This week, the UK has entered coronavirus “lockdown” with stricter rules about leaving the house.
Almost 600 people in Britain have died of Covid-19, with 11,600 confirmed cases.
Life is changing fast for everyone – and on Wednesday night, polling by JL Partners for ITV’s Peston provided the latest snapshot of how the nation is coping.
But how do Londoners feel? And how are our views changing? Here are five takeaways from the latest survey in the capital.
1. Londoners are a lot more worried about coronavirus this week
As deaths rise and lockdown measures intensify, Londoners – like the rest of the country – are getting more concerned about Covid-19.
A total of 56% are now very worried about their own health, up from 43% a week ago.
Almost three quarters are very anxious about their family, up from two thirds.
And 70% are very worried about the health of the country as a whole – last week, that figure was 61%.
2. We’re more worried about the economics than the rest of the country
There’s anxiety about the financial impact of coronavirus across the UK – but Londoners are particularly concerned: 78% of us are very worried, compared to 73% elsewhere.
Half are worried about their own finances, compared to 46% of people in Britain as a whole.
And that’s a big jump in the capital – last week, just 38% were very anxious about their incomes, and 62% about the economy.
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3. More stockpiling in the capital – but most people are following the rules
A huge 42% of Londoners admit to stock-piling food – compared to just a third of the country as a whole.
But most people in the capital have listened to the Government: 80% are avoiding public transport, 86% are won’t go to crowded places, 89% have stopped meeting friends, and 92% are washing their hands more often.
4. Londoners back the lockdown – but we’re less supportive
Coronavirus restrictions may be hard, but most people in the city back it – 71% agree that the country needs full lockdown now.
Some 83% of Londoners think non-essential shops should be closed, and 56% back closing parks.
But we are behind the UK average, where 76% back lockdown, 87% want shops closed, and 61% want parks to shut.
And while 67 % of Londoners are happy with army or police enforcement, a huge 75% of the UK as a whole back that action.
5. We are more optimistic about the long-term
Almost two thirds of Londoners now think coronavirus will affect their lives for at least a year – but that is down from 85% last week.
And there is the same pattern of rising optimism about the impact on our personal finances.
More than half thought the economy would suffer for at least a year last week, but now that’s down to just less than a third.
We are even more hopeful about our holidays – only 60% think we will be affected for a year or more, down from more than three quarters.
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