Research: Increase in Citizens’ Fear of Coronavirus Infection in June and July

After a continuous decline in fear of infection from March to May, we are witnessing a stable increase in citizens’ fear of coronavirus infection in June and July.

Following a renewed increase in the number of infections, fear of infection rose in June (29.8%), remaining similar (28.0%) in July. These figures are higher compared to 21.7% in May, but fear is still lower than in April (36.6%) and March (46.4%).

The opening of EU borders is considered safer than in June, while half of the citizens believe that Croatian borders should be opened for safe countries, and one-third of citizens think that Croatian borders should remain closed for some time.

Citizens generally consider it unsafe to open borders within the EU for member states at this moment (39.4%), although this percentage is lower than the same concerns in June (47.0%). In July, 44.9% of citizens believe that opening borders for some countries is safe, while for others it is not. Regarding the opening of Croatian borders this summer, about half of the citizens (48.1%) still believe they should be opened, but only for tourists from safe countries. Meanwhile, 28.3% state that borders should remain closed for some time (in June, 27.7% thought so, and in May, 17.4% of citizens).

Unlike in May, when citizens planned to travel to the Croatian coast during their summer vacations equally as last year, in June and July they indicate that they will travel to Croatia less than they did last year.

Results from May show that an equal number of citizens vacationed in Croatia last year and planned this year’s vacation in Croatia. According to this result, citizens did not plan to reduce their trips within Croatia. However, in May (as well as in June), it was shown that citizens are considering reducing travel: a smaller proportion of citizens plans to travel within Croatia for their summer vacation (53.9%) compared to the previous year (61.7%), and the difference is even greater in planned summer vacations abroad this year (5.7%) compared to last tourist season (18.9%).

Satisfaction with the work of the Government and relevant services in combating the coronavirus epidemic continues to decline and is at its lowest since the beginning of the research in March (the average rating fell from just over 4 to a rating below 3), but their work is still considered more positive than the work of European Union institutions as a whole.

In July, the average satisfaction with the current work of the Government, the Minister of Health, and public services in combating the coronavirus epidemic is the lowest compared to all previous research: 2.94 compared to 3.15 in June (and 3.63 in May, 3.75 in April, and 4.02 in March). The work of our relevant authorities is still considered higher compared to the work of European Union institutions (2.76), which was rated the same as in May (2.77). Additionally, the assistance of the European Union in combating the epidemic in Croatia (2.81) is still rated equally or higher than the assistance in repairing earthquake damage (2.61).

Trouble weakens Croatia and the EU, but it also weakens us personally more than it strengthens us.

Citizens believe that after this crisis, Croatia (77.1% compared to 74.2% in June and 66.3% in May) and the European Union (55.1% compared to 56.1% in June and 51.6% in May) will emerge weaker than before. Citizens in July, as in June, show greater pessimism compared to May. On a personal level, 35.4% of citizens believe that after this crisis, they will personally be weaker (compared to 18.2% who believe they will emerge stronger).

Citizens perceive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic equally negatively as in June for all aspects of life.

Forecasting the impact of the epidemic on citizens’ futures in the next year provides information about the anticipated negative impact on financial situations (71.3%), personal lives (60.0%), and employment (50.6%). The results are similar to those in June, and citizens view the impact of the pandemic on these life aspects more negatively compared to the results from May.

Worse aspects of life in Croatia are still anticipated compared to the period before the epidemic. The most highlighted issues remain the increase in public debt (91.8%), the decline of the economy in general (91.9%), consequences for tourism (92.6%), decline in employment (91.9%), and wage levels (83.3%). Citizens still anticipate a negative impact of the pandemic on freedom of movement (79.9%), healthcare (74.8%), and social life (81.7%).

The research was conducted on a nationally representative sample of 400 citizens of Croatia in mid-July 2020.

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