A new survey has revealed that more than half (53%) of Brits believe UK businesses could be doing more to improve the hygiene of their premises and keep people safe from COVID-19.
Commissioned by Pelsis Group, the survey of 2,007 people across the UK is believed to be the first to quantify how the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the nation’s attitude towards hygiene.
The survey found that 88% of people want to see UK businesses and organisations implementing stringent hygiene regimes on their premises, with 87% saying the hygiene of places they visit is now more important to them than before the pandemic.
Andrew Milner, Pelsis Group’s chief executive, said: “These findings are sure to set alarm bells ringing in businesses and organisations across the UK as they prepare for the easing of lockdown measures.
“The message from the public is clear, they believe businesses and organisations can do more to keep them safe from COVID-19 and want to see serious action taken to improve the hygiene and safety of premises they operate.”
Mr Milner said that while the UK vaccination programme is being rolled out, concerns about hygiene and safety aren’t simply going to go away.
“It’s by no means certain that the public will simply revert to behaving as they did before the pandemic once society begins to open up again,” he said.
“Businesses and organisations must build trust with the public and give them confidence to return to their premises. If they fail to do so, then the economic ramifications could be profound. Sectors that have been really badly hit by the pandemic, such as hospitality and transport, will find it incredibly difficult to recover if they can’t convince people they are running hygiene-secure settings that are safe to be in.”