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The nine issues British people are most worried about

People exit Waterloo station in London, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a range of new restrictions to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/PA Images via Getty Images)
The COVID-19 pandemic is the issue worrying people the most. (Getty)

The pandemic, economy, Brexit and climate change are among the nine issues people are most worried about.

A study from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed the topics the British public are concerned with.

Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 outbreak is the main issue on people’s minds, with a third of respondents saying it was the most important problem facing Britain.

This was closely followed by the economy with more than 25%.

Brexit and climate change were way back in third and fourth with under 10%.

Education, employment, the NHS, immigration and housing were the other topics on the list.

Read more: Nearly half of Britons think new COVID-19 rules should go even further

The pandemic, economy, Brexit and climate change are among the nine issues people are most worried about (Picture: ONS)
The pandemic, economy, Brexit and climate change are among the nine issues Britons are most worried about. (ONS)

The data was released as part of Diary Of A Nation: Life In Lockdown, a special report from the ONS.

It examines attitudes towards the pandemic, and how these have changed, using responses to a weekly opinions and lifestyle survey.

As well as quantitative data, it includes people’s experiences of lockdown in their own words.

Back in April, 45% of adults said they were worried about the future, with common reasons including boredom, feeling stressed or anxious, or feeling lonely.

In August, parents were anxious about the return to school, with 58% saying they were either very or somewhat worried about children in their household going back to class.

Read more: Scotland records highest number of daily coronavirus cases since pandemic began

Anxiety levels are unlikely to fall any time soon after new restrictions were brought in this week amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus.

Boris Johnson has told the British people to work from home where possible and ordered restaurants and bars to close at 10pm to tackle fast-spreading coronavirus cases.

Masks will be required in more settings, there will be tougher enforcement of rules, and the military could be brought in to help free up the police, the PM said.

Read more: New COVID-19 rules won’t stop pandemic spreading by Xmas, top scientists warn

Johnson stopped short of imposing another full lockdown, as he did in March, but warned that further measures could come if the disease was not suppressed.

Businesses breaking COVID laws face penalties of up to £10,000 or even closure, while individuals may be fined £200 for not wearing a mask when required.

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