66% Of Japanese Anxious About Future Pandemics

Fully 55% of Japanese said that their lives "changed" compared to before the coronavirus pandemic, and 66% felt anxious about future pandemics, a recent nationwide public opinion poll revealed, Takahiro Hirata reported for Mainichi Shimbun.

On a question about the possibility of another global pandemic in the future, 66% said they felt anxiety, and 13% did not.

The Mainichi Shimbun and Saitama University's Social Survey Research Center jointly conducted the opinion survey on current issues, from mid-October to early December 2023.

When those who answered their lives had "changed" were asked exactly how, with multiple answers allowed, 59% (or 32% of all respondents) chose, "I have fewer opportunities to meet people," and 57% (31% of all respondents) said "I go out less often," while 24% (13% of all respondents) selected, "My life has become harder."

On a question about the possibility of another global pandemic in the future, 66% said they felt anxiety, and 13% did not.

While 49% of those aged between 18 and 29 said they felt anxious, the figure topped 60% among respondents in their 30s and older, and hit 77% among those in their 60s.

As for the Japanese government's response to the COVID-19 crisis, 59% gave it good grades (5% giving it a high rating and 54% a somewhat good rating), while 37% had a negative view — 28% saying they thought the measures were mediocre, and 9% giving the government a failing grade.

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