Public opinion seems to be split over the stringent restrictions imposed on people over age 70 due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a poll carried out for Yle by Taloustutkimus.
Forty percent of respondents said people over 70 who are in good condition should be allowed the same freedom of movement as everyone else.
More than half of respondents said the same for people over 65. However younger people were less supportive of the idea.
Among respondents aged 35-49, four out of 10 said that over-70s should be allowed to use their own discretion as to whether to avoid contact with others. Meanwhile only a quarter of those aged 15-24 thought so.
Among students, only a quarter said that over-70s should be allowed to abide by restrictions at their own discretion. Meanwhile over half of pensioners agreed with this.
Young people back strict restrictions
One third of those surveyed agreed that “strict restrictions on those over 70 are understandable and should be continued”. Among those aged 15-24, over half backed this view.
Half of students said that strict restrictions should remain in place, contrasted with only 27 percent of retirees.
Only one tenth of respondents believed that the same restrictions should apply to everyone. These respondents did not tend to share any particular age group, gender, educational background or location.
Taloustutkimus interviewed 2,143 people for the survey. The margin of error is about two percentage points in either direction.
The Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) notes that those over age 70 "are at a significantly higher risk of contracting severe coronavirus disease".
They should avoid close contact with other people, ask for help with errands, do necessary visits to shops, pharmacies or health centres during quiet times, and keep in touch with others by phone or online, the institute says.
