Following the previous survey released on September 28 that showed 85 percent of Filipinos “are worried” about acquiring COVID-19, the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey bared that majority of Filipinos are still practicing safety measures amid the threat posed by the pandemic.
The SWS reported that 79 percent of adult Filipinos “always use a face mask” when going outside, 67 percent “always wash their hands several times” daily, 60 percent always maintain a one-meter distance, and 56 percent “always use a face shield” when in public transportation or public establishments.
It added that the proportion of those always wearing face masks “rose slightly” to 79 percent from the 76 percent in July while washing of hands moved to 67 percent from the 65 percent. For physical distancing, a one-percent increase was recorded from the 59 percent figure in the said month.
The highest incidence of constantly wearing face mask is now in Visayas at 86 percent, followed by Mindanao and Metro Manila at 78 percent and 77 percent, respectively. However, the figure in Metro Manila dropped by 13 points from the 90 percent in July.
The Visayas still topped the hand-washing figure at 75 percent, followed by Mindanao at 69 percent, Balance Luzon at 64 percent, and Metro Manila at 63 percent or 10 points down from the previous 73 percent.
SWS added that the proportion of those who constantly keep physical distancing is “highest in the Visayas at 66 percent.” Metro Manila at 65 percent, Mindanao at 60 percent, and Balance Luzon at 56 percent followed the list.
The survey was conducted from September 17 to 20 among 1,249 adult Filipinos around the country through mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). – PTV News Online
