More than half of Russians afraid of contracting COVID-19 - poll

Over half of Russians are experiencing fear of contracting the coronavirus, the number of those afraid has increased significantly since July 2022, according to the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center.

"In August polls, more than half of Russians (55%) said they were afraid to some extent of catching COVID-19 or that their loved ones would fall ill," the pollsters said. According to the research center, this figure has increased since July of this year by 8%.

The maximum proportion of those who fear was recorded last fall, in October-November 2021 (65% and 64% respectively). It then declined to a low of 44% in March 2022 (down 14% from February’s stats). "Such a clear decrease in the index this spring can be explained both by the change in the agenda, and by the emergence of other issues of concern, and by the general stabilization of the epidemiological situation after the peak of the disease," the pollsters noted.

According to the results of the survey, in August, seven percent of those polled said they were "very afraid" of catching COVID-19 or of their loved ones encountering the disease. From March to July, only 5% of Russians expressed strong fears, this is the minimum for the entire period of polls. In February, the figure was 10%.