Polls show 50% of the population considers the novel coronavirus is just ordinary flu and 57% of them have studies under secondary general education, while 42% have higher education. Ion Jigău, director of the sociological research company C.B.S.-RESEARCH, said that as in the case of studies, there are differences in perceptions and depending on age and a serious problem in this regard exists among persons aged between 30 and 44 because they are the most active ones, have children. The data were presented in the public debate “Who is afraid of COVID-19 and why” that was organized by IPN News Agency.
Ion Jigău said surveys show that more people in rural areas do not believe in the existence of COVID-19. They represent 53%, which is more than the average per country. In urban areas, the people are better informed. The high number of people who believe that COVID-19 is ordinary flu is also due to the assertions of public figures, who say that the new virus is ordinary flu, contributing this way to the negative social tendency of denying an absolutely evident fact.
Referring to opinion leaders, the company’s director said Moldovan society does not include many powerful theologs who would explain what the bible says. “I will give you an example. There is one of the Ten Commandments – that the children should honor their parents. A question appears here, why don’t they say anything about parents? It’s clear that the parents look after their children, but the Moldovans use to inflate this care and we look after our children even if they are 50. And the question is, why don’t we have theologs who would explain particular thing,” noted Ion Jigău.
According to him, a religious leader, a bishop or a priest who is the spiritual head of a community does not take care of his children, but “the whole community is the child of a leader, priest, bishop”. “A country leader, a Prime Minister, a President are also parents somehow. We elected them, but they should take care of their children, of the people,” stated Ion Jigău.
The debate “Who is afraid of COVID-19 and why” was the 149th installment of the debates project “Developing political culture through public debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
