A majority of people across 12 different countries believe that the borders should be closed in their country to stop the coronavirus, but British people are the least supportive.
A survey of 12,000 people across 12 major countries over the last week found that Asia was the most supportive of border closures, led by people in India (79%) and Vietnam (78%).
More than three in four people in the world’s other COVID-19 hot spot, Italy (76%), also agree that borders should be closed, followed by those in China (73%), and Russia (70%).
The poll, conducted by Ipsos MORI, found that people in the UK were the least supportive of closing the borders, but still supported the measure by a slim majority of 51%.
A significant driver in the growth for concern is the fear someone we know will be infected by the virus.
The majority of people in Vietnam (67%), the United Kingdom (57%), India, Australia and Japan (51%) think someone close to them will get the coronavirus.
The countries with the biggest jump in this measure compared to a poll three weeks ago are all countries with developed health care systems – the UK (+31 points), Australia (+29), and Canada (+28).
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