Coronavirus: Australians still wary of large crowds, according to ABS household survey

Most Australians are itching to dine out but overwhelmingly still nervous about flying and large crowds.

Jetstar jets grounded at Avalon airport during the COVID-19 pandemic. Picture: Aaron Francis

Most Australians were itching to dine out at restaurants and cafes again but were overwhelmingly still wary of large crowds, according to the ABS’s latest household survey.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest survey on the impact of COVID-19 on Australian households was conducted over the final weekend of May at a time when states and territories were announcing plans to lift social distancing measures on eating establishments.

Three in five respondents told the ABS they were looking forward to dining out again, but three quarters were uncomfortable with the idea of attending a large public event.

ABS program manager for household surveys Michelle Marquardt said that the survey found “the level of comfort felt by Australians in returning to their usual activities following the easing of restrictions varied considerably depending on the type of activity”.

“The vast majority of working Australians, 86 per cent, were at least somewhat comfortable in resuming their usual attendance at the workplace and of those with children, 81 per cent were at least somewhat comfortable with sending their children back to school or childcare,” Ms Marquardt said.

The Morrison government last week announced childcare would no longer be free from July 13, citing a major increase in demand for spots in recent weeks.

But a majority of people were uncomfortable with returning to flying or travelling by public transport – 63 per cent and 59 per cent, respectively – the ABS said.

Even as restrictions eased, social distancing was being practised by 95 per cent of Australians, although the proportion of people avoiding public spaces had dropped to 74 per cent from 85 per cent in early May.

Around six in 10 respondents said lower daily infection rates (64 per cent) and the development of a vaccine (61 per cent) would pride enough reassurance to return to normal activities.

The ABS also released figures showing there were only 2200 short-term overseas visitor arrivals in April, a 99.7 per cent decrease from the 700,400 recorded in April 2019.

From 20 March 2020, all overseas travel was banned, with few exceptions.