COVID-19 Community Tracking in Singapore, Wave 1

COVID19 Community Tracking Singapore How Are Singaporeans Responding to the Crisis?

Updated 24 April 2020

About The Tracking The data included in this tracking report comes from nine surveys conducted since Jan 2020.

Below is a list of the surveys, field dates and respective sample sizes.

Survey Name

Data collected

Sample size

YouKnowANot (YKA) Jan-20

13-20 Jan

n=1,000

YouKnowANot (YKA) Feb-20

10-14 Feb

n=1,000

COVID-19 Asia

14-17 Feb

n=300

Budget 2020

19-20 Feb

n=750

YouKnowANot (YKA) Mar-20

9-19 Mar

n=1,000

Resilience Budget

27-29 Mar

n=779

World in Crisis (SG included in 23 country study)

6-7 Apr

n=300

Solidarity Budget

7-8 Apr

n=775

13-16 Apr

n=500

YouKnowANot (YKA) Apr-20 Wave 1

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COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore

Blackbox will be updating the tracking on a weekly basis until the Circuit Breaker is lifted.

Fieldwork will be conducted on Monday-Tuesday every week.

Sampling Information This surveys included in this tracking report were all conducted online, using a geographically stratified sample to ensure representative demographic coverage of the population.

Our methodology also applies quota controls and is representative of the permanent adult Singapore population (citizen/PR), based on age, gender, ethnicity, housing type and region.

Blackbox has been conducting monthly studies of adult Singaporeans since 2015 using the same sampling methodology which is regularly adjusted to accounted for demographic changes in the population.

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COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore

About Blackbox Research Blackbox Research is Singapore’s leading homegrown and fully independent social research agency. We specialise in data content and provide research and affiliated dataplus communications services for business, governments and non-governmental organisation clients across Asia.

In Singapore, Blackbox Research is recognised as the ‘go-to’ agency for community and policy insights, and enjoys a strong reputation as a reliable provider of insights on current issues and topics impacting societies across Southeast Asia. Visit www.blackbox.com.sg for further information.

If you wish to access more detailed information contained in this report or would like to add questions to our weekly studies, please contact chris@blackbox.com.sg

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COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore

Key Tracking Data

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Is Singapore Heading in the Right Direction?

Comment: Singaporeans still positive country is on the right track despite the impact of COVID19

YKA Jan-20 13-20 Jan

75%

25%

YKA Feb-20 10-14 Feb

Budget 2020 19-20 Feb

YKA Mar-20 9-19 Mar

79%

80%

79%

21%

20%

21%

Right Track

6

Resilience Budget 27-29 Mar

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

85%

83%

80%

15%

17%

20%

Wrong Track

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore gs1. Generally speaking, do you feel that things in Singapore are heading in the right direction or would you say things are seriously heading in the wrong direction?

Economic Sentiment Comment: More than half of all Singaporeans expect 2020 to be worse compared to 2019. A rise in optimism since the Solidarity Budget but most Singaporeans still think 2020 will be a tough year.

Budget 2020 19-20 Feb

Resilience Budget 27-29 Mar

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

26% 29%

45%

18%

17%

18%

19%

64%

64%

Same

Better

Worse

(Demographic breaks available on request) 7

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore gs2. Economically, do you expect 2020 is going to be better or worse for you personally, or about the same as 2019

YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

23% 25%

52%

How Are Singaporeans Feeling?

Comment: Uncertainty and anxiety remain high but have improved since the circuit breaker came into effect

Latest YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

World in Crisis 6-7 Apr

8

48%

41%

37%

33%

28%

Uncertain

Anxious

Scared

Frustrated

Sad

58%

51%

47%

43%

38%

Uncertain

Anxious

Scared

Sad

Frustrated

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro1 Which of the following would you use to describe your own current mood as we progress through the current coronavirus crisis?

COVID19: Impact on Day to Day Life in SG Comment: Nearly 2 in 5 Singaporeans say their life has been upturned by the crisis. This is growing.

Resilience Budget 27-29 Mar

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

26%

32%

39%

52%

52%

46%

18%

14%

4%

2%

13% 2%

Considerable change

9

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro2 How much has the coronavirus impacted your day to day life in recent weeks?

Complete change

Small change

No change

How Day to Day Life Has Changed Comment: More than 1 in 2 Singaporeans are only going out for essential purposes; more are watching more movies and TV Latest YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

Resilience Budget 27-29 Mar

60%

48%

43%

36%

36%

I’ve stopped going out socially and only go out for essential purposes

I’ve been watching more movies/TV

I’ve stopped all outdoor activities (exercise, eating out, etc.)

I’ve bought additional food and daily essentials in case the coronavirus situation worsens

I’m feeling a higher level of anxiety than usual

60%

42%

38%

37%

32%

I’ve stopped going out socially and only go out for essential purposes

I’ve been watching more movies/TV

I’ve stopped all outdoor activities (exercise, eating out, etc.)

I’ve bought additional food and daily essentials in case the coronavirus situation worsens

I’m feeling a higher level of anxiety than usual

52%

37%

37%

37%

30%

I’ve stopped going out socially and only go out for essential purposes

I’ve been watching more movies/TV

I’ve bought additional food and daily essentials in case the coronavirus situation worsens

I’m feeling a higher level of anxiety than usual

I’ve stopped all outdoor activities (exercise, eating out, etc.)

(Demographic breaks available on request) 10

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro3 Which of the following have you personally experienced during the current coronavirus crisis?

Anticipated Infection Trends in Singapore Comment: Singaporeans still expect the daily number of new coronavirus cases to increase in next two weeks.

Resilience Budget 27-29 Mar

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

35%

38%

34%

32%

30%

18%

22%

20%

8%

9%

2%

3%

42%

4% 2%

Increase a little

11

Increase a lot

Stabilise

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro4 In your opinion, over the next two weeks do you think the daily number of new coronavirus cases in Singapore will:

Decrease a little

Decrease a lot

Will I Get Infected?

Comment: Despite expecting higher case numbers, Singaporeans think they are not likely to catch the virus

Resilience Budget 27-29 Mar

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr 1%

11%

9% 23%

32%

36%

22%

52%

52%

51%

16%

12%

15%

Quite Likely

12

25%

11%

Very Likely

I've contracted the virus already

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro5 How likely do you think it is that you will catch the coronavirus in the next six months?

Not very Likely

Not likely at all

33%

How Are Singaporeans Coping With the Circuit Breaker?

Comment: Singaporeans are generally coping well with the Circuit Breaker measures

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

19%

20% 81%

62%

60%

17%

18%

3%

2% Quite well

13

80%

Very well

Not very well

Not well at all

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro6 The Government has now imposed what it calls circuit breaker measures. This means strict restrictions until May 4. Generally, how well are you coping during the circuit breaker (lockdown) period?

How Are Singaporeans Coping With the Circuit Breaker?

Comment: Singaporeans are generally coping well with the Circuit Breaker measures so far

Top 5 Circuit Breaker measures Singaporeans feel they are coping very/quite well with

Latest YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

85%

83%

81%

80%

79%

Most bank branches will be shut but you can still withdraw money from ATMs

Public swimming pools and community recreational facilities will be closed

Government recommends everyone stays at home except when you need to go out and shop or buy medical supplies

Outdoor exercise allowed but only at a safe distance from others

Singaporeans will not be allowed to have staycations at hotels

85%

84%

84%

83%

83%

Most bank branches will be shut but you can still withdraw money from ATMs

Public swimming pools and community recreational facilities will be closed

Outdoor exercise allowed but only at a safe distance from others

Government recommends everyone stays at home except when you need to go out and shop or buy medical supplies

Singaporeans will not be allowed to have staycations at hotels

(Demographic breaks available on request)

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COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro07 Here is a list of measures that have been imposed during the circuit breaker (lockdown) period. Please indicate how well are you coping with each.

How Are Singaporeans Coping With the Circuit Breaker?

Comment: Singaporeans are generally coping well with the Circuit Breaker measures so far

Bottom 5 Circuit Breaker measures: Coping levels dipped amongst bottom five in the last week

Latest YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

77%

77%

74%

72%

69%

All schools will be shut and kids will have to do homebased learning

No social gatherings of any size

No tuition or enrichment classes for kids

No dining out at F&B/restaurant outlets

Limit social contact to immediate family members

80%

79%

76%

76%

70%

All places of worship like churches and mosques will be closed

Work from home for all employees except those working in essential services

No dining out at F&B/restaurant outlets

No social gatherings of any size

Limit social contact to immediate family members

(Demographic breaks available on request)

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COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro07 Here is a list of measures that have been imposed during the circuit breaker (lockdown) period. Please indicate how well are you coping with each.

Government Performance Metrics Comment: Government performance ratings remain high despite escalation in number of COVID cases during April Performance Metric % who rated Excellent (top box) Keeping the public informed with accurate information about the virus

29%

Efforts to reduce the spread of fake news and misinformation about the virus

24%

Efforts to reduce public panic

Putting in place action plans to reduce the risk of the virus spreading Monitoring people’s temperature when entering public buildings Advising employers on how to minimize workplace health risks during the current outbreak Minimizing the risk of people bringing the virus from another country

16

COVID-19 Asia 14-17 Feb

Resilience Budget 27-29 Mar

38% 27%

23%

World in Crisis 6-7 Apr

24%

19%

19%

Solidarity Budget 7-8 Apr

YKA Apr-20 13-16 Apr

30% 34% 25%

28%

24%

26%

30%

25%

26%

23%

23%

21%

23%

COVID19 Community Tracker Singapore coro08 When it comes to the coronavirus, how good a job is the Government doing in each of the following areas:

17%

24%

23%

13%

26%

26%

15%

24%

26%

17%

24%

24%

31%

25%

29% 23%

Average

24%

23%

23%

22%

22%

+65 6323 1351 Blackbox Research is a Singapore based data content specialist. We provide research and affiliated data and communications services for business, government and NGO clients across Asia.

enquiries@blackbox.com.sg www.blackbox.com.sg