Life on lockdown: Britons find staying in touch with loved ones more of a struggle and keeping entertained is getting harder, poll finds as three week extension is confirmed

• Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,069 British 18-75 year-olds over the Easter weekend 
• The market research company compared the results to those taken in March 
• It found Britons were now finding it harder to stay positive about the future
• But revealed people were finding it easier to look after their children at home 
• Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

Britons are finding it harder to stay positive about the future and to stay in touch with friends as the coronavirus lockdown continues, a new poll has revealed. 

Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,069 British 18-75 year-olds over the Easter weekend and found that 47 per cent were finding it more difficult to keep entertained during the lockdown compared to 31 per cent between March 20-23. 

Results also showed that 46 per cent were now finding it much harder to stay in touch with family and friends compared to 33 per cent questioned last month. 

And only 58 per cent were now able to stay positive about the future compared to 62 per cent in March.  

Results of the poll come after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab last night declared that coronavirus lockdown will stay for at least another three weeks despite growing alarm at the economic consequences. 

Poll subjects were also questioned about their confidence in the NHS to deal with the coronavirus and concern about the virus for yourself and for the country as a whole. 

The government is under massive pressure to set out an ‘exit strategy’ from the social distancing measures, after its own watchdog warned GDP could plunge by a third and two million people lose their jobs. 

It came as the UK announced 861 more deaths from the coronavirus yesterday, taking the total number of victims to 13,729. 

Britons are finding it much harder to work as the coronavirus lockdown continues, the Ipsos MORI poll found. 

Some 59 per cent are now finding it more difficult to carry out their jobs compared to 49 per cent questioned between March 20 and 23. 

Around 56 per cent are also finding it harder to stay positive day-to-day compared to 55 per cent in March. 

But despite this more are now finding it much easier to get what they need from the shops. Some 7 per cent are finding shopping a smoother experience, compared to 3 per cent last month.

People are also finding it easier to look after their children at home.

Some 16 per cent said they were no longer finding it has hard to look after children compared to 5 per cent in March. 

Elsewhere, the poll also revealed that 9 per cent were finding it easier to afford their usual expenses compared to 5 per cent last month. 

Kelly Beaver, Managing Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos MORI said: ‘As the lockdown continues, we’re beginning to see a rise in the number of people saying it’s harder to stay positive about the future and those finding it harder being able to work. 

‘Thankfully though some people are finding it easier to look after their kids now than before the outbreak.’

The poll also found that confidence in the NHS had grown significantly since the start of the lockdown.

Some 78 per cent now said they had confidence in the NHS compared to around 62 per cent in March. 

And those not confident in the NHS had dipped significantly from 38 per cent in March to 20 per cent in April. 

The majority – some 49 per cent – were ‘fairly confident’ in the NHS while 28 per cent were ‘very confident’. 

At the other end of the scale only 4 per cent said they were ‘not at all confident’ while 16 per cent said they were ‘not very confident’. 

Kelly Beaver, Managing Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos MORI said: ‘It is encouraging that Britons continue to grow in confidence in the NHS’ ability to cope with the strains being put on it as we move through the stages of the Coronavirus crisis.’ 

The Ipsos MORI poll also revealed that Britons are now much more concerned for themselves during the lockdown. 

Of those questioned over the Easter weekend, 75 per cent said they were concerned about the impact of the deadly virus on themselves. While only 24 per cent said they were not concerned. 

That is compared the results in March that said only 58 per cent of Britons were concerned about the impact of the virus on themselves and 42 per  cent who said they were not concerned. 

Some 33 per cent of those questioned in April said they were ‘very concerned’ while 42 per cent said they were ‘fairly concerned’. 

At the other end of the scale 19 per cent said they were ‘not very concerned’ while 5 per cent said they were ‘not at all concerned’.  

The majority of Britons are now concerned about the impact of the virus on the country as a whole. 

Some 93 per cent of those questioned said they were concerned for the welfare of the country while only 6 per cent said they were not concerned. 

Of those who were concerned, 57 per cent said they were ‘very concerned’ while 36 per cent said they were ‘fairly concerned’. 

Only 1 per cent said they were ‘not at all concerned’ while 5 per cent said they were ‘not very concerned’.  

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