Survey on “Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic” in the Austrian, German and Swiss population

The survey on “Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic” was available online from 17. Jan 2021 to 19. Feb 2021 for the Austrian population. The aim of the study was to obtain a representative overview of the assessment of the current pandemic situation by the German-speaking general population (Austria, Germany, and Switzerland). Altogether the results of this survey in German-speaking countries (here with a focus on Austria) reflects the high degree of the psychological burden and anxiety regarding SARS-CoV-2 in the general population. The subjectively estimated threat of the disease (hospitalisation or mortality) is vastly overestimated and contributes to the degree of psychosocial burdens in the Austrian population. The aftermath of the pandemic is just beginning and the public focus should finally be turned to those indirectly harmed by the coronavirus measures in order to prevent a meltdown of well-being and general somatic as well as mental health in the general population.