Opinion: But behaviors also tell us many are not ready to resume previously restricted activities
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For many, memories of the pandemic will mean recalling the observation of public health restrictions — staying home, social distancing, wearing face masks. To the relief of many, these have mostly been lifted. Does this mean that we think the pandemic is over?
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Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, recently reported that the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing. On June 13, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized her point by testing positive for COVID for the second time.
In a recent Leger survey of British Columbians, we learned that 79 per cent think that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. It is also interesting to note that when we asked this question two months earlier, 55 per cent of British Columbians said that the worst was behind us, representing a radical positive shift in the population’s perception of the pandemic. So, do we think the pandemic is over?
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This positive shift is mutated when we consider individuals’ fear of contracting COVID — 51 per cent of British Columbians say they are still afraid. This is perhaps not surprising when considering the data posted on the provincial COVID dashboard — 50 new deaths this week, and 276 people in hospital with the virus.
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Since the public health orders were lifted in early April, many British Columbians recommended activities put on pause for the pandemic, but almost equal numbers have not. While 38 per cent say that they have stopped wearing masks in indoor public settings, 32 per cent say they still wear masks. Twenty-eight per cent of BC residents are hosting gatherings in their home, and 29 per cent are not hosting yet. In terms of non-essential travel, 31 per cent are taking trips, and 29 per cent are staying home.
Even though public spaces seem to be filled with people not obviously concerned about the virus, only 55 per cent of British Columbians say they feel comfortable going to restaurants and bars with people outside of their household, and only 43 per cent of people say that they are at ease attending in-person events. So, do we think the pandemic is over or not?
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We know that the virus has touched many lives in very personal and serious ways. In fact, 58 per cent of British Columbians have had a close contact with the virus so far — either having it themselves or having a loved one test positive. Sadly, five per cent of the population has lost a loved one to COVID. In almost every question asked in our survey, those who were personally touched by the virus were less likely to be engaging in pre-pandemic activities.
While everyone is looking forward to the day that this pandemic is truly over, our collective behavior tells us that that day is not yet here. And that our cautious optimism is, most likely, warranted.
Heather Owen and Jason Allsopp are both vice-presidents in Leger’s Vancouver office. The survey data is from Leger’s BC Omnibus Studies, conducted from June 3rd to June 5th among 1002 British Columbians and from Leger’s North American Tracker collected April 8 to 10 from 1,539 Canadians. For more information visit leger360.com
Leger invites you to participate in future public opinion surveys by clicking here
