Objective To understand residents’ knowledge and awareness of prevention and control of novel coronavirus pneumonia（COVID-19）

and to analyze the effectiveness and limitations of prevention and control propaganda during the epidemic. Methods A "questionnaire star" questionnaire was distributed on the We Chat platform during February 9-15

2020

to investigate the knowledge and awareness of prevention and control of COVID-19 among residents of Shaoxing City

Zhejiang Province. A total of 3

453 valid questionnaires were returned and included in the analysis. Results 95.9% of the survey respondents often followed the epidemic situation; social software（76.6%）

television（74.1%）

website（71.9%）

community/unit propaganda（62.9%） were the main ways for survey respondents to learn about the epidemic situation; 92.6% of survey respondents believed that the virus was sensitive to ultraviolet light and heat

96.7% of survey respondents believed that the virus could spread among people; 99.5%

90.2% and 95.4% of survey respondents

respectively

believe that avoiding public places

wearing masks when necessary

reducing exposure time

handling raw and cooked food separately

heating thoroughly

maintaining indoor air circulation

and opening windows frequently are feasible preventive measures. In the past week

according to the actual living conditions of individuals

the percentage of survey respondents who would often wash their hands before eating

wash their hands after urinating

cover their hands after coughing or sneezing

thoroughly heat the food they cooked

and wear a mask properly when they went out were 94.9%

98.2%

89.8%

99.0%

and 98.6%

respectively. Conclusion The overall understanding and awareness of prevention and control of COVID-19 among survey respondents were good. However

elderly residents were less likely to use the Internet

and in response

health education on the epidemic should be conducted more often by means of television

dialect broadcasting

distribution of health manuals

door-to-door advocacy

community speakers

community announcements and banner.