Survey Determines How Indians are Coping With the COVID-19 Pandemic

India has overtaken Brazil, as the second most infected country in the world after US, with close to 4.5 million confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Major cities have witnessed a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, after seeming to have gained a control over the spread of infection. For instance, Delhi, has witnessed daily caseload quadrupling in the last three weeks.

‘Indians are most fearful about transmitting the COVID-19 infection to a near family member or colleague. Many are afraid of being admitted in hospitals and worried about the huge expenses they might incur.’

LocalCircles conducted a survey to understand how the citizens are coping with the extent of the spread of COVID-19, their psychology and fear of the virus. They got over 24,000 responses from people residing in 221 districts across the country.

Questions asked, and their responses are as follows:

1. What is the one thing that people are most afraid of in regards to the pandemic?
• 5% said social alienation
• 29% were afraid about infecting family members or colleagues
• 22% were afraid about being at hospitals
• 8%were afraid of getting severe infection and 6% were afraid of dealing with local officials.
• 17% mentioned other reasons and loss of earnings, family care, lack of information
• 13% said they were not fearful about anything.
2. How COVID-19 has impacted their social network?
• Thirty-one per cent said they knew six or more individuals who had COVID-19 while
• 34% knew around 2-5 individuals who had contracted the disease
• 12% said they knew one individual
• 20% reported knowing no one
• In all, 77% citizens had one or more contacts in their social network who had been infected with COVID-19
3. How many individuals in their social network in the last six months did not get tested despite having symptoms and instead resorted to self-quarantine or treatment at home

• 14% said more than 10 people
• 10% said 6010 people
• 14% said 2-5 people
• 10% said one individual
• Around 52% of the respondents were unsure about it

The results show that Indians were most afraid of infecting family members or colleagues, and being in a hospital. Many were afraid of getting tested due to the fear of getting admitted to hospitals or due to huge treatment expenses.

Source: Medindia