ABS poll shows that fewer Australians are taking precautions against Covid, despite the fact that the number of new cases is reaching global highs

According to a new survey, fewer Australians are taking precautions against the spread of Covid-19, despite the fact that new infections are reaching global highs.

As of Saturday, Australia was leading in New Zealand, Germany, Italy, France, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada in the number of new daily Covid cases per capita, according to global databases.

More Australians reported that household members returned positive tests for Covid in April, according to the latest Covid-19 ABS study, published Tuesday.

Despite the rise, as of April, Australians were less likely to take precautions against Covid than in February.

A survey conducted in April found that 62 percent of households took the Covid test four weeks before the survey, up from 46 percent in March 2022.

In families where someone took the test, 23% said one or more family members tested positive in April, up from 14% in March.

But only 78 per cent of Australians in April reported wearing masks last week, up from 98 per cent in February.

Ninety-two percent washed their hands or regularly used disinfectants the week before the survey, up from 95 percent in February.

Fewer people also physically distanced themselves from others: 75% continued the practice compared to 85% in February, said ABS household head David Zago.

Although the disease is less deadly than at the beginning of the pandemic, due to high levels of vaccination, depletion may be the reason why we were less careful, – scientific writer Jane McCready. wrote in the Medical Journal of Australia’s Insight newsletter on Monday.

“After two years on high alert, immersing ourselves in and out of isolation, looking at every stranger’s cough, cleaning our hands as if tomorrow won’t, we just don’t have the strength,” Ms. McCrady said.

However, the silence during the federal election campaign on the biggest test for the country’s health care system has become “a very obvious elephant in the room”.

“By the end of December 2021, just over 400,000 Australians had contracted the disease, and the total now exceeds 6.45 million,” Ms McCready said.

“At a time when Australia is battling for first place in the list of countries with the highest number of new Covid cases per capita, we have virtually stopped talking about the biggest challenge our health care system has ever faced.”

An ABS poll found that Australians are more likely to use public transport at least once a week compared to February.

But workers continued to avoid offices: in April, almost twice as many worked at home once or several times a week.

46 percent worked at home, compared to 24 percent before the introduction of the Covid restrictions in March 2020.

Participation in sporting and social events has not yet returned to the level before Covid.

In April, compared to March 2020, compared to March 2020, fewer people (29 percent) went to the gym or played sports, compared to 38 percent.

They were also less likely to attend public meetings: in April 2022, they were 20 percent, compared to 27 percent by March 2020.

The ABS survey of 2,094 adults was conducted from April 19 to 28.