Changes in Canadians' Concerns and Response

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Key messages:

• Most Canadians continue to take necessary precautions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus despite being less concerned about the health and social impacts of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
• As restrictions are lifted and activities resume, social interactions are increasing – particularly among youth, Canadian-born and those living outside central Canada.
• But concerns remain about resuming certain activities such as attending events, travelling by airplane and gathering in large groups – particularly among seniors, immigrants and Ontarians.
• Many Canadians at high risk of severe outcomes due to COVID-19 are working outside of home.
• About 6 in 10 Canadians would get tested if they experienced symptoms (63.5%) or were in contact with someone who had symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 (58.9%).
• Support for testing and the use of contact tracing applications is higher among seniors.
• While most Canadian are willing to get a vaccine, concerns about safety, risks and side effects were most commonly cited by those not likely to get one.

Canadians continue to take necessary precautions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus despite being less concerned about the health and social impacts of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic

Canadians continue to social distance, wear masks and take other precautions to reduce cases and avoid overwhelming the healthcare system.

In July, more than 90% said they would continue to wash hands more often and almost all Canadians reported avoiding crowds and large gatherings and keeping a safe distance from others.

• Results were similar in March at the start of the pandemic
• Some variation across provinces

• However, as restrictions eased, some precautions were less likely to be followed (July compared to March/April)
  • Canadians became less likely to stock up on essentials (47% from 63%) and
  • Less likely to avoid leaving the house (74% from 90%)

Main precautions taken by Canadians as a result of COVID-19, by period of web panel survey, 2020

As the pandemic continued, Canadians were less likely to report being very or extremely anxious about their health and the health of others…

• Own health – 27% (July) from 36%(March)
• Health of a household member – 41% (July) from 54% (March)
• Health of Canadians – 42% (July) from 69% (March)

Declines in health concerns were similar across regions, immigrants and persons born in Canada, and men and women, but larger among older Canadians.

The decline of COVID-19 cases in June was followed in July by a decline in Canadians' concerns about the health consequences of the pandemic. The largest declines were noted for…

• Overloading the health system – 32 percentage points decline
• Canadian population's health – 28 percentage points decline

Proportion of Canadians who are very or extremely concerned about selected issues, by period of web panel survey, 2020

There is a clear relationship between level of concern about the health risk of resuming activities and willingness to take precautions

Those with a high degree of concern about resuming activities in Canada are more likely to take precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 compared with those who express little concern.

• Vaccines – 73% vs 49%
• Avoid crowds and large gatherings – 96% vs 64%

The gaps between the different levels of concern were smaller for basic preventive measures such as "washing hands more often" and "self-isolating if exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19."

Proportion of Canadians willing to take precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19, by quartile of overall level of concern, week of June 15 to 21, 2020

As restrictions are lifted and activities resume, social interactions are increasing – particularly among youth, Canadian-born and those living outside central Canada

As restrictions lifted, fewer Canadians reported not coming into close contact with others outside their household in the last 7 days – from 29% in May to 8% in July.

Although social interactions increased in all population subgroups, some remained more likely to have a higher number of social interactions (9 or more) than others…

• Youth aged 15 to 34 were twice as likely (45%) as those aged 65 and older (22%)
• Canadian-born individuals (41%) were more likely than immigrants (27%)
• Those living in Atlantic Canada (41%) the Prairies (47%) and British Columbia (42%) were more likely than those living in central Canada (Ontario 35% and Quebec 33%).

Number of persons who came in close contact with the respondent during the last seven days, excluding members of their own household, by period of web panel survey, 2020

But concerns remain about resuming certain activities such as attending events, travelling by airplane and gathering in large groups – particularly among seniors, immigrants and Ontarians

Youth (aged less than 35) were less likely to express a high level of concern about the health risks of resuming activities.

Immigrants were generally more concerned than Canadian-born individuals about…

• attending events (81% vs 61%)
• gathering in larger groups (70% vs 53%)

Residents of Ontario were more concerned than those living in Quebec and the Prairie provinces about ...

• attending events (73% vs 57% in Quebec and 56% in the Prairies),
• gathering in larger groups (63% vs 49% in Quebec and 48% in the Prairies) and
• participating in organized sports or going to the gym (44% vs 33% in the Prairies and 29% in Quebec).

Self-reported level of concern about the health risks of resuming certain activities or relaxing safety measures related to those activities, week of June 15 to 21, 2020

Individuals who expressed a high level of concern were more likely than those with lower levels of concern to take precautions such as...

• Wearing a mask (86% vs 35%) and social distancing (94% vs 60%)

Concerns about overwhelming the healthcare system remain – many Canadians are at high risk of severe outcomes due to COVID-19

As the pandemic spreads, evidence suggests that most (74%) who were hospitalized with COVID-19 reported one or more pre-existing chronic condition.

In Canada, 38% (11 million) individuals aged 18+ have at least one health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe outcomes related to COVID-19 – those at higher risk include…

• Older seniors 80+ years (72%)
• Those living in low income households (40%)
• First Nations people (47.7%) and Métis (41.3%)

Proportion of those with at least one chronic (such as COPD, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia)^{Footnote 1} condition related to severe symptoms of COVID-19 by age group and gender, Canada, 2017-2018 (Household population)

Proportion of adults (age 18 years and older) with at least one underlying health condition, by household income level (low, medium and high), and by province of residence, %

Rates were lower among visible minority groups compared with those who identified as White (40.3%).

• 25% among Arab/West Asian
• 26% among East/Southeast Asian and 
• 35% among Black Canadians

Note: rates unadjusted for differences in age structure)

Concerns about overwhelming the healthcare system remain – many Canadians at high risk of severe outcomes due to COVID-19 are working outside of home

As more and more Canadians return to work, employers are focused on making workplaces safe – some employees may be at greater risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions.

Approximately half of high risk individuals (5.16 million) are employed – rate of risk among employed individuals is higher among

• Males (32%) compared with females (26%)
• Older workers aged 40 to 65 (39%) compared with younger workers aged 18 to 39 (18%)

The rate of risk also varies by sector from 22% among workers in food and accommodation to 39% among those in transportation and warehousing.

In terms of absolute numbers, sectors with the highest estimated number of workers at risk of adverse outcomes of COVID include…

• Healthcare and social assistance – 684,600
• Retail trade – 547,300
• Manufacturing – 509,600
• Construction – 405,900
• Professional, scientific and technical services – 356,300
• Transportation and warehousing – 336,100

Proportion of those with at least one chronic condition related to severe symptoms of COVID-19 among employed individuals (18 to 65 years of age), by sector, Canada, 2017-2018

Managing the pandemic moving forward – Most Canadians would get tested for COVID-19 if symptomatic or in contact with others who were symptomatic

• About 6 in 10 Canadians would get tested if they experienced symptoms (63.5%) or were in contact with someone who had symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 (58.9%), some more likely than others:
  • Women more likely than men (67% vs 60%)
  • Those with a Bachelors degree more likely than a high school degree (69% vs 61%)
  • Those living in Atlantic Canada more likely than in Ontario and British Columbia (72%, 65%, 55%)
• 36% of Canadians reported that they would get tested if they were not experiencing symptoms but had concerns about infecting others.

Canadians' reasons to get tested for the COVID-19 virus, if testing were widely available

Managing the pandemic moving forward – support for mandatory COVID-19 testing higher among senior respondents

• Among crowdsourcing respondents, 4 in 10 were supportive of mandatory random COVID-19 testing.
• There were similar levels of support between different sociodemographic groups, including gender, education level, and immigration status.
• However, older respondents (aged 65 or older) were more likely than those aged 15 to 24 to support mandatory testing (49% and 39%).

Crowdsourcing participants' suport for mandatory random COVID-19 testing

Managing the pandemic moving forward – more than half of Canadians willing to use a contact tracing application – rates higher among seniors compared with younger Canadians

• More than half of Canadians (56%) consider it "somewhat likely" or "very likely" that they would use a contact tracing application.
• While younger Canadians are more likely to be socially interacting in larger circles, only 16% said they would be "very likely" to use a contact tracing application compared with 33% among seniors.
• Results varied across the country…
  • Prairies (17%) and Quebec (21%) less likely to report they would be "very likely" to use a contract tracing application compared with Atlantic (28%), Ontario (28%) and British Columbia (30%).

• Concerns about privacy and government access to location data are the leading reasons why people would not use a contact tracing application.

Reasons why people who were unlikely to use a contact tracing app would not install it, June 2020

Most Canadians are willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine when available – concerns about safety, risks and side effects most commonly cited by those not likely to get one

The development of a COVID-19 vaccine has been identified as a key factor in ending the pandemic and returning to normal activities.

• 58% of Canadians reported that they would be very likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
• 44% of Canadians are not very likely^{Footnote 2} to get a vaccine – the rate is higher among those
  • Less than 65 years of age
  • Less than a Bachelors degree
  • Landed and non-landed immigrants

Proportion of Canadians not very likely^{Footnote 2} to get a vaccine by selected characteristics, June 2020

Reasons for not getting a vaccine given by Canadians somewhat or very unlikely to get one

Looking forward

• With the possibility of a second wave in the fall, the attitudes and precautions of Canadians could become critically important;
• The arrival of the flu season and possible outbreaks in schools could lead to new and repeated measures (self-isolation, repeated testing, etc.), with large social and economic consequences;
• Statistics Canada will continue to work with its partners, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, on the most effective ways to report on how Canadians are doing in the context of the pandemic.