Coronavirus: Britons would strongly back second lockdown if COVID-19 cases spike, poll reveals

Britons would strongly back a second lockdown if coronavirus cases spike, according to a new poll for Sky News which reveals the country's ongoing caution over the pandemic.Â

As most of the nation prepares to lift the lockdown in the coming weeks, starting with England on Saturday, more than eight in 10 people (83%) said they would back another shutdown if there is a second spike.

Almost eight in 10 (78%) said they would self-isolate for 14 days if asked by an NHS test and trace official, while 69% said they would even follow an instruction to self-isolate from a smartphone app.

This suggests that people want to be seen to comply with the rules even after almost four months of restrictions in place affecting everyone's lives.

The poll reveals broadly similar attitudes to lockdown rules among older age groups and the young, suggesting the demographic clash - which some senior Tories worried about early on in the pandemic - has not materialised.

Six per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds said they would oppose a second lockdown, compared with 4% of those polled who were 65 and over.

The poll also reveals how nervous people remain about socialising and relaxing in lots of settings which are just about to open up.

A total of 70% of people surveyed said they would be nervous about going to the pub, which open in England on Saturday.

The same proportion (70%) would not go to the cinema, while 71% would not go on public transport and 73% said they are not comfortable going on a foreign holiday.

Meanwhile, 60% would not go to shopping centres and restaurants.

By contrast, people are comfortable going to one another's gardens, with just 12% saying they would be uncomfortable doing that.

Women are more cautious than men, with the gap most pronounced in attitudes towards pubs.

Some 18% of women said they will be comfortable going to a pub, compared with 32% of men.

Reopening of pubs are a point of contention among the public.

At least half of the public backed the government's decision to reopen schools, non-essential shops, hairdressers and hotels.

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However reopening pubs was only backed by 35% of the population, suggesting disquiet at the prospect of people struggling to socially distance indoors under the influence of alcohol.

Almost half the population (48%) said they have been more anxious as a result of the pandemic, while 44% said they have been sadder as a consequence.

YouGov interviewed 1,610 British adults on 29 June and 30 June.

:: Easing the Lockdown: Ask Sky News

On Friday afternoon at 4pm Sky News will host an hour-long programme, presented by Jayne Secker, taking questions from Sky News consumers.

There will be a panel of experts in science, medicine and business, plus contributions from Sky correspondents.

If you have a question you would like to put to the panel, please email it to news@sky.com, along with your name