9 in 10 residents are happy with Abu Dhabi government’s handling of the pandemic: Poll

Top Stories

covid-19, coronavirus, Abu Dhabi, UAE, survey, response, government, Department of Community Development

Abu Dhabi - The ‘Life during Coronavirus’ survey has polled 50,000 individuals since April.

by

Ashwani Kumar

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Tue 30 Jun 2020, 3:43 PM

Last updated: Tue 30 Jun 2020, 6:19 PM

A vast majority of citizens and residents have expressed their satisfaction with the way the Abu Dhabi government has handled the Covid-19 pandemic in the past few months, a new survey reveals.
The ‘Life during Coronavirus’ survey polled 50,000 individuals (26,150 women and 23,850 men) since it was rolled out in April by the Department of Community Development (DCD).
Of those surveyed, 9 out of 10 (90.5 per cent, 45,250 respondents)believe government officials took matters seriously and effectively. A similar number (89 per cent) felt government health institutions are fully equipped and able to deal with the pandemic while 92 per cent noted that the government was quick in deploying medical and non-medical staff to combat the virus.
About 94 per cent confirmed their confidence in the authorities’ ability to deal with the current situation and 91 per cent said the government has taken pre-emptive measures.
The poll also showed that people have benefitted from awareness drives, with 95 per cent of respondents saying they have knowledge of Covid-19 preventive measures. In addition, 89.5 per cent said they rely on news from official sources, marking the success of the authorities' campaign against fake news. 
Changes in lifestyle
In the section on family bonds, a remarkable 87 per cent, or 43,500 respondents, said they have changed their lifestyles amid the pandemic, with 'avoiding public places' being a prominent one.
A whopping 99 per cent said they are encouraging their family members and friends to take necessary measures to protect themselves from the virus. 
Eighty per cent said the crisis strengthened their family bonds with more time spent with children.
#WeAreAllResponsible
In the section on social cohesion, the survey showed the success of the #WeAreAllResponsible campaign, as 99 per cent said it's everyone's responsibility to face the crisis and an equal number believed in the need to cooperate with the government and all community members to succeed in this mission. 
Also, 41 per cent expressed their desire to volunteer in distributing medical needs and helping the elderly.
'Future is better, beautiful'
The DCD rolled out the survey in early April. For two months, there have been continuous evaluations and finding solutions to challenges associated with the pandemic.
Dr Mona Al Bahar, adviser to the chairman, DCD, said the survey has helped gauge the impact of the pandemic on family and community. And all analyses have been forwarded to decision-makers.
"Our extended experience in analysing community inputs is consistent with our key vision in providing a decent life for all Abu Dhabi community members. Today, we can analyse impact of changes, circumstances, and emergency crises and their consequences on daily life through an ideal environment attracting all community segments."
The DCD has already launched the next survey, which focuses on 'Life after Coronavirus'.
"We are confident that the future is better and more beautiful, as factors and indicators reflect that we have a stable situation compared to the various countries of the world," Dr Al Bahar said. 
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
 


More news from