Report “Even low news users say they are willing to take preventive measures against COVID-19”

The report examines associations between people’s news use and trust in government information, and their self-reported willingness to take a number of preventive measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic in the UK based on a survey fielded from 4 to 10 June 2020. Among its highlights:

• a large share of the UK population, across demographic differences (political, news use, trust in government), say they would be willing to take preventive measures, including self-isolate following test and trace, take an antibody test, a coronavirus test, and a coronavirus vaccine if/when offered
• news use and trust in government are not the only factors that will influence people’s willingness to take preventative measures, socio-demographic factors will matter too

The report is the fifth in a series of ten Factsheets included in the UK COVID-19 news and information project that analyses how the British public navigates information and misinformation about coronavirus and about how the government and other institutions are responding to the pandemic.