Nzimande to release outcome of HSRC survey

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, will release the outcome of the second part of the public perception survey by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on the impact of the coronavirus on South Africans later today.

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This follows the first survey conducted from March 27 to March 31 during which the council looked at how South Africans feel about the survey, what they understand, know and how they are reacting to the Covid-19 emergency.
The second wave of the survey which was conducted from April 7 to April 14 looked specifically at the lockdown as implemented from March 27 to April 16.

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The survey considered:
• The type of community where the respondent lives.
• Access to services for drinking water and sanitation.
• Knowledge about the coronavirus, including preventive measures, primary concerns about the virus and does a lockdown help to prevent the spread of the virus.
• Perceptions about personal risk in relation to contracting the virus.
• Travel, movement and adherence to social distancing guideline.
• Access to food during the lockdown.
• Testing for Covid-19 and coronavirus.
• The socio-economic impact of the lockdown on the respondent and his/her household.
• Whether the respondent was subjected to gender-based violence during the lockdown.
• Activities undertaken by the respondent during the lockdown.
This second part of the survey included telephonic qualitative questions which provided deeper responses from respondents, particularly those with minimal internet access or out of coverage range.
This is particularly important noting the digital divide in South Africa and the essential need to service communities most at risk.
The results will be released during a virtual media briefing scheduled for this afternoon.

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