COVID-19: UC Scientists assess the consequences of the pandemic in families, the community, Portugal and the world

A research team from the Centre for the Study of Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT) of the University of Coimbra (UC), coordinated by Full Professor Paula Santana, is carrying out a worldwide survey to understand and assess the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on family, social and community relations.

The online questionnaire is available in 13 languages, "so we hope to reach people from all corners of the world, aged 18 and over," says the team leader, inviting citizens to participate.

" Besides assessing each individual's characteristics, housing and surrounding areas conditions, we also want to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the contexts of life, work/study and leisure, as well as the access to and use of health care. Another important issue that will result from the responses to this survey is citizens' perceptions of the role of local authorities in minimising the social and economic impacts of the pandemic," says Paula Santana.

The team guarantees the confidentiality of the data and the anonymity of the respondents. "There will be no disclosure or communication of individual results. The data collected will be used exclusively for the purposes of basic and applied scientific research," explains the study coordinator.

^{Translation by Diana Taborda}