It’s likely not surprising, but most Canadians believe wearing a mask, taking a vaccine and restricting travel are the best ways to limit the spread of COVID-19, a new survey says.
The Environics Institute for Survey Research recently released the results of a Confederation of Tomorrow survey that asked 5,814 Canadians about their thoughts on the pandemic and the measures taken to limit its spread.
The survey data looked at the views of Canadians nationwide and by province.
Wearing masks
Canadians not only comply with wearing masks in public but also accept that they need to, the report said. In general, Canadians don't mind wearing masks in stores but most are bothered when others do not follow the rules.
Canadians aged 18 to 24 are less likely than those over age 55 to wear masks in public — 72 per cent vs. 95 per cent — and are more likely to be bothered by the requirement to wear masks in stores and businesses, at 33 per cent vs. 13 per cent, noted the report.
Ninety-three per cent of Canadians said they wore a mask all or most of the time when in stores, the data showed. Three per cent hardly or never work a mask and two per cent have not gone into stores.
In Saskatchewan, 96 per cent said they wore a mask all, most, or some of the time in stores. Furthermore, 68 per cent are not that bothered about being forced to wear a mask, compared to 30 per cent who are bothered a lot or some.
Meanwhile, 74 per cent of Saskatchewan respondents are bothered a lot or some when those around them don’t wear masks, while 23 per cent said it did not bother much or not at all.
Vaccination
Seventy-five per cent of respondents say they will definitely or probably take the vaccine, the survey showed. The remainder say they will probably or definitely not get the jab (16 per cent) or did not respond (eight per cent).
In Saskatchewan, 71 per cent of respondents would definitely or probably get the vaccine, while 23 per cent would probably or definitely not receive the jab.
Twenty-eight per cent of younger Canadians will definitely get the vaccine, with that number increasing to 69 per cent for adults over age 55, data showed. Meanwhile, 82 per cent of people with a university degree will definitely or probably get the jab, compared to 68 per cent with a high school diploma.
The survey noted that 27 per cent of people who believe governments should not tell people what they can or cannot do will not get the jab; 30 per cent who believe government harms society will not get the vaccine; and 52 per cent who have little or no trust in scientists will not take the vaccine.
Reopening the economy
Most Canadians want a cautious attitude to reopening the economy, with 73 per cent saying “governments should keep people as safe as possible” from the spread of the virus, even if that means a slower approach, the data showed.
Conversely, 19 per cent want governments to reopen the economy faster, even if more people become sick from COVID-19.
In Saskatchewan, 21 per cent think the government should reopen the economy quickly, while 71 per cent think a cautious approach should be taken.
Restricting movement
“The survey finds that the public is supportive of restrictions on mobility to limit the spread of COVID-19, but this support is much stronger in the case of international travel than of local travel,” the report said.
Eighty-eight per cent of Canadians support the government in stopping movement over the Canada-United States border, 77 per cent support stopping people from moving between provinces and territories, while 60 per cent support preventing movement between cities and towns in provinces or territories.
In Saskatchewan, 87 per cent, 72 per cent, and 46 per cent support restricting travel with the U.S., between provinces, and inter-provincially, respectively.
Confidence in scientists
The survey showed 84 per cent of Canadians have confidence in scientists, while 12 per cent say they have little or no confidence in scientists.
In Saskatchewan, 79 per cent of respondents had a lot or some confidence in scientists, while 20 per cent had a little or none. Meanwhile, 47 per cent of respondents had a lot or some confidence in governments, while 49 per cent had little or no confidence.
“What is most striking, however, is that two in three (66 per cent) of those who lack confidence in governments nonetheless say that they trust the medical and health advice that the Government of Canada gives, suggesting that confidence in medical experts generally outweighs doubts about governments,” the report added.
“This is the case even in Alberta, where lack of confidence in governments is most apparent than elsewhere in the country.”
