The number of COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan has been on the rise as of late. At the same, a new poll has found that most Canadians are worried about getting sick.
The study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute has found that 59 per cent of Canadians say they fear contracting the virus. That represents a 13 point increase from June.
Despite this fear, few Canadians say they are protecting themselves by wearing a mask while out in public. In fact, just 20 per cent say they always wear a mask, while 35 per cent do so “most of the time.” Thirty-two percent say they rarely wear a mask while 13 per cent say they never do.
Why don’t Canadians wear masks? Twenty-six of respondents said they forget to wear their mask, 23 per cent say masks are uncomfortable, while 20 per cent are not worried about getting sick. Most respondents (28 per cent) say that social distancing is good enough.
There is, however, strong support for a mandatory mask policy, with 74 per cent of Canadians saying they would be okay if such rules were implemented in their community. Support for mandatory mask usage is strongest in Atlantic Canada and Ontario. Support is lowest in Saskatchewan, at just 55 per cent.
The full report is available on the Angus Reid website.
