Support for the government’s strategy to deal with coronavirus is now at an all-time low, with just 16% of people positive about what ministers are doing, according to the latest survey by public health institute RIVM.

Yet even though 39% were neutral about the approach and 46% negative, the pandemic rules, such as working from home and keeping your distance, are more likely to be followed, the RIVM’s behavioural experts found.

In addition, people are now more likely to have a test if they have coronavirus symptoms, are going out less and having fewer visitors at home.

Among the 46% who are negative about the government’s approach, seven in 10 say not enough is being done to combat coronavirus. The slow start to the booster campaign also comes in for criticism.

There was, however, a large increase in the number of people who have been tested for coronavirus, either at a regional health board testing centre or other location. Some 45% of respondents have now been tested, compared with 29% in the previous survey six weeks ago.

In addition 32% have done a self test. This means just 23% of the population have never had a coronavirus test, the RIVM said.

The survey is based on 46,000 responses and was carried out in the last week of November.

Three quarters of those who took part did this before the ‘evening lockdown’ was announced, but this did not have an impact on the views of the others in the survey, the RIVM said.