In a new online survey by Ipsos MORI among British adults aged 18-75, taken before Boris Johnson set out the lockdown easing plan, Britons appear generally more comfortable in most aspects of returning to normal life compared to previous lockdowns, including meeting people from other households outside (71%), going to their GP for non-COVID related issues (72%) and shopping in supermarkets and other stores (both 62%).
A majority would be happy to go to the hairdressers in the next month (57%), an increase of 17 percentage points since last June, sending their children to school (55%) and going to their place of work (54%).
When considering seeing friends and family, 7 in 10 are comfortable meeting people outside of their household (71%) while 55% would be happy to stay at a friend’s house overnight, up from 50% when asked in June 2020, a third would be uncomfortable with this (32%). Just over half would be happy for other people to come and work in their home in a month’s time, such as nannies, cleaners or builders (53%), when asked last June only 42% were comfortable with this.
Almost 6 in 10 (58%) would be comfortable taking a holiday in the UK, an increase of 9 percentage points since last November, 30% disagree. However, Britons are much less enthusiastic for holidays abroad, only 3 in 10 (30%) would be happy travelling to another country while 51% would not.
Opinion is split on returning to places of worship, 29% would feel comfortable while 24% disagree. Over 4 in 10 (42%) say they did not do this before the pandemic.
Visiting indoor museums and exhibitions is the most comfortable leisure activity with 50% happy to visit in a month’s time. Britons are split when it comes to going to bars and restaurants, 45% would enjoy this while 44% would feel uncomfortable. However, people are more likely to feel nervous for going to indoor cinemas and theatres (47% vs. 36% comfortable), indoor gyms, pools and leisure centres (46% uncomfortable vs. 31% comfortable) and large public gatherings (56% vs. 25%).
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