The enhanced focus on cleaning and disinfecting for health that has been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic looks to have paid off when it comes to increasing consumer confidence.

That’s according to a new survey from GP PRO, which has found that almost half (48 per cent) of respondents began heading away from home to take part in various activities over the previous 60 days.

Of that group, who visited facilities like reopened retail shops, restaurants, and other businesses, one-third (32 per cent) cited the clear and obvious sustained efforts that businesses have made to provide a safe and hygienic environment as one reason they are more confident in leaving home.

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“Consumers are now taking to the streets with renewed confidence, and businesses deserve credit for making health and hygiene a priority and, as a result, playing a role in consumers re-engaging in the everyday activities they avoided for the better part of the past year,” said Michelle Auda, GP PRO senior director of insights.

The survey found that 61 per cent of respondents are participating in away-from-home activities at the same level as they were before the pandemic. Of that proportion, 31 per cent are still taking virus-related safety precautions such as wearing masks if required, while the other 30 per cent are taking such precautions whether required or not.

In the previous 60 days:

• 74 per cent of respondents are doing in-store grocery shopping
• 61 per cent have visited a drive-thru restaurant or coffee shop
• 56 per cent are doing their retail shopping in-store
• 50 per cent are socializing with close friends and family
• 46 per cent have returned to indoor dining at a restaurant
• 38 have gone to work in an office environment

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This show a marked increase in confidence in returning to facilities.

In a similar survey GP PRO conducted in February, 15 per cent of consumers were avoiding activities such as shopping, going to a salon, or socializing with friends and family, compared to 7 per cent in the new survey. In addition, in the February survey, only nine per cent of consumers were participating in away-from-home activities with no safety precautions, and 19 per cent were engaging in such activities with precautions.