EMCS, an Advisory and Market Research firm, conducted a 6th research study, for the Times of Malta, through telephone interviews on locals’ perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19.
The research study was carried out between Tuesday 18th August and Friday 21th August 2020. In total 388 individuals aged 18 and over were interviewed, with data being representative of the local population in terms of gender, age (18 and over) and location of residence with a margin of error of +/- 5% at 95% confidence interval.
The general public is of the opinion that the government is handling the economic situation caused by COVID-19 in Malta well. On the other hand, locals’ positive perceptions as to how the government is handling the health situation caused by COVID-19 in Malta decreased considerably over the three-month period since the last survey. Today, only a total of 40% are positive/ extremely positive with the way the government is handling the health situation caused by COVID-19 in Malta as opposed to 83% in May.
Perceptions on Government’s handling of the economic situation
With 62% responses, the general public is of the opinion that the government is handling the economic situation caused by COVID-19 in Malta well, with 31% expressing positive views and another 31% felt extremely positive.
A review of responses with the previous studies indicates that over the three-month period since the last survey was conducted, peoples’ positive perceptions in the way government is handling the economic situation declined by 11%.
Furthermore, those having negative views almost doubled (7% in May, 13% now).
Perceptions on Government’s handling of the health situation
With only a total of 40% positive responses the general public is, overall, not content with the way that the government is handling the health situation caused by COVID-19 in Malta (21% expressing positive views and 19% feel extremely positive).
The survey shows that those having a positive view of the way the government is handling the health situation caused by COVID-19 in Malta, has halved since the last survey (83% in May, 40% now).
A total of 27% expressed negative views (15% expressing negative views and 12% extremely negative views).
