Brazilians’ Concern with Coronavirus Grows; 77% Believe In Second Wave

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The new increase in the number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths by the coronavirus pandemic in several regions of Brazil has impacted the optimistic trend observed in the perception of Brazilians about the health crisis situation. This is shown in the XP/Ipespe November survey round.

According to the survey, conducted between November 18th and 20th, 77% of respondents believe that Brazil will experience a second wave of Covid-19. Another 19% do not expect this to occur in the country, while 4% did not answer.

For the first time in four months, the group of respondents who believe that the worst of the pandemic is yet to come numerically exceeds those who believe that the worst is over: 47% against 46%. In October, the ratio stood at 64% to 30% for optimists.

According to the survey, 24% say they are not afraid of Covid-19 – the lowest level since July. On the other hand, 37% say they are very afraid of the pandemic, in a nine percentage point rise in a single month. Another 38% say they are somewhat afraid of the disease.

The worsening assessments corroborate investors’ increased concern about economic activity, should there be a contraction in the reopening process, and about the country’s fiscal situation, amid pressure for additional measures to tackle the crisis – in case of a potential further extension of the emergency aid.

Asked when a vaccine against the novel coronavirus will be available to the population, 51% pointed to the first half of 2021. For 25%, this will only happen in the second half of the year, while 4% expect the immunizer this year. The group that does not believe a vaccine will be available has risen from 11% to 15%.

Almost half of the respondents (49%) classify President Jair Bolsonaro‘s performance in tackling the pandemic as bad or terrible, against a positive assessment of 25%. Governors are rated great or good by 34% and bad or terrible by 28% in the management of the crisis.

A total of 1,000 telephone interviews were conducted nationwide between November 18th and 20th. The maximum error margin is 3.2 percentage points plus or minus.

The survey also recorded a negative oscillation, within the error margin with respect to President Jair Bolsonaro’s popularity compared to October. The difference between his positive and negative rating, which stood at eight points last month, has now dropped to three points.

The rate of respondents who assess the current administration as great or good dropped from 39% to 37%, while the group rating it as bad or terrible rose from 31% to 34%.

The highest negative oscillations occurred among male voters (6 percentage points), from the Northeast (7 p.p.) and South (7 p.p.) regions, residents of the capitals (10 p.p.), aged between 35 and 54 years (7 p.p.) and a monthly family income between two and five minimum wages (7 p.p.).

The assessment on the management of the economy in Brazil reflects the unfavorable oscillation: 52% of respondents consider that the economy is on the wrong track, while 35% answered that it is on the right track. The group rating negatively this aspect of the government climbed 5 points in relation to October.

Source: InfoMoney