majority support the current measures and are rather optimistic about their own financial and social situation for the coming six months. This is shown by the latest results of a representative study conducted by the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) at the University of Hamburg, which also asked about Christmas with the family and the willingness to be vaccinated.
"The new evaluations show that 64 percent of all respondents (65 percent in Germany) are behind the current lockdown measures," says Prof. Dr. Jonas Schreyögg, scientific director of the HCHE. 46 percent of those surveyed can even imagine that life in the next few months will be as it was before the corona pandemic. The people in this country judge the further economic development best, but 51 percent still express concerns. The personal financial situation of most citizens in Germany has hardly changed during the pandemic. According to their own statements, it remained constant for 72 percent over the past six months, and for five percent it has even improved. However, 17 percent expect a deterioration in the next six months. There are a little less in Denmark and the Netherlands. The French and Italians, on the other hand, estimate their own financial situation to be significantly worse in the near future.
The current contact restrictions are also perceived as less drastic in Germany than in other countries. Around 60 percent expect to have sufficient social contacts in the coming months as well. That is almost ten percentage points more than across all of the countries surveyed. The population in Portugal and Italy suffer most from these restrictions. Together with France, very few people in these three countries are optimistic about being able to celebrate Christmas with the family. There are almost twice as many in Denmark at 66 percent. At least every second person in Germany says this. For the coming months, most people are preparing to stay at home. Overall, only 23 percent can imagine traveling in the next six months, in Germany the figure is slightly higher at 26 percent, on par with Great Britain and France. People in Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy are less willing to travel.
In terms of vaccination readiness, the downward trend observed since April could be stopped. As in September, it is now 57 percent. “After the willingness to vaccinate has continuously decreased since the beginning of the pandemic, the values have stabilized for the first time, albeit at a low level. Whether herd immunity in the population can be achieved in this way remains uncertain, ”says Prof. Dr. Jonas Schreyögg. For example, the values in Denmark and Great Britain are significantly higher at 71 and 69 percent. The willingness to vaccinate also varies considerably within Germany: the northern federal states with 63 percent are well ahead of the western and southern countries with 57 and 55 percent and the east (52 percent). The most common reason given to get vaccinated is to protect yourself and family members from infection. Only in third place is the desire to get rid of the current corona restrictions with a vaccination. Those who are unsure or against vaccination are most likely to report concern about possible side effects.