StatCan COVID-19: Data to Insights for a Better CanadaCOVID-19 testing: Do Canadians plan to get tested and why?
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by Kristyn Frank and Rubab Arim
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This article provides disaggregated data to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on specific groups. Visit the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub for more analysis, including disaggregated data on labour, public safety, health and more.
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In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, viral testing was limited in an effort to focus on providing care for infected individuals and protecting essential workers (Chung 2020). With increased availability of COVID-19 tests, provinces and territories have developed their own testing strategies based on local needs (Government of Canada 2020). Generally, provinces and territories have now expanded their testing criteria to include all individuals exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, while some have also extended testing to asymptomatic individuals.Note
While access to COVID-19 testing has become more widely available, little is known about the extent to which Canadians intend to get tested for the virus and the reasons why they would request a test. Statistics Canada's recent crowdsourcing data indicated that less than half of participants (41.8%) either agreed or strongly agreed with mandatory random COVID-19 testing in Canada.Note However, these findings cannot be generalized to the overall Canadian population because crowdsourcing data were not collected under a probability-based sampling design.
Given the role of testing in reducing the spread of the virus and informing public health measures (Government of Canada 2020), knowledge on Canadians’ willingness to get tested for COVID-19, including their reasons, is important. Indeed, some individuals may not plan to get tested for various reasons ranging from personal concerns, such as a fear of being stigmatized (Kumar and Nayar 2020; Das 2020), to structural reasons such as an insufficient amount of paid sick days required for self-isolation (Berger at al. 2020; Heymann et al. 2020), even if they are symptomatic.
This study aims to shed light on the reasons why Canadians would get tested for COVID-19 if testing were widely available and examines whether certain groups are more likely than others to indicate that they would get tested.
Most Canadians would get tested for COVID-19 if symptomatic or in contact with others who were symptomatic
Results from the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series (CPSS) show that the vast majority of Canadians (92.7%) reported that they would get tested for COVID-19 if testing were widely available. Fewer than 1 in 10 Canadians (7.3%) indicated that they did not plan to get tested (Chart 1).Note
Most Canadians would get tested for the COVID-19 virus if they were to experience symptoms (63.5%) or if they had been, or thought they had been, in contact with people who had symptoms or who had tested positive for COVID-19 (58.9%). Just over one-third of Canadians reported that they would get tested if they were not experiencing symptoms but had concerns about infecting others (35.7%).
Data table for Chart 1
| Reasons | Percent |
|---|---|
| If I were to experience symptoms | 63.5 |
| If I had been in contact or thought that I had been in contact with people who had symptoms or who had tested positive | 58.9 |
| If I did not have any symptoms but had concerns of infecting others | 35.7 |
| Other reason | 5.0 |
| I don't plan to get tested | 7.3 |
|
Note: Categories do not sum to 100% because respondents could select more than one response.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 3 (June 2020). |
|
Women, university degree holders and workers absent from work more likely than others to get tested if symptomatic
The top three reasons for being tested for the COVID-19 virus were cited to varying degrees by different groups of Canadians. In particular, the proportion of Canadians indicating that they would get tested if they were symptomatic or if they were in contact with a symptomatic person varied across sex, education, and employment status (Table 1).
Women (66.5%) were more likely than men (60.3%) to indicate that they would get a COVID-19 test if they experienced symptoms (Table 1). Individuals with a bachelor’s degree were more likely to indicate they would get tested for this reason than individuals with lower levels of education. Similar results were found by sex and education among those who intended to get tested if they were in contact with someone who was symptomatic or who had tested positive for COVID-19.
Differences were somewhat larger by employment status. About three-quarters of individuals who were employed but absent from work during the reference week, either because of business closures and restrictions due to COVID-19 (75.1%) or for other reasons (76.4%), indicated that they would be tested if they experienced symptoms compared to 63.2% of individuals who were employed and working during the reference week (reference group). Additionally, a higher proportion of individuals who were employed but absent from work during the reference week due to COVID-19 intended to get tested if they were in contact with someone who was symptomatic or who had tested positive (72.6%) than those who were employed and working (59.3%).
Some regional differences were also apparent. For example, compared to Ontario (reference group), a higher proportion of Canadians residing in the Atlantic provinces and a lower proportion of residents of British Columbia indicated that they would get tested if they were to experience symptoms. Additionally, Quebec residents were less likely than Ontario residents to report that they intended to get tested if they were in contact with another person who was symptomatic or who had tested positive (48.4% and 61.1%, respectively). | If I were to experience symptoms | If I had been in contact/thought that I had been in contact with people who had symptoms or who had tested positive | If I did not have any symptoms but had concerns of infecting others | I don't plan to get tested | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| percent | 95% confidence limits | percent | 95% confidence limits | percent | 95% confidence limits | percent | 95% confidence limits | |||||
| Sex | ||||||||||||
| Male (reference group) | 60.3 | 56.4 | 64.1 | 54.0 | 50.0 | 58.0 | 35.1 | 31.3 | 39.1 | 8.4 | 6.4 | 11.0 |
| Female | 66.5Note * | 63.1 | 69.7 | 63.7Note * | 60.1 | 67.2 | 36.3 | 32.9 | 39.9 | 6.1 | 4.7 | 8.0 |
| Age group | ||||||||||||
| 15-24 | 70.0 | 59.1 | 79.0 | 64.8 | 53.1 | 74.9 | 41.6 | 31.2 | 52.8 | 5.7 | 1.9 | 16.0 |
| 25-44 | 64.9 | 60.9 | 68.8 | 60.4 | 56.1 | 64.6 | 38.2Note * | 33.9 | 42.7 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 9.9 |
| 45-64 | 61.6 | 57.6 | 65.4 | 56.7 | 52.7 | 60.5 | 33.6 | 30.0 | 37.5 | 8.7 | 6.6 | 11.4 |
| 65+ (reference group) | 59.6 | 54.6 | 64.3 | 56.0 | 51.3 | 60.6 | 31.1 | 26.5 | 36.1 | 5.8 | 4.0 | 8.3 |
| Highest level of education completed | ||||||||||||
| Grade 13 graduate or less or some post-secondary education | 61.2Note * | 56.0 | 66.2 | 56.4Note * | 51.0 | 61.6 | 33.5 | 28.5 | 38.8 | 7.7 | 5.3 | 11.1 |
| Trades, Community college, CEGEP, or university certificate below Bachelor's degree | 60.7Note * | 56.7 | 64.6 | 56.2Note * | 52.0 | 60.4 | 35.8 | 31.8 | 40.0 | 8.8Note * | 6.7 | 11.5 |
| Bachelor's degree (reference group) | 68.6 | 64.0 | 72.9 | 63.9 | 58.8 | 68.7 | 35.8 | 31.4 | 40.5 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 7.4 |
| Above Bachelor's degree | 72.2 | 66.7 | 77.0 | 69.1 | 63.4 | 74.4 | 44.9Note * | 39.2 | 50.9 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 7.8 |
| Employment status | ||||||||||||
| Employed and at work at least part of the reference week (reference group) | 63.2 | 60.0 | 66.4 | 59.3 | 55.7 | 62.8 | 35.2 | 32.2 | 38.4 | 6.4 | 5.0 | 8.0 |
| Employed but absent from work for reasons not related to COVID-19 | 76.4Note * | 61.8 | 86.7 | 57.4 | 42.3 | 71.2 | 32.9 | 21.2 | 47.1 | Note x: suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act | Note x: suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act | Note x: suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act |
| Employed but absent from work due to COVID-19 | 75.1Note * | 64.0 | 83.6 | 72.6Note * | 61.7 | 81.4 | 44.2 | 31.5 | 57.6 | 6.0 | 2.6 | 13.4 |
| Not employed | 61.3 | 56.8 | 65.7 | 57.7 | 53.3 | 61.9 | 34.8 | 30.4 | 39.6 | 8.9 | 6.5 | 12.2 |
| Marital status | ||||||||||||
| Married or living common-law (reference group) | 62.9 | 59.9 | 65.9 | 58.0 | 55.0 | 61.0 | 35.2 | 32.2 | 38.4 | 7.1 | 5.7 | 8.9 |
| Widowed, separated or divorced | 55.8 | 48.4 | 63.0 | 52.0 | 44.8 | 59.2 | 33.6 | 26.8 | 41.1 | 8.9 | 5.9 | 13.3 |
| Single, never married | 67.8 | 61.6 | 73.5 | 63.8 | 57.6 | 69.6 | 37.8 | 31.9 | 44.0 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 11.3 |
| Has a child under the age of 18 as of June 15th, 2020 | ||||||||||||
| No (reference group) | 61.8 | 58.7 | 64.7 | 58.5 | 55.5 | 61.4 | 35.9 | 32.9 | 38.9 | 7.1 | 5.8 | 8.7 |
| Yes | 66.7 | 62.0 | 71.1 | 59.7 | 54.3 | 64.9 | 35.5 | 30.7 | 40.6 | 7.5 | 5.0 | 11.1 |
| Immigrant status | ||||||||||||
| Born in Canada (reference group) | 63.5 | 60.7 | 66.2 | 58.1 | 55.2 | 61.0 | 34.4 | 31.7 | 37.3 | 7.1 | 5.6 | 8.9 |
| Landed immigrant | 63.6 | 57.7 | 69.2 | 61.0 | 54.3 | 67.3 | 39.8 | 33.5 | 46.5 | 7.7 | 5.2 | 11.3 |
| Not a landed immigrant | 61.2 | 43.5 | 76.4 | 65.0 | 46.8 | 79.7 | 37.3 | 22.4 | 55.0 | Note x: suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act | Note x: suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act | Note x: suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act |
| Region of residence | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic provinces | 72.5Note * | 67.6 | 76.8 | 67.5 | 62.6 | 72.1 | 34.8 | 30.1 | 39.9 | 3.3Note * | 2.2 | 5.1 |
| Quebec | 59.6 | 54.1 | 64.9 | 48.4Note * | 42.3 | 54.6 | 31.7 | 26.3 | 37.6 | 8.5 | 6.0 | 12.1 |
| Ontario (reference group) | 65.5 | 60.5 | 70.2 | 61.1 | 56.0 | 65.9 | 36.2 | 31.7 | 41.0 | 6.7 | 4.4 | 10.0 |
| Prairies region | 67.0 | 62.1 | 71.5 | 63.6 | 59.3 | 67.6 | 34.9 | 30.5 | 39.6 | 7.8 | 5.7 | 10.5 |
| British Columbia | 55.0Note * | 48.5 | 61.2 | 60.1 | 54.1 | 65.9 | 42.7 | 36.3 | 49.3 | 7.9 | 5.0 | 12.5 |
x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
|
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Some differences were also observed among Canadians who intended to get tested for COVID-19 if they did not have symptoms but were concerned about infecting others. For example, Canadians aged 25 to 44 years old were more likely to report an intention to get tested for this reason than Canadians aged 65 or older (38.2% vs. 31.1%). Moreover, compared to Canadians with a bachelor’s degree only (reference group), a higher proportion of Canadians with a university degree above the bachelor’s level intended to get tested out of concern for infecting others (35.8% and 44.9%, respectively).
Finally, some regional and educational differences were found among Canadians who did not plan to get tested for COVID-19 (Table 1). Notably, a higher proportion of Ontario residents (reference group) than residents of the Atlantic provinces did not plan to get tested (6.7% and 3.3%, respectively). Further, compared to Canadians with a bachelor’s degree only (reference group), Canadians with trades, community college or CEGEP certificates or diplomas or university certificates below the bachelor’s level were more likely to indicate that they did not plan to get tested (5.0% and 8.8%, respectively).
Methodology
This study uses data from the third wave of Statistics Canada’s Canadian Perspectives Survey Series (CPSS), collected between June 15 and June 21, 2020. The CPSS is a new web panel survey administered by Statistics Canada that obtains information on how Canadians in the ten provinces are feeling about various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 4,000 respondents participated in the third wave of the CPSS, which focused on respondents’ perspectives on resuming economic and social activities during COVID-19. Because the CPSS targets a subsample of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) sample, demographic variables such as age, sex, and highest level of education were drawn from the LFS data.
Results from this study are based on the CPSS question: “If testing were widely available to all Canadians, why would you go to get tested for the COVID-19 virus?” Response categories included five specific reasons (Chart 1). Respondents were able to select more than one reason for getting tested for COVID-19.
References
Berger, Z.D., N.G. Evans, A.L. Phelan and R.D. Silverman. 2020. “COVID-19: Control measures must be equitable and inclusive.” British Medical Journal, 38.
Chung, Emily. 2020. Why COVID-19 testing varies so much across Canada. CBC News, April 4, 2020. Accessed July 16, 2020.
Das, M. 2020. Social construction of stigma and its implications – observations from COVID-19.
Frank, K. and R. Arim. 2020. “Canadians’ support for random COVID-19 testing.” Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 45-28-0001, No. 00044. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Government of Canada. 2020. Testing for COVID-19. Accessed July 16, 2020.
Government of Ontario. 2020. Ontario opens up COVID-19 testing across province. Accessed July 16, 2020.
Heymann, J., A. Raub, W. Waisath, M. McCormick, R Weistroffer, G. Moreno, E. Wong and A. Earle. 2020. “Protecting health during COVID-19 and beyond: A global examination of paid sick leave in 193 countries.” Global Public Policy, 15(7): 925-934.
Kumar, A. and K.R. Nayar. 2020. “COVID-19 and its mental health consequences.” Journal of Mental Health.
Saskatchewan Health Authority. 2020. Testing for individuals with no symptoms. Accessed July 16, 2020.
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