Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey

This publication presents results from the monthly Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey, a longitudinal survey which collects information from around 1,500 people. The October 2020 survey was run between 16 October and 26 October 2020 via online forms and telephone interviews.

The October 2020 survey collected information on:

• domestic and international travel intentions
• experience with COVID-19 symptoms and health precautions
• individual and household stressors
• household financial arrangements and payment relief
• early access to superannuation
• participation in selected activities
• job status.

The scope of the survey was persons aged 18 years and over in private dwellings across Australia (excluding very remote areas).

This survey is designed to provide a quick snapshot of the changing social and economic situation for Australian households with particular focus on how they are faring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each cycle collects information on different topics.

From August 2020, the survey introduced a new panel of respondents but kept a similar design to the eight fortnightly surveys conducted 1 April to 10 July 2020. The results for all past publications can be accessed by selecting ‘View all releases’ in the header of this publication.

Some topics have been repeated in both the fortnightly and monthly surveys. Where relevant, comparisons are made based on the weighted representative data for both surveys.

Due to the small sample size and associated high sample errors for this survey, it is not possible to meaningfully compare responses across all states and territories. Where possible, analysis has been conducted comparing estimates for New South Wales, Victoria and the rest of Australia.

Proportions marked with an asterisk (*) have a Margin of Error (MoE) >10 percentage points which should be considered when using this information. For more information about MoEs refer to the publication Methodology.

From 16 October to 26 October 2020, when this survey was conducted, there was an average of 6 new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed daily in New South Wales and 3 average new cases daily in Victoria. Around one in five (19%) of the new cases in New South Wales were from local transmission, while over two in three (69%) of the new cases in Victoria were locally transmitted. Western Australia diagnosed over 30 cases from a cargo ship with all cases from overseas and kept in quarantine. Other states and territories were continuing to have low daily cases (with no higher than four cases and often days with no new cases).

Since the beginning of the pandemic, initiatives in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the economy included:

• ongoing international travel restrictions 
• border control measures for some states and territories
• two economic stimulus packages (12 March and 22 March)
• a safety net package of $1.1 billion to expand mental health and Telehealth services, increase domestic violence services and provide more emergency food relief (29 March)
• stimulus payments including:
  • a Coronavirus Supplement paid fortnightly from 27 April to eligible income support recipients along with their usual payments (to be reduced late September and paid until the end of December)
  • a JobKeeper Payment passed in legislation on 15 April and paid to employers to keep more Australians in jobs and support businesses affected by the COVID-19 restrictions (extended until March 2021)
• various restrictions, including shutting down non-essential services, limits on gatherings and social distancing rules from March
• a guided easing of these restrictions in many states and territories using the National Cabinet agreed three step framework introduced in early May.

At the time of the survey, many states and territories were in the final stage of easing restrictions but progress had slowed in some areas due to the situation in Victoria. The second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria from mid-June 2020 led to stronger restrictions within the state from August, including:

• mandatory face coverings in public
• ‘stay at home’ restrictions and a small number of provisions to leave home for exercise, grocery shopping, and essential work, medical care and caregiving.
• a return to remote learning for schools with onsite access to schools and child care restricted to essential workers with permits
• closing onsite operation of retail, administration and some manufacturing businesses for 6 weeks (with the exception of essential businesses)
• a Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment introduced for people who are required to take 14 days of leave to self-isolate or quarantine at home or care for someone with COVID-19 and who have no income or appropriate leave entitlements.

A roadmap for reopening restrictions in Victoria commenced from 13 September. Most restrictions remained in place at the time of the October survey. New cases in Victoria reduced to a rate which allowed restrictions to ease further from the day after interviews ended.

• Nearly one in two (46%) Australians intend to travel for holidays between November this year and February next year, compared with over three in four (77%) who would normally travel at this time of year.
• Over one in three (36%) Australians had no reason to travel or nowhere they wanted to go at this time. Other reasons for not intending to travel included COVID-19 travel restrictions (44%), concerns about the risk of COVID-19 (30%) and too much uncertainty (23%).
• For those intending to travel within a month of COVID-19 restrictions easing, most are likely to travel within their own state or territory (53% compared with 22% planning to travel to another state or territory and 7% planning to travel overseas).

The survey asked about usual travel patterns as well as intentions to travel for holidays in the coming months. At the time of the survey:

• there was a ban on all travel out of Australia unless an exemption was granted
• travel between states and territories included a range of restrictions and procedures depending on the origin and destination of travel, and the COVID-19 status of different locations
• all states and territories were closed to visitors from Victoria (although some allowed visits with a 14-day quarantine on arrival)
• travel within most states and territories was open with the exception of Victoria which had barriers between metropolitan and regional areas within the State.

Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, over three in four (77%) Australians reported they would usually travel for holidays between the period of November and February.

In October, nearly one in two Australians (46%) intend to travel for holidays between November 2020 to February 2021, 32% reported they do not intend to travel, while 22% were unsure.

Australians aged 18 to 64 years reported a greater intention to travel (48%) than those aged 65 years and over (36%). Both age groups were similarly unsure if they will travel during this period (22%).

For those who did not intend to travel between November and February, the main reasons were:

• COVID-19 travel restrictions would make it too difficult or impossible to travel (44%)
• concerns about the risk of COVID-19 (30%)
• too much uncertainty (23%).

Over one in three (36%) Australians had no reason to travel or nowhere they wanted to go.

Those born overseas who arrived in Australia within the last ten years, were more likely to report that COVID-19 travel restrictions would make travel too difficult (82%* compared with 40% for those born in Australia and 42% for those born overseas who have lived in Australia for over ten years).

Around two in five (41%) Australians reported that travel plans for November 2020 to February 2021 had been changed or cancelled. Of those people, two in three (66%) cancelled plans because of COVID-19 and over one in three (36%) changed plans because of COVID-19.

The survey asked how soon Australians intended to travel after COVID-19 restrictions eased or lifted. 

For those who intended to travel:

• most intended to travel within their state or territory within a month (53%) or six months (20%)
• over one in three (35%) would travel to another state or territory within Australia within six months and around one in five (22%) within a month
• around one in five did not intend to travel overseas (23%) or were unsure of how long they would wait before travelling overseas (19%).

• If they woke up tomorrow with mild symptoms of a respiratory infection, over half (53%) of Australians reported they would definitely get a COVID-19 test and over two in five (45%) would seek health care or advice from a GP or other professional.
• The main reasons people would not get a COVID-19 test if they had mild symptoms of a respiratory infection were if they did not feel the symptoms were related to COVID-19 (61%) and if the symptoms were not serious enough (44%).
• If people woke with more severe respiratory infection symptoms more than four in five (85%) reported they would definitely seek health care or advice or get a COVID-19 test.

In the previous four weeks, one in nine people (11%) experienced symptoms of a respiratory infection (sore throat, cough, fever or aches and pains). For people who experienced symptoms:

• 76% reported their worst symptom was mild
• 16% reported their worst symptom was moderate
• 8% reported their worst symptom was severe.

Two in five (40%*) people with symptoms of a respiratory infection sought health care or advice every time they had symptoms. Similarly, two in five (43%*) people with symptoms of a respiratory infection got a COVID-19 test every time they had symptoms.

The most common reasons reported for not seeking health care or advice from a GP or other professional every time people experienced symptoms were:

• they thought symptoms were unrelated to COVID-19 (62%*)
• they did not feel symptoms were serious enough (57%*).

Reasons for not getting a COVID-19 test every time symptoms were experienced included:

• they thought symptoms were unrelated to COVID-19 (58%*)
• they had not been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19 symptoms (47%*)
• they did not feel symptoms were serious enough (42%*)
• few or no cases of COVID-19 where they live (38%*)
• they were advised by a health care provider that it was not necessary (28%*).

When people were asked about what actions they would take if they woke with mild respiratory infection symptoms tomorrow:

• half (53%) said that they would definitely get a COVID-19 test
• less than half (45%) would definitely seek health care or advice from a GP or other professional. 

People aged 65 and over who woke with mild symptoms were more likely to definitely seek health care or advice from a GP or other professional (57%) than people aged 18 to 64 years (43%).

People born overseas who woke with mild respiratory infection symptoms were more likely to definitely get a COVID-19 test (60%) than people born in Australia (50%).

The most common reasons reported on why Australians may not get a COVID-19 test were:

• if they thought the symptoms were unrelated to COVID-19 (61%)
• if they did not feel the symptoms were serious enough (44%)
• if there were few or no cases of COVID-19 where they live (38%)
• if they had not been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19 symptoms (34%).

If people woke with more severe respiratory infection symptoms:

• more than four in five (85%) reported they would definitely seek health care or advice from a GP or other professional
• more than four in five (85%) reported they would definitely get a COVID-19 test.

People with more severe respiratory infection symptoms in a family household with children (78%) were less likely to definitely get a COVID-19 test than those in family household without children (89%).

• In October, the majority of Australians reported washing hands or using hand sanitiser regularly (96%) and keeping physical distance from people (87%).
• The number of people wearing a facemask has decreased from 60% in September to 54% in October.

In October, almost all (98%) Australians took one or more precautions in the previous week because of the spread of COVID-19. These included:

• washing hands or using hand sanitiser regularly (96%)
• keeping physical distance from people (87%)
• disinfecting surfaces before using them (68%)
• wearing a facemask (54%)
• getting home deliveries (21%).

In October, fewer people wore a facemask (54%) compared with September (60%). The amount of people who reported wearing a facemask increased between June and August mostly due to the mandatory requirements introduced in Victoria. Other selected precautions have remained consistent over time.

Due to the number of daily cases in Victoria, from early August the Victoria Government instituted restrictions including curfews in Melbourne, mandatory facemask wearing and ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions across the state. When the survey was conducted, in Victoria curfews were no longer in place, but there were still business closures, a number of restrictions on leaving home and requirements to stay close to home.

In Victoria, almost all (99%) people reported wearing a facemask in the last week compared with 69% in New South Wales and 14% in the rest of Australia. Compared with September, this was consistent for Victoria (97%*) but decreased for New South Wales (78%) and the rest of Australia (23%).

In October people born in Australia (50%) were less likely to wear a facemask than people born overseas who arrived in Australia in the last ten years (69%*) and people born overseas who arrived in Australia more than ten years ago (62%).

People aged 18 to 64 years (23%) were more likely to get home deliveries as a precaution due to COVID-19 than people aged 65 and over (13%).

People aged 65 years and over (91%) were more likely to keep physical distance from others as a COVID-19 precaution than people aged 18 to 64 years (86%).

• Almost two in five (38%) Australians reported experiencing one or more of the selected personal stressors due to COVID-19 in October compared with one in four (24%) during June.

• Loneliness remained the most commonly reported personal stressor due to COVID-19, with Victorians twice as likely to have felt lonely compared with the rest of Australia (33% compared with 14%).
• Three in five (60%) women in Victoria experienced one or more of the selected personal stressors in October.
• Almost one in five (19%) Australians reported someone in their household had experienced one or more of the selected household stressors in October (compared with 15% in June and 22% in April).

Personal stressors are events or conditions that occur in a person's life that may adversely impact on the health and wellbeing of the individual or their family. Australians were asked about their experience with selected stressors in the previous four weeks in October 2020, June 2020 and April 2020.

The stressors included:

• involuntary loss of a job
• the inability to get a job
• rental, mortgage or financial stress
• problems maintaining a healthy lifestyle
• problems managing current health concerns, mental health or chronic conditions
• relationship difficulties
• loneliness
• problems with smoking.

At the time of the October survey, most states and territories were in later stages of easing restrictions, with the exception of Victoria where strong restrictions were in place after the second wave of COVID-19 emerged from mid-June 2020.

Overall, more Australians reported experiencing one or more personal stressors in the last four weeks due to COVID-19 during October 2020 (38%) compared with June 2020 (24%).

In October 2020, loneliness was still the most commonly reported personal stressor experienced in the last four weeks due to COVID-19. However, twice as many Australians reported experiencing loneliness as a source of personal stress in October compared with June (19% compared with 9%). A similar proportion of people reported experiencing loneliness in April 2020 (22%).

In October, compared with June 2020, more Australians also reported experiencing:

• problems maintaining a healthy lifestyle (16% during October compared with 8% during June)
• problems managing health concerns (11% during October compared with 5% during June)
• relationship difficulties (9% during October compared with 3% during June).

One in two (49%) people in Victoria reported experiencing one or more of the selected personal stressors in October 2020 due to COVID-19 (compared with one in three (34%) in the rest of Australia).

Similarly:

• one in three (33%) people in Victoria reported experiencing loneliness compared with one in seven (14%) in the rest of Australia
• people in Victoria were almost twice as likely as the rest of Australia to report problems maintaining a healthy lifestyle due to COVID-19 (23% compared with 13%)
• around one in six (16%) people in Victoria reported experiencing problems managing health concerns compared with one in ten (10%) in the rest of Australia.

There were large differences in personal stressors experienced between men and women in Victoria compared with the rest of Australia.

• In Victoria, three in five (60%) women experienced one or more personal stressors in October due to COVID-19, compared with almost two in five (38%) men.
• Men and women in the rest of Australia reported similar rates of experiencing one or more personal stressors during October 2020 due to COVID-19 (35% of men and 32% of women).

Compared with women in the rest of Australia, more than twice as many women in Victoria reported experiencing:

• loneliness (42% of women in Victoria compared with 13% of women in the rest of Australia)
• relationship difficulties (13% of women in Victoria compared with 6% of women in the rest of Australia)
• problems managing health concerns (21% of women in Victoria compared with 10% of women in the rest of Australia).

More men in Victoria reported experiencing problems maintaining a healthy lifestyle compared with men in the rest of Australia (23% compared with 11%).

Across Australia:

• two in five (41%) people aged 18 to 64 years reported experiencing one or more personal stressors due to COVID-19 compared with around one in four (26%) aged 65 years and over.

• one in five (21%) people aged 18 to 64 years reported experiencing loneliness compared with one in ten (10%) people aged 65 years and over.
• one in eight (12%) people aged 18 to 64 years reported problems managing their health concerns compared with one in twelve (8%) people aged 65 years and over.

There were large differences by age group between personal stressors experienced by people in Victoria compared with the rest of Australia.

• Twice as many people in Victoria aged 18 to 64 years reported experiencing loneliness compared with those the same age in the rest of Australia (35% in Victoria compared with 15% in the rest of Australia).
• Three times as many people in Victoria aged 65 years and over experienced loneliness compared with people the same age in the rest of Australia (22% compared with 6%).
• One in four (26%) people in Victoria aged 18 to 64 years reported problems maintaining a healthy lifestyle compared with over one in seven (15%) people the same age in the rest of Australia.

The survey also asked people in October whether anyone in their household experienced selected household stressors due to COVID-19 in previous four weeks, including unemployment, or stress related to rent, mortgages or finances. The following data combines results for the personal stressors of individuals with their responses for others in their household.

In October 2020, almost one in five (19%) Australians reported someone in their household had experienced one or more of the selected household stressors. This compares with one in seven (15%) Australians in June, and around one in five (22%) in April. 

Comparing October and June 2020, Australians reported one or more people in their household experiencing:

• problems getting a job (10% in October, up from 6% in June)
• involuntary job loss (3% in both October and June)
• problems paying the mortgage for their home or an investment property (5% in October compared with 2% in June)
• difficulty paying the rent, or a fear of eviction (4% in both October and June).

For those who live in a home owned with a mortgage, those reporting that someone in the household experienced problems paying the mortgage for their home or investment property was higher (11% in October compared with 5% in June).

The survey asked Australians aged 18 years or over whether they or anyone else in their household made changes to their financial arrangements due to COVID-19. These included deferred or reduced mortgage repayments, rental payments, credit card repayments, bill/rate payments or other loan repayments.

In October, one in seven (14%) Australians reported their household made one or more of the selected changes to financial arrangements due to COVID-19.

Due to COVID-19:

• one in seven (14%) people living in a home owned with a mortgage had their mortgage repayment deferred or reduced (includes mortgages on a current dwelling or an investment property)
• one in 13 people (8%) living in a rented home had their rent payment for the dwelling deferred or reduced
• one in 20 Australians (5%) had a bill or rate payment deferred or reduced.

Due to the financial impacts of COVID-19, the Federal Government announced on 22 March that affected individuals would be able to apply for early release of their superannuation.

Respondents who currently have superannuation were asked if they had applied to access some of their superannuation under the special arrangements, whether they had received the money yet, and how they have used or were planning to use the money.

One in eight (12%) Australians with superannuation reported they had applied for early access to their superannuation.

Almost all (97%) who had applied for early access to their superannuation had received the money at the time of interview.

Of Australians who had applied for early access to their superannuation, when asked their main actual or intended use of the money:

• 25%* reported paying household bills
• 23%* reported paying their mortgage/rent.

The survey asked respondents to select all uses and planned uses of the money. Paying household bills (58%*) was the most commonly reported use or planned use, followed by purchasing household supplies, including groceries (49%*).

The following image provides readers with a word cloud, which is a collection of words depicted in different sizes. The bigger and bolder words reflect the more commonly reported uses of the money from early access to superannuation.

• Going shopping one or more times a week was the most common selected activity for Australians in the last four weeks (77%).
• In October, the biggest increase for participation in activities one or more times a week was for visiting bars or restaurants in person (23% compared with 17% in September).

The survey asked people to reflect on how often they participated in selected activities in the last four weeks. The same topic was included in the September survey including a comparison to activities before the COVID-19 restrictions began in March 2020.

The selected activities included:

• working from home (for those with a job)
• using public transport
• visiting bars or restaurants in person
• attending social gatherings of more than 10 people
• eating takeaway food
• visiting a public park or recreation area
• exercising at a gym or playing sport
• going shopping
• going on holiday for two nights or more.

At the time of the survey, many states and territories were in late stages of easing restrictions. The second wave of COVID-19 emerged in Victoria from mid-June 2020 leading to stronger restrictions within the state from August until late October.

In the last four weeks, the activities Australians most often participated in one or more times a week included:

• going shopping (77%)
• eating takeaway food (48%)
• visiting a public park or recreation area (44%).

This was consistent with the activities Australians reported participating in most often in September and prior to COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020:

• going shopping (73% in September and 85% in March)
• eating takeaway food (46% in September and 45% in March)
• visiting a public park or recreation area (39% in September and 52% in March).

The biggest increase for participation in activities one or more times a week from September to October was for:

• visiting bars or restaurants in person (23% in October compared with 17% in September)
• visiting a public park or recreation area (44% in October compared with 39% in September).

At the time of the survey, Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions included ‘stay at home’ requirements. This had an impact on participation in a number of activities. Other states and territories had generally eased restrictions but continued to monitor and respond to clusters with localised restrictions.

For people in Victoria, in the last four weeks participation one or more times a week was most common for the following selected activities:

• going shopping (69% in Victoria, compared with 80% in New South Wales and 81% in the rest of Australia)
• visiting a public park or recreation area (55% in Victoria compared with 41% in New South Wales and 40% in the rest of Australia)
• eating takeaway food (52% in Victoria compared with 44% in New South Wales and 47% in the rest of Australia).

Participation one or more times a week in October for people in Victoria was least common for:

• attending social gatherings of more than 10 people (1% in Victoria compared with 12% in New South Wales and 19% in the rest of Australia)
• using public transport (3%* in Victoria compared with 16% in New South Wales and 10% in the rest of Australia)
• visiting bars or restaurants in person (4% in Victoria compared with 28% in New South Wales and 32% in the rest of Australia).

The survey asked people with a job about how often they worked from home in the last four weeks. In October, two in five (41%) Australians with a job reported working from home one or more times a week in the last four weeks.

In October, people with jobs in Victoria and New South Wales were more likely to work from home one or more times a week in the last four weeks:

• people with a job in Victoria (50%)
• people with a job in New South Wales (44%)
• people with a job in the rest of Australia (34%).

• Australians aged 18 years and over who had a job working paid hours remained stable between mid-September (61%) and mid-October (62%).

The survey collected information on the mid-August job status of all respondents and changes in status when interviewed each month. Comparisons are included to show how the employment status of people has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Respondents were asked simple questions about changes to their job situation, rather than the full suite of employment-related questions included in the ABS’ Labour Force Survey (see the Labour Force Survey questionnaire, available from the Collection method chapter in the Labour force, Australia methodology publication). The results of this survey are, therefore, not directly comparable to Australia’s official Labour Force measures. The Margin of Error (MoE) on these estimates is around six times greater than for Labour Force statistics (the Labour Force Survey sample is around 35 times larger). More information about measuring the labour market impacts of COVID-19 can be found here.

Australians aged 18 years and over who had a job working paid hours remained stable between mid-September (61%) and mid-October (62%). The proportion of people who had a job and were not working paid hours was 7% in mid-September and 6% in mid-October.

The results of the most recent Labour Force Survey, with data in respect of the two weeks from 30 August to 12 September, collected over the three weeks from 6 September to 26 September, can be found using the following link: Labour Force, Australia, September 2020. The October 2020 results will be released 19 November 2020.

The ABS will follow up with the same people in November to undertake the fourth cycle of the monthly Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey. The November cycle will include an additional sample to increase the overall panel of respondents.

The November topics include:

• job status and use of leave from work
• use of stimulus payments
• use of Telehealth services
• care and assistance provided to vulnerable people inside and outside the household
• feelings of emotional and mental wellbeing
• health precautions
• comfort with shopping in person
• perceptions of the future after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information from the November survey will be released in December 2020.

The ABS would like to thank all participants for their involvement in the survey. The information collected is of value to inform government and community responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This release previously used catalogue number 4940.0