Eighty percent of adult Filipinos now believe that the worst of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is over, the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Friday, Jan. 7, showed.
The nationwide survey conducted from Dec. 12 to 16, 2021, with 1,440 respondents found that those hopeful "the worst is behind us" with the COVID-19 crisis rose from 38 percent in September 2021 to a record-high 80 percent in December 2021.
This surpassed the previous record of 69 percent in November 2020, SWS said.
SWS pointed out that the December 2021 percentage of those saying the worst of COVID-19 is over reached record-highs in all areas--83 percent in Mindanao, 82 percent in Metro Manila, 81 percent in Balance Luzon, and 75 percent in the Visayas.
"Compared to September 2021, those saying 'the worst is behind us' rose by 47 points from 34 percent in Balance Luzon, by 45 points from 37 percent in Metro Manila, by 39 points from 36 percent in the Visayas, and by 34 points from 49 percent in Mindanao," it said.
"Conversely, those fearing 'the worst is yet to come' fell sharply from 60 percent in September 2021 to 19 percent in December 2021. This is the lowest since the 31 percent in November 2020," it added.
Those fearing the "worst is yet to come" is higher in the Visayas (24 percent) than in Metro Manila (18 percent), Balance Luzon (17 percent), and Mindanao (17 percent).
"Compared to September 2021, those saying 'the worst is yet to come' fell by 48 points from 65 percent in Balance Luzon, by 43 points from 61 percent in Metro Manila, by 38 points from 62 percent in the Visayas, and by 32 points from 49 percent in Mindanao," SWS said.
Worry about catching COVID-19 eases
The December 2021 survey also found 88 percent a great deal/somewhat worried (72 percent a great deal worried, 16 percent somewhat worried) and 12mpercent a little worried/not worried (5 percent a little worried, 7 percent not worried) that anyone in their immediate family might catch COVID-19.
SWS said that the latest percentage of those a great deal or somewhat worried about catching COVID-19 was three points below the 91 percent--76 percent a great deal worried and 15 percent somewhat worried--in September 2021.
"The percentage of those a great deal/somewhat worried about catching COVID-19 is highest in the Visayas (94 percent), followed by Mindanao (91 percent), Metro Manila (87 percent), and Balance Luzon (84 percent).