Despite a surge in hospitalizations across the country, a majority of Canadians believe that the worst of the COVID-19 crisis has passed, says a new Léger poll. Across the country, 55% of respondents share this opinion, a proportion that rises to 68% among Quebec respondents.
The Léger survey, conducted in collaboration with the Association for Canadian Studies, was conducted online among 1,538 Canadians from April 8 to 10.
“There has really been a change in mentality that has happened around the same time that our governments have removed many of the health measures in place,” observes Léger executive VP Christian Bourque.
He notes that Canadians’ level of buy-in to the perception that the worst of the pandemic has passed has surged since February. This increase is observed even though health authorities have reported in recent weeks that a sixth wave of spread has begun.
“We feel more comfortable facing this pandemic, but there are still 44% of Canadians who are afraid of catching (COVID-19). It’s as if it’s going well, but it’s not over,” says Bourque.
He adds, however, that the proportion of those who believe the worst is yet to come is at a significantly low level, with only 14% of respondents. “It’s rarely been so weak since the very beginning of the pandemic.”
It remains to be seen whether the impression that “the worst of the (health) crisis is behind” will be maintained: the belief was shared, several times already, by a majority of respondents – sometimes with more than 60% support – before this trend receded over time.
“It’s as if Canadians have been disappointed three other times and it corresponds exactly, chronologically, to the arrival of the last three waves,” says the pollster.
The Léger survey comes at a time when hospitals across Canada are being stormed by a new wave of COVID-19 patients, a situation that is expected to continue for at least another month, according to public health experts.
The most recent data from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows that hospitalizations due to COVID-19 increased by approximately 18% across Canada between April 4 and 11, from 5,109 patients to 6,020.
Wastewater analysis and data from the UK indicate that hospitalizations could begin to stabilize in mid-May.
One in four
The Léger poll also revealed that nearly one in four respondents said they had been infected with COVID-19, though Bourque believes that the reported infection rate is higher than official data suggests.
Among survey respondents, 30% aged 18 to 34 reported having been infected with COVID-19, while 12% of those aged 55 and older contracted the disease.
“What’s really striking is the age difference,” Bourque said. “It seems to fit the patterns we’re seeing, which is that the more social activities you do – going out to restaurants, bars, going to concerts – makes you a little more vulnerable to the disease.”
Vaccination status also played a role, with 38% of unvaccinated respondents saying they had been infected, compared with 20% of vaccinated respondents.
Nearly three in five respondents who had COVID-19 said they had mild symptoms, while 14% said they had severe symptoms that did not prevent them from doing their daily activities.
One in five people infected with the virus reported having severe symptoms that kept them in bed.
When asked if they were afraid of contracting COVID-19, respondents were equally divided: 44% said they were afraid of contracting the virus while 45% said they were not afraid.
Health Canada states that vaccinated people enjoy significant protection from the worst consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalizations and death. The federal agency found in March that unvaccinated people were eight times more likely to end up in hospital and 11 times more likely to die than fully vaccinated people who had also received a booster dose.