COVID concerns remain despite no cases

HELEN KEMPTON

MORE than 60 per cent of Tasmanians are still strictly adhering to social distancing, the latest EMRS survey shows, while 36 per cent say they practise the health advice “most of the time.”

The survey also shows one in 10 hospitality workers fears catching COVID-19 from customers or surfaces.

The survey, commissioned by Federal Group, was conducted on July 4-6 and is the third since the pandemic hit in March. As of July 14, Tasmania had recorded 61 days without a new case of COVID-19 and 33 days without an active case in the state.

The survey also shows Tasmanians are worried about the impact of the pandemic on the job prospects of young people, the impact on local businesses and the wider state economy.

Fourteen per cent of those surveyed were also very concerned about their finances and how their family would survive.

Federal Group executive general manager Daniel Hanna said the survey results demonstrated that although the Victorian outbreak had slightly increased the concerns of Tasmanians, especially among those in the hospitality sector, people remained confident about the way the crisis was being managed.

“The primary concerns of Tasmanians when it comes to COVID-19 is the impact on jobs, local businesses and the Tasmanian economy,” Dr Hanna said. “The net concern remains very high for these three factors jobs, local businesses and the local economy.

“As the pandemic has been brought under control quickly in Tasmania, and we appreciate the advantages of being an island, concern has fast shifted away from personal issues to how we can make sure our people can keep jobs and that we create enough job opportunities in the future.

“These concerns are particularly keenly felt in tourism and hospitality.

“When asked about how Tasmania might best recover from the pandemic and restrictions, it was clear they support additional investment and support in these sectors whose businesses were shut for many months.”