The CoViD-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 is keeping the world on tenterhooks. Far-reaching cuts in individual freedom are associated with the political measures to contain the infection rate ("flatten-the-curve"). In many countries, lockdown regulations are being tightened further in order to reduce physical contact between people to the absolute minimum necessary ("stay-at-home").

Here in the Free State of Saxony, citizens are required to leave their own four walls only for valid reasons, be it to go shopping, to work or to the doctor. CoViD-19 is currently the dominant topic in the public media and especially on online social media platforms. Many different opinions and views are being spread, leading to increasing uncertainty in parts of the population about the risks of infection, but also about the usefulness of shutting down, as this causes a number of social and economic side effects in the short and medium term, the extent of which is currently hardly known.

Against this background, Yash Chawla from Politechnika Wrocławska has brought together an international team of researchers, in which Markus Will from the HSZG is also participating.

A global online survey is being used to collect information on public awareness and opinions about COVID-19 in order to better understand the role of the various communication channels in the spread of myths and facts. So far, 1700 people have already taken part in the survey.

We invite you to participate in this anonymous survey so that we can provide recommendations to research institutions as well as policy makers for effective communication with society. The results of this survey will be published in international academic journals without identifying individual respondents. The data collection procedures comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

If you have any questions in connection with the survey, please contact Markus Will by e-mail .