NDI: '73% of Georgians believe country’s low rate of COVID-19 infections is due to steps taken by gov’t, doctors’
80 per cent of citizens remain concerned that they or their family members will get infected with the coronavirus. Despite this concern, almost half of Georgians (46%) say they would not get a COVID-19 vaccine if one were available. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Almost three quarters of Georgians (73%) believe the country’s relatively low rate of coronavirus cases is due to steps taken by the government and doctors, while 17 per cent say it’s mostly due to Georgian’s genetics and religion, reads Tbilisi-Poll results released today by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
80 per cent of citizens remain concerned that they or their family members will get infected with the coronavirus. Despite this concern, almost half of Georgians (46%) say they would not get a COVID-19 vaccine if one were available.
38% of the survey participants said they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if one were available.
The Lugar Laboratory, a prominent target of disinformation during the pandemic, received an overwhelmingly positive assessment, with 66 per cent saying it has prevented the spread of COVID-19 in Georgia…When presented with prevalent disinformation narratives, significant numbers of Georgians disagreed with the statements, such as that the EU has abandoned its members (54% disagree), the Lugar Lab develops biological weapons against Russia (60% disagree), and 5G is linked to the spread of COVID-19 (45% disagree)”, reads the survey.
When it comes to trusted sources of information on the coronavirus, most Georgians turn to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) (90%), and the government of Georgia (85%).
Image: NDI Georgia.
Journalists (73 %trust), local government (66%), and religious leaders or the church (61%) are also trusted sources.
Georgians say that they get news on COVID-19 primarily from television (84%), social media (41%), and friends, family and colleagues (26%).
Image: NDI Georgia.
When asked how they determine whether information on Facebook is true or false, 61 per cent of those who receive news about COVID-19 from social media point to the source or media channel. 37 percent rely on their instincts regarding the issue.
The results reflect data collected between June 26-30, through telephone interviews (1,550 interviews) with a nationwide representative sample of Georgia’s adult population, excluding the occupied territories.
Respondents were selected using the random-digit-dial method.
NDI Georgia will have a new head as the term of Laura Thornton, who took the post in 2014, is expiring. It has not been announced so far who will replace Thornton.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has met with NDI President Derek Mitchell in Tbilisi earlier today to discuss the importance of coordinated cooperation in the election year, the government of Georgia press office reports.
Recently published NDI polls say that ‘despite disinformation aimed at undermining support for transatlantic alliances, Georgians remain steadfast in their support’ for the country’s EU and NATO goals, with support for membership at 76 and 69 percent, respectively. According to the polls Russia is among the top countries engaged in spreading false information in Georgia.
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has released the results of recently conducted polls earlier today, saying that people’s trust in state institutions and leaders has declined, and the number of Georgians who evaluate the current government’s performance as ‘bad’ has increased from 49 per cent in March 2018 to 64 per cent today.
Twenty-seven per cent of Georgian respondents of the Public Attitudes in Georgia survey conducted by the National Democratic Institute say that the biggest issue facing the education system in Georgia today are difficulties associated with online classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.