Coronavirus: 40% of Brits still don't feel safe meeting someone not in their household

A large portion of Brits still don’t feel safe when meeting someone from another household over fears about coronavirus, according to a new survey.

The poll, published by the Office for National Statistics as part of their weekly Lifestyle and Opinions survey, seeks to measure the impact of COVID-19 on the habits of people, households and communities across the UK.

New data - formed from the responses of 1,224 people surveyed between 28 -31 May 2020 - comes as restrictions are gradually eased in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - with all four nations’ rules for meeting friends and family differing from each other.

In England, groups of six people from different households are allowed to meet outdoors, providing social distancing is maintained inline with government advice.

But the latest survey on day-to-day life during the pandemic showed 40% of respondents across the UK still felt unsafe meeting people from outside their own households.

Around 6 in 10 adults (60%) in Britain felt safe when meeting with someone outside of their household outdoors.

Feelings of safety also varied between the different types of activities based outside of the home.

Around 46.5% of people said they felt comfortable when taking part in outdoor leisure activities - but only 1 in 3 (36%) said they felt safe when visiting garden centres.

In the last seven days, almost 9 in 10 adults (87%) said they had enough information about how to protect themselves from the coronavirus (COVID-19) - a steady increase from the 79% recorded last week.

And 3 in 10 adults (28%) reported that they had used face coverings outside of their home in the past week, a similar proportion to last week (29%).

It follows an ONS survey released at the end of May, which showed fewer Brits were worrying about the general impact of coronavirus on society.

The survey, covering the period from 21 May to 24 May, 67% of people said they were very or somewhat worried about the effect that COVID-19 was having on their life.

Data revealed a 5% drop from the same survey conducted a week before, which showed 72% were worried about coronavirus’ impact.

It also showed how 6 out of 10 adults said the thing that worried them most during the crisis was a lack of freedom and independence.

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