Study: 4 in 10 people lied about precautions taken during pandemic
A new study is shedding light on people’s behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Journal of American Medical Association survey revealed that roughly 4 in 10 Americans lied in some way about their actions as the country fought COVID.
Dr. Roberto Colon, chief medical officer at Miami Valley Hospital said these results are not surprising.
The survey featured a national sample of more than 1,700 adults.
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They were asked about nine behaviors such as quarantine rules, if they avoided getting tested for COVID when they had symptoms and if they overstated the COVID preventative measures they took.
More than 40 percent reported misrepresenting or not adhering to at least one of the nine behaviors.
Colon said people taking these types of actions didn’t necessarily prolong the pandemic, rather it led to more transmission of the virus.
“It was likely a factor in continuing the propagation of disease in transmission within communities,” Colon said.
According to the study, the most common reasons people lied were because they wanted to feel like life was normal and wanted to exercise personal freedom.
