People more likely to break the 5km rule to go shopping as fears over the pandemic ease
THE number of people who would “definitely” wear a face mask or covering as a Covid19 precaution dropped to less than one in two in the first week of exiting lockdown.
An internal poll commissioned by the Department of Health also showed that 41pc of people have breached the directive not to travel more than 5km from home.
The findings of a poll of 2,000 people carried out by Amarach research in the week beginning May 18 highlight how many of the population here are still lukewarm about the personal use of face masks or coverings.
Public health experts believe that wearing a mask reduces the amount of droplets scattered from the nose and mouth.
Although there is no definite proof of benefit, the belief is an infected person wearing a mask, including people with the virus who have no symptoms, can reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other people particularly in places like shops where the two-metre physical distance may not be possible.
The poll found that 50pc of people would definitely wear a mask in the week of May 14 but this dropped to 48pc in the first days of easing the lockdown.
Some 36pc would “probably” wear one but 10pc would “probably not” and 3pc would shun them. Overall, just slightly more than one in four say they wear one in public places and support for face masks is highest among the over-55s and women.
Questioned on whether they have travelled beyond the recommended 5km, some 41pc said they had and 47pc ventured beyond the distance in Connaught and Ulster.
More men than women breached the 5km limit and the 35-44 year old group were more likely to travel beyond that point.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said yesterday the 5km limit remained in place and the advice to people was to stay at home while availing of the guidelines permitting groups of up to four to meet outdoors once they were physically distancing.
Asked why they went beyond 5km, some 41pc said it was work-related and 38pc did so for “shopping”.
Another 17pc were exercising and 16pc were visiting relations. Other reasons included food or drink takeaways or visiting friends.
Asked how many people they arranged to meet up with in the first week of the easing of restrictions 50pc said they did not meet anyone while onethird kept it to one or two.
More than one in two who availed of the new freedom met a friend or a family member. Small numbers chose a neighbour or colleague.
Nearly one in 10 believe that most people are not following physical distancing guidelines, but half believe the majority are obeying the two-metre rule.
The poll continues to show a fall in the scale of worry among people about the coronavirus. Out of a scale of one to 10, it is now at 5.6 which is where it was in the first week of March. It peaked at 7.3 at the end of March.