89% of Pinoys worried about catching COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly nine in 10 Filipino adults are worried about catching COVID-19 even as almost half of them think the worst of the pandemic is yet to come, according to the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The poll, taken from April 28 to May 2, found 89 percent of adult Filipinos worried and 11 percent “a little/not worried” that anyone in their immediate family might catch the virus.

The poll used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults, 18 years old and above, nationwide.

The percentage of those worried about catching COVID-19 was highest in the Visayas at 92 percent. Mindanao followed with 90 percent; balance Luzon, 88 percent and Metro Manila, 85 percent.

SWS said fear of catching the disease was high across education levels: 81 percent among non-elementary graduates, 88 percent among elementary graduates and 91 percent both among college graduates and junior high school graduates.

Meanwhile, the May 2021 survey also found a worsening outlook on the COVID-19 crisis as those fearing “the worst is yet to come” with the pandemic rose to 49 percent from 31 percent in November 2020.

This was the highest since the 57 percent in July 2020, the pollster said.

On the other hand, those saying “the worst is behind us” fell from 69 percent in November 2020 to 50 percent in May.

Those who say “the worst is yet to come” increased in all areas, especially in Metro Manila, SWS said.

The percentage of those fearing “the worst is yet to come” with the crisis was highest in balance Luzon (54 percent from 31 percent), followed by Metro Manila, (50 percent from 22 percent), the Visayas (49 percent from 32 percent) and Mindanao (38 percent from 35 percent).

On the other hand, those saying “the worst is behind us” were highest in Mindanao at 62 percent, followed by the Visayas (51 percent), Metro Manila (49 percent) and balance Luzon (45 percent).

By education, those saying “the worst is yet to come” were highest among college graduates (56 percent), followed by junior high school graduates (49 percent), elementary graduates (49 percent) and non-elementary graduates (40 percent).