Lockdown survey: Family visits mattered most to Fifers

In a special survey conducted by JPI Media, publishers of the Fife Free Press and its sister titles, an overwhelming number of people rated visiting relatives as most important to their own quality of life.

Almost 83% put family above everything else - and 81% were comfortable, or very comfortable, going into their homes.

That underlines the significant impact lockdown has had on people who have had restrictions placed on the numbers of people they could welcome - or even meet outdoors.

Our survey, called the Big Conversation, aimed to take the temperature of the nation as it tapped into our readerships in regions across the UK.

We put questions to our readers to find out what has changed since lockdown - and what the new society which emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic should look like.

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Those questions ranged from what is important to you in the light of lockdown to gauging public confidence as we adapt to life with a raft of ever changing restrictions - ones which may be about to be tightened once more.

Our survey revealed that, after family, we wanted to eat out at cafes and restaurants - 65% were comfortable doing so, while an overwhelming majority were very relaxed about visiting parks, beaches and green spaces, emphasising the need to escape the confines of our four walls.

On the flip side, public confidence going into potentially crowded spaces has yet to return.

One in five were not at all comfortable visiting shops, or libraries, and 47% were not comfortable using public transport.

Of concern, almost 54% were unsure about sending their children back to school post lockdown.

Despite those doubts, Fifers said they adapted well to life in lockdown - 63% said very well, and just 1.3% said not well at all.

The biggest single problem was not having someone to turn to for help (50%) while connectivity remained an issue (25%).

But perhaps the biggest issue surrounded a potential second wave - 61% were very concerned about it.

And - in a message to our political leaders - 42% felt the ‘Rule of Six’ would not be effective if it happened.

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