Coronavirus confusion: Half of British people remain unclear on government advice on how to tackle the crisis as infections soar to more than 1,500
- 28 per cent said advice was fairly unclear and 21 per cent said it is very unclear
- However 47 per cent say it has been fairly (37 per cent) or very (10 per cent) clear
- Boris Johnson’s press conference today seemed to contain some contradictions
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Half of British people still remain unclear on government advice on how to tackle the coronavirus crisis, according to a new poll.
The poll by YouGov Daily revealed that half of Brits – 49 per cent – say that the government advice on the matter has been fairly (28 per cent) or very (21 per cent) unclear.
However 47 per cent say it has been fairly (37 per cent) or very (10 per cent) clear.
It comes as Boris Johnson’s coronavirus press conference today seemed to contain some contradictions.
For example people have been told to avoid pubs and clubs but mass gatherings have not yet been banned.
A man wears a ventilator mask and rubber gloves as he waits for a friend at Euston Station in London today
Today the Prime Minister said mass gatherings are something ‘we are now moving emphatically away from’, as he urged the country to stop all ‘non-essential’ contact with others
Today the Prime Minister said mass gatherings are something ‘we are now moving emphatically away from’, as he urged the country to stop all ‘non-essential’ contact with others.
Mr Johnson said people should avoid pubs, clubs and theatres, stop all non-essential contact and travel, and work from home if they can.
The PM set out the need for ‘drastic action’ to tackle the ‘fast growth’ of coronavirus across the UK as increased social distancing measures are introduced for the population.
Yesterday the Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that those aged over 70 will soon be asked to stay at home for up to four months to protect themselves from coronavirus.
The streets of Manchester’s usually bustling suburb of Deansgate were bare today, as coronavirus fears continue to grip the UK as its crisis continues to deepen
The same poll showed that 61% of Brits support this decision being made while 30 per cent oppose it.
Support among those aged 65+ is the lowest (47 per cent) and a comfortable majority of all other ages groups support the decision.
Experts have also advised that people should find alternatives to shaking hands but 45 per cent of Brits have said that they would still shake a hand if it was offered to them. 37% say they would not.
There have been 1,543 positive tests for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am today, up from 1,372 yesterday. The death toll has risen to 55 after the first fatality in Wales.
Today the PM also announced that entire households should self-isolate for two weeks if one person has been showing symptoms, and older people should prepare to stay away from risks for months to come.
In a special plea to the capital, Mr Johnson said people there were at the highest risk. ‘It looks as though London is now a few weeks ahead… it’s important that Londoners now pay special attention to what we are saying about avoiding all non-essential contact.’