One in two would test if they had mild COVID-19 symptoms

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Released
16/11/2020
Source
Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey, October 2020

Over one in two Australians (53 per cent) would definitely get a COVID-19 test if they woke up with mild symptoms of a respiratory infection, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS Head of Household Surveys, Michelle Marquardt, said the latest Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey, conducted from 16 – 26 October, showed that the likelihood of someone getting a COVID-19 test increased if symptoms were more severe.

“Over four in five Australians (85 per cent) reported they would definitely get a COVID-19 test in these circumstances.”

The most common reasons reported on why people might not get a COVID-19 test were if the symptoms were thought to be unrelated to COVID-19 (61 per cent) or were not serious enough (44 per cent).

The survey also followed up with Australians on their experience of personal stressors due to COVID-19 during the pandemic.

“Almost two in five Australians (38 per cent) reported experiencing one or more personal stressors due to COVID-19 in October compared with one in four (24 per cent) during June,” Ms Marquardt said.

“Loneliness was still the most commonly reported personal stressor due to COVID-19, with Victorians twice as likely to have felt lonely compared with other Australians (33 per cent compared with 14 per cent).”

COVID-19 is also having an impact on plans for holidays between November this year and February next year.

“The survey found nearly one in two Australians (46 per cent) intended to travel for holidays between November and February, compared with around three in four (77 per cent) who would usually travel at this time of year.”

Reasons for not intending to travel included COVID-19 travel restrictions (44 per cent), concerns about the risk of COVID-19 (30 per cent) and too much uncertainty (23 per cent).

“For those intending to travel within a month of COVID-19 restrictions easing, most were likely to travel within their own state or territory - 53 per cent compared with 22 per cent planning to travel to another state or territory and 7 per cent planning to travel overseas.”

The ABS would like to thank the Australian households that contributed to these survey results.

Media notes

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