MORE than 95 percent of Shenzheners are informed on general knowledge related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that has infected thousands of people nationwide in the past two months, according to the results of a survey jointly conducted recently by the city’s disease control and prevention center (CDC) and the School of Media and Communication of Shenzhen University.

The CDC collected 8,179 questionnaires in three days of surveying, and the results showed that more than 95 percent of the respondents have some knowledge of the COVID-19 pathogen, its typical symptoms, the characteristics of COVID-19 carriers and high risk-of-infection groups, according to a report in Shenzhen Evening News. They also know that washing hands is an effective prevention method, the News report said.

However, there are still misunderstandings regarding two aspects of COVID-19 prevention, the survey found. Nearly 50 percent of the respondents did not know that wearing a face mask when taking a walk in an open space on your own is not a necessary measure to protect yourself from infection. Furthermore, about 20 percent of people surveyed said the virus is only transmitted through droplets, indicating they are unaware that it is also transmitted through contact, according to the News report.

The survey found that residents are very concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak, which started in Wuhan, Hubei Province in December. Some 48.57 percent of respondents reported spending an average one to two hours browsing news and other information related to the virus every day, and another 33 percent reported spending a daily three hours or more on COVID-19 news.

The News said 91 percent of people surveyed said that open and transparent information from the government is important and crucial to effective epidemic prevention and control. Over 87 percent applauded the publication by the health authority of a list of residential estates and other venues where people infected with the virus had visited. And some 62 percent of respondents said it is necessary for the authority to offer psychological counseling for residents to help relieve anxiety, according to the News report.

Experts with the CDC have urged the city authority to step up publicity efforts on the prevention and control of the epidemic, such as how and when to wear a face mask, increasing public awareness of contact transmission, emphasizing the importance of washing hands, and preventing excessive disinfection.

(Wei Jie)