Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 6, 2020

The impact of believing you have had COVID-19 on behaviour: Cross-sectional survey

Category:

Topic:

  • An online survey in the UK investigated behavioral differences between people who do and do not believe that they have had COVID-19. The survey indicates that there may be a high number of people who self-misdiagnosis, believing incorrectly that they have had COVID-19.  
  • Because those who believe they have had COVID-19 are more likely to think they are immune to COVID-19, they may contribute to transmission through non-adherence to social distancing measures. Clear communication to the public is regarding the importance of protective measures regardless of beliefs about prior infection. 

Smith et al. (May 5, 2020). The impact of believing you have had COVID-19 on behaviour: Cross-sectional survey. Pre-print downloaded May 6 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.30.20086223