Consequences and crisis policy are assessed differently in the DACH countries

Rarely before have people been so unanimous: over 90% of Germans, Austrians and the German-speaking Swiss believe that the threat from the Corona virus should be taken seriously. About 60% of respondents in each of the three countries even say that the threat should be taken very seriously. Furthermore, an age effect is evident in all countries: The older the respondents, the more seriously the threat is taken.

Switzerland: social differences in hazard perception

Not all Swiss take the Corona crisis equally seriously, show the results in the Sinus milieu social model. The milieu of the established recognizes a particularly strong threat, with 71% of this group taking the danger from the Corona virus very seriously. "The sovereign social elite very clearly recognizes the impact of the Corona crisis on society as a whole and is concerned about social consequences," explains Roger Muffler, Head of Group Data & Marketing at KünzlerBachmann.

With a top score of 45%, the Digital Cosmopolitan milieu takes the Corona threat least seriously. "The cosmopolitan, digitally influenced avant-garde has an optimistic basic attitude. The danger from Corona is recognized, but perceived as less threatening," explains Muffler. The second significant future milieu of the Adaptive Pragmatists, i.e., the middle of the future, are in the Swiss average.

Significant country differences in expectations
The Corona crisis will undoubtedly leave its mark on society, and both positive and negative effects are expected. The strongest positive effects are expected in the organization of working life, such as the possibility of home office. 85% of Austrians, 81% of German-speaking Swiss and 66% of Germans expect positive effects in this area. A positive impact is also expected on health awareness, most strongly in Austria (77%), followed by Switzerland (69%) and Germany (64%). On the other hand, the most significant negative effects are expected in travel behavior, especially in Germany and Austria (53% each); in Switzerland, only 44% expect this.

Differences in assessment of the government's crisis work

In order to cushion the extensive impact and manage the Corona crisis, policymakers have taken far-reaching measures in recent weeks. In Austria and Switzerland, people are significantly more satisfied with crisis policy than in Germany: 81% of Austrians rate the current measures taken by their government under Chancellor Sebastian Kurz as very or rather good. The Swiss also give their government a good report card: 70% rate the Federal Council's crisis work to date as very or rather good. In Germany, although the majority still assess the government's work to date in connection with the Corona crisis as very or rather positive (52%), the Germans are nevertheless the most reserved in a country comparison.

Crisis policy is not supported equally by all social milieus

But not all Swiss people are equally satisfied with the crisis policy, as the results of the Sinus-Milieus social model once again show. The upper-middle-class milieu is particularly positive - with 83% approval - in its assessment of the government's work. "This status-conscious middle class with a traditional middle-class lifestyle has a high level of acceptance for ordinances that serve the common good, even if this currently entails severe restrictions," explains Manfred Tautscher, Managing Director of the Sinus Institute. Clearly less positively, thus with 57% agreement, the evaluation turns out in the milieu of the Eskapisten. "The young, fun and leisure-oriented lower middle feels relatively strongly restricted by the measures," explains Tautscher.

Strong growth in trust in healthcare, government and army

The biggest winner in terms of trust in the Corona crisis is the healthcare system, because for 61% of German-speaking Swiss, doctors and nursing staff enjoy more trust than before the crisis. In second place is the Federal Office of Public Health (59%). The Federal Council (51%) and the Swiss Armed Forces (48%) follow slightly behind.

A look at the neighbors reveals that in each country, other players played a leading role in the crisis. "Our data clearly show that only those who act with presence and take responsibility in a crisis win people's trust," explains Manfred Tautscher. In Germany, for example, health (44%) and social services (40%), police (37%) and governments (33% federal government, 32% state governments) in particular gain trust, whereas in Austria it is the government (64%), health (62%) and humanitarian organizations (60%).