A substantial majority of people around the world want their governments to prioritise saving lives over moves to restart economies being hammered by measures aimed at halting the spread of the new coronavirus, a survey by Edelman Trust Barometer found.

According to a Reuters report, 67 per cent of the 13,200-plus people interviewed between April 15 and April 23 agreed with the statement: “The government’s highest priority should be saving as many lives as possible even if it means the economy will recover more slowly.”

The latest findings challenge the notion that “lockdown fatigue” is rising among populations hit by the pandemic.