64% of Filipinos always observe social distancing amid COVID-19 pandemic —SWS survey

At least 64% of Filipinos always observe social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll showed on Monday. 

The SWS survey, conducted during May 4 to 10 thru mobile phone poll with 4,010 respondents aged 15 and above, also showed that 19% of Filipinos observe social distancing most of the time, while 9% sometimes observe physical distancing.

The same poll showed that 6% of Filipinos rarely practice social distancing and 0.5% never observed it. 

Social distancing has been required by authorities since the number of COVID-19 cases spiked in March. This is because the novel coronavirus is transmitted through respiratory droplets.

The highest observance of social distancing was seen in Visayas at 69%, followed by National Capital Region at 67% and Mindanao at 64%. 

The lowest observance of social distancing was recorded in Balance Luzon at 60%. 

Likewise, the observance of social distancing is higher in general community quarantine areas at 65% as opposed to places under enhanced community quarantine. 

Since May 16, a percentage of employees (50% for ECQ and 75% for GCQ) have been allowed to physically report back to work. Mass transport, however, remains prohibited in ECQ areas in observance of social distancing protocols.

Face masks, handwashing

The same survey shows that there is a higher percentage of Filipinos who always use face mask at 77%. It also shows that only 15% use face mask most of the time, 4% sometimes and 2% rarely. Only 0.3% said they never wore a face mask.

Likewise, 68% responded that they always wash their hands, while 27% said they wash their hands most of the time. Only 4% said they wash their hands sometimes while 1% said they rarely wash their hands.

The margin of error used in the SWS poll is ±2% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, ±2 for Balanced Luzon, ±3% Visayas, and ±3% in Mindanao). —KG/KBK, GMA News