COVID fatigue and initial Post-Lockdown Survey results
How bored, fatigued or generally past the whole COVID ‘thing’ are you? Not too fed up to read this, I hope.
The pandemic which has defined our past two years is far from over, but the worst may (and I repeat may) have passed.
This article contains some results from our recent survey of FiftyUp members on these matters. We didn’t get a great response in terms of numbers (maybe that’s another example of COVID fatigue…), but the answers so far are fascinating.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY - IT’S STILL LIVE
Can you go a whole day without mentioning the C-word?
It might be easy enough - unless you rule out the use of synonyms such as virus, pandemic etc.
But going a single hour with reading or hearing the term is hard as its fallout engulfs most aspects of our lives.
On balance, the responses to the survey indicate a resignation to COVID, indicating an adaptation and acceptance of our new circumstances.
Of those who answered, more than 40% lived in NSW and about 22% each in Vic and Qld. Almost 70% of respondents were aged between 60 and 79, with 20% clocking in at 50-59.
When asked if they’d taken a financial hit because of the lockdowns, 42% said none, 23% not much, and 30% said yes.
Interestingly, especially after the Glasgow climate conference, when asked to weigh up the balance of concerns over climate change and COVID, the virus won hands down.
In assessing the personal future impact of both, 44% thought COVID would affect them more and just 12% said climate change, although 35% reported both.
One-third of respondents said the pandemic had permanently changed their retirement plans, with the same number saying ‘not yet’. One fifth reported ‘not much.’
When asked what they’d be doing in the ‘new normal,’ the top choices were; shopping in stores, dining/theatre, and travelling within Australia. Travelling outside Australia came last.
In terms of ‘safety’ 44% reported they felt safe while 25% stated ‘not safe’. When asked about their states and territories response to the crisis, 53% thought it was ‘just right’ and 24% ‘too much’.
For the record, the most intriguing answer was the battle of potential impact between the two big C’s of COVID and climate change.
While a third of respondents had a bob each way by saying both would impact them equally almost four times as many people believed COVID would be more significant than climate.
The facts are that five million are dead so far because of the virus. According to Reuters, the cost of global net-zero emissions is $US 1-2 trillion each year in additional investments.
So in personal and global terms, which do you think is more likely to change the world?
Any information contained in this communication is general advice, it does not take into account your individual circumstances, objectives, financial situation or needs.
