Gallup survey: 60 percent people feel confident government is handling coronavirus well

Islamabad: According to a Gallup International Snap Poll conducted in March 2020, 3 in 5 (60 per cent) Pakistanis feel confident that coronavirus is being handled well by the government whereas 62 per cent feel that the threat from coronavirus is exaggerated. Only 1 in 3 (35 per cent) see the virus as a real threat.

As governments come up with solutions such as lockdowns, social distancing and isolation wards, Pakistan ranks lower than the global average in terms of confidence in the government’s measures. Out of 28 countries, Pakistan ranks 17th in ranking according to confidence in government handling of coronavirus.

For this survey, a nationally representative sample of adult men and women from across the four provinces was asked the question, “How strongly do you agree or disagree that the government is handling the coronavirus well?” In response to this question, 60 per cent Pakistanis were confident that the government is handling coronavirus well while 37 per cent said that they believe that coronavirus is not being handled well by the government. Over 2 per cent did not know or did not wish to respond.

Globally, 62 per cent agreed that their government is handling coronavirus well while 32 per cent feel that their government is not handling coronavirus well. Austria and India show highest levels of confidence in their government while Japan and Thailand express the lowest levels of confidence in the fact that their government is handling Coronavirus well.

Comparing Pakistan’s figure with the global average figure, Pakistan ranks higher than 10 countries in terms of confidence that their government is handling the coronavirus outbreak well and lower than 16 countries, ranking 17th of 28 countries.

In India, 83 per cent feel that the government is handling the virus outbreak well while 13 per cent feel that the situation is not being handled well. In Afghanistan, 63 per cent agreed that the coronavirus is being handled well by their government while 33 per cent disagreed.

For the second question regarding Corona as a real threat, a nationally representative sample of adult men and women from across the four provinces was asked, “Do you agree or disagree that the threat from the coronavirus is exaggerated?” In response to this question, 62 per cent Pakistanis claimed the threat is exaggerated while 35 per cent believed that the threat of the virus is not exaggerated.

Globally, 49 per cent felt that the threat from the coronavirus is being exaggerated while 46 per cent feel that there is no exaggeration in the threat from coronavirus. Comparing Pakistan’s figure with the global average figure, Pakistan ranks higher than 23 countries in terms of belief that the threat from coronavirus is exaggerated and lower than 4 countries. Pakistan ranks 5th highest out of 28 countries in terms of countries that believe that the threat is exaggerated. 73 per cent of the people in both North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina agree that the threat is exaggerated with Austria and France ranking lowest in the belief that the threat of coronavirus is exaggerated. In India, 51 per cent felt that the threat is exaggerated while 43 per cent disagree. In Afghanistan, 59 per cent agree that the threat from coronavirus is exaggerated while 38 per cent disagree.

A majority of people express worries for themselves and their loved ones in relation to the Coronavirus. About three-quarters say they are even ready to sacrifice some of their human rights if that helps. Most nations stand behind their governments in this battle. At the same time, however, almost half of the respondents agree that the coronavirus threat may be exaggerated.

People around the world do not know what to expect in the weeks to come – bad or good – bad prospects seem a bit clearer. They do not know either if the spread of this virus is a deliberate affair, but they seem to believe it is not. Meanwhile, they take action.

This is the result of the unique snap poll held by the world’s leading Gallup International Association in the context of Covid-19 situation, which involved almost than 25,000 people in 28 countries around the world.

These included the United States, Russia and India, some of the most affected countries – Italy, Republic of Korea, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, etc., as well as many other countries on different continents. Polling in the countries mentioned was completed on March 26.