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Latest BfR-Corona-Monitor: population limits its leisure behaviour less

34/2021, 26.07.2021

Survey on risk perception describes how the population currently deals with the risks of the novel coronavirus

After almost one and a half years of the pandemic, measures to protect oneself against an infection have become an integral part of everyday life for many people. For example, in the latest BfR-Corona-Monitor conducted by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), 96 percent of respondents say they continue to wear a mask. Also, 75 percent continue to pay attention to keeping their distance from other people. "The vast majority of respondents continue to rate both the mandatory distance and the quarantine measures as appropriate," says BfR-President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "However, the number of those who state that they leave their homes less frequently has noticeably declined in recent weeks and is currently at 40 percent. Only 54 percent meet with friends and family less often."

The trend towards more contact and increasing activities that take place outside the home is not associated with an increased perception of safety. According to the current survey, although more and more people are fully vaccinated, only 53 percent of the respondents still feel confident or very confident that they can protect themselves from an infection with the coronavirus. In early June, when infection numbers were falling steadily, the figure was at 62 percent.

The acceptance of measures aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus remains high despite the rising vaccination rate: for example, the vast majority of the respondents rate the mandatory distance (88 percent) and quarantine measures (88 percent) as appropriate - with only minor differences between age groups. However, differences can be seen when it comes to contact restrictions: 59 percent of the 40- to 59-year-olds consider the contact restrictions to be appropriate, while 66 percent in the 14- to 39-year-old group think so. The fact that events are still being cancelled is acceptable to 78 percent of the respondents.

The BfR has published FAQs on the topic of coronavirus:

About the BfR-Corona-Monitor

The BfR-Corona-Monitor is a recurring (multi-wave) representative survey on the risk perception of the population in Germany towards the novel coronavirus. Every week between 24 March and 26 May 2020, around 500 randomly selected people were asked by telephone about their assessment of the risk of infection and their protective measures, among other things. Since June 2020, the survey is continued every two weeks with about 1,000 respondents each. A summary of the data is regularly published on the homepage of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. More information about the method and sample can be found in publications about the BfR-Corona-Monitor.

About the BfR

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. It advises the German federal government and German federal states ("Laender") on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfR conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.

This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.

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