According to a nationwide poll done in the US, the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a lack of public honesty and compliance.
A little more than 40% of the 1,733 adults who responded to the survey admitted to disobeying quarantine regulations or lying about the precautions they were taking to stop the spread of viruses.
A quarter of respondents misled a person they were with or wanted to be with by saying that they were taking greater precautions than they actually were to prevent getting SARS-CoV-2.
In the meantime, 22.5 percent admitted to flouting quarantine regulations, and 21% resisted getting tested for COVID-19 despite having a suspicion they might.
Twenty percent of respondents to the poll admitted to not disclosing whether they knew or believed they had any medical conditions when they went into a doctor’s office.
The virus was on them.
For their dishonesty and non-compliance, respondents provided a variety of explanations.
Some people desired a “normal” sense to their life. Others wanted to exercise their independence or thought it was private to disclose personal details about their health.
Numerous people claimed they were acting on advice from a prominent figure they respected, whether it was a politician, scientist, newscaster, or celebrity.
Many respondents acknowledged lying about their immunization status when vaccine requirements were later implemented in many states and corporations.
The following were cited as justifications: “I didn’t believe COVID-19 was genuine,” “I didn’t believe COVID-19 was a major concern,” “I didn’t want someone to judge or think poorly of me,” and “I needed to be able to attend college classes.”
“Some people would believe if they
Once or twice lying about their COVID-19 status is not a huge concern, according to population health expert Angela Fagerlin from the University of Utah.
But if, as our data indicates, almost half of us engage in it, that poses a serious issue that prolongs the pandemic.
The survey’s objective was to determine where the US may have erred in its handling of COVID-19, and one of the writers, Alistair Thorpe, admits in a video that goes along with the report that there are systemic elements that affect public dishonesty and noncompliance.
