This is what Shields Gazette readers think about easing the lockdown

Our lockdown survey, published across this title and 150 others across the UK last week, has had a great response.

It gives an insight into how the coronavirus crisis has impacted people in South Tyneside and what they would like to see happen in the coming weeks and months.

In total we asked readers 25 questions on their attitude towards the lockdown.

Of these questions five focused on how lockdown restrictions might be eased - and today we can reveal how people in South Tyneside answered.

The majority of Shields Gazette readers who completed our survey said they felt ‘slightly concerned’ about going to public places such as shops, bars, restaurants and cinemas once lockdown is eased.

39.7% felt 'very concerned', while 43.2% said they were slightly concerned. In contrast, only 9% said they were 'not very concerned' and 7.25% answered 'not at all'.

In comparison, on a national level, 41% answered ‘slightly concerned’, 37% answered ‘very concerned’, 12% answered ‘not very concerned’ and 10% answered ‘not at all concerned’.

READ THIS: 10 photos that show how South Tyneside changed during 50 days of lockdown

Of those who took part in the survey, a majority of Shields Gazette readers said visits to friends and family should be given the highest level of priority when restrictions are eased. 60.3% of people made that a high priority.

44.6% of those taking part felt reopening workplaces was a high priority, while 42.9% said more mourners at funerals was also a high priority.

38.9% felt reopening schools was a high priority with 37.4% also saying that for going outside more often.

By contrast, 22.6% said reopening local high street shops and restaurants was a high priority, while only 7.8% felt the resuming of professional sport and attendance at large public events, such as festivals and gigs was a high priority when lockdown restrictions are eased.

We also asked people which of the following - garden centres, DIY stores, fast food restaurants, takeaway coffee chains and electrical stores - they would be most keen to visit if they were reopened in the near future, with social distancing measures in place.

CLICK HERE to view our interactive map showing the number of COVID-19 cases across the UK

Most respondents said they were keen to visit garden centres (42.3%), with electrical stores (8.7%) receiving the smallest number of votes.

When asked how well they thought the UK Government had handled the coronavirus crisis, 17.7% of Shields Gazette readers said ‘very well’, just over 31.3% said ‘quite well’, 23.2% said ‘not very well’, while 25.5% stated ‘not well at all’.

The national average, by comparison, was 12% for ‘very well’, 34% for ‘quite well’, 24% for ‘not very well’ and 28% for ‘not at all well’.

When asked how clear the UK Government’s lockdown guidance had been so far, the majority of Shields Gazette readers who took part in the survey responded 'quite clear'.

34.2% gave that reply, while 30.7% said 'very clear', 19% thought it 'not very clear' and 15.4% deemed it 'not at all clear'.

The national average on this issue was: 30% said ‘very clear’, 35% said ‘quite clear’, 22% said ‘not very clear’ and 14% said ‘not at all clear’.

During the course of this week we will be publishing more results of what local people had to say in our lockdown survey.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this website, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you, and stay safe.