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Healthcare provider poll: 82.5% of Pinoys worried about getting COVID-19 amid lockdown


At least 82.5% percent of Filipinos are very worried about getting infected with COVID-19 even amid the ongoing quarantine measures, while 60% of the workforce are afraid to physically report back to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey conducted by private healthcare firm PhilCare showed.

The poll, conducted among 800 respondents nationwide on May 11 to 14 and again in May 16 to 20 via phone interview, revealed that Filipinos worry the most about getting infected with COVID-19 over the possibility of the second wave of COVID-19 cases (82.3%), health of their loved ones (81.4%), getting sick from diseases other than COVID-19 (75.4%) and hearing about the number of COVID-19 cases (74.4%). 

Likewise, 65.3% of Filipinos worry about their family’s finances. 

Rounding up the top nine worry list of Filipinos are: being prepared if they get infected with COVID-19 (63.5%), where to get food (58.5%) and where to buy medicines (54.8%). 

While the family’s finances rank lower among the Filipinos’ worry list, the poll revealed that a big percentage of respondents, 37%, turned out to be unemployed amid the community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Twenty-four percent, on the other hand, are employed in the services sector, while 11% and 10% account for businesspersons and laborers, respectively. Only 9% were professionals. 

Further, 7% accounted for technicians, while 3% were officials and managers.

PhilCare Wellness Index lead researcher Dr. Fernando Paragas explained that the lower ranking of family finances in the worry list is due to the survival mentality of the Filipinos amid the pandemic. 

“There is a survivalist mindset [at this time]. Instead of worrying about nutrition, they worry about where to get food, or the level of comfort in going to the grocery. Instead of getting surplus investment, they want to maintain the source of income to cover the families’ necessities. Instead of checkups, they worry about going to the drug store [to buy medicines],” Paragas said.

“It is like, what will kill me first? That is why they are so worried about getting sick. The financial concern is still there, but it was further pushed down over the concern of getting infected with COVID-19. Financial concerns did not disappear, but are merely pushed down by more pressing concerns,” Paragas added.

Likewise, Paragas warned that the 37% who are unemployed amid the lockdown policy imposed to prevent COVID-19 transmission should be addressed.

“We were surprised of the high number of those who are not working right now, and there could be more unemployment or underemployment,” Paragas said

“When we asked who among them is earning more amid the lockdown, 60% responded they are not, while only 14% said they are earning the same so there is certainly a decline in the income of our respondents,” Paragas added. 

The government does not require returning workers to undertake a COVID-19 test because its expanded targeted testing protocol only tests those who are symptomatic and those who have exposure to COVID-19.

The Philippines has recorded 14,669 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday. Of this number, 3,412 recovered while 886 have died. —KG, GMA News

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