Monitoring Saudi sentiment  on COVID

Summary of the Third Wave COVID-19 Study — Digital Research Company (DRC)

Study Objective:
This study was conducted between March 4 and 17, 2021. It aimed to measure the opinions and behaviors of Saudi citizens toward COVID-19 and compare the results with previous waves. Therefore, the insights help in understanding public sentiment and supporting health-related decisions.

Key Findings:

At first, citizens showed a strong commitment to safety measures. Around 75% always avoided crowded places, and 99% followed at least one precaution when going out, such as wearing masks or using hand sanitizers.

Moreover, fatigue and sore throat were reported as the most common symptoms among participants.

Regarding expectations for returning to normal life, in June 2020, half of the citizens believed life would return to normal within four months. However, by March 2021, this number dropped to 40%. Additionally, 15% believed it would take at least 12 months to fully return to normal.

The study also showed that 66% of participants were willing to take the vaccine, although 54% were worried about possible side effects. Furthermore, 75% believed the vaccine was important for their health, and 67% trusted the national vaccination program.

On the other hand, the pandemic had a significant impact on mental health. About one-third felt isolated or anxious due to travel restrictions or the inability to join recreational activities. Also, 19% expressed concerns about job and financial stability.

When it comes to information sources, official government channels remained the most trusted for COVID-19 updates. Meanwhile, Twitter was the most used platform, followed by TV and news apps.

Financially, 56% were concerned about the VAT increase from 5% to 15%. Nevertheless, the percentage of citizens able to save monthly rose from 66% in June 2020 to 73% in March 2021. Additionally, most citizens expected price increases for fuel, electricity, and goods in the coming months.

Future Outlook:

In the future, citizens are expected to continue relying on official sources for updates. Moreover, vaccine uptake is expected to rise as awareness campaigns continue.