Three months after the COVID-19 global pandemic was declared, a new survey suggests Canadians are social distancing less, and fatigue is starting to set in.
According to Angus Reid, 36 per cent of Canadians surveyed are still staying away from public spaces. A previous survey by Leger taken two months ago said 98 per cent of all Canadians were.
Angus Reid also said seven out of 10 respondents are still washing their hands frequently, two-thirds have given up shaking hands and hugging, and more than half are still maintaining at least six-feet distance between themselves and others.
Perhaps because the pandemic has hit Ontario hard, the study showed Ontario residents were the least likely to give up on social distancing. About 64 per cent say they will keep up with it as much as they have in earlier weeks of the crisis.
Fewer Canadians are afraid they will catch COVID-19 themselves. At the beginning of April, 73 per cent of participants admitted they were worried about getting sick themselves. As local economies begin to reopen, the survey suggests that it has fallen to 46 per cent. However, our concern that family or friends will become infected has been slower to fall. Seven out of 10, or 69 per cent, are still worried about loved ones.
The survey also suggests Canadians are getting worn out by the ongoing pandemic. A total of 31 per cent of all respondents said they were feeling COVID-19 fatigue, and the younger the participant, the more tired they reported being. Those between the ages of 18 and 34 years reported feeling fatigued, compared to 20 per cent over the age of 55.
At the same time, a quarter of Canadians say they feel "grateful," and just over one in five said they were still worried. Another 22 per cent admitted to boredom. Those who did not lose their job or hours at work experienced lower levels of worry and anxiety.
Asked if the worst of the pandemic is behind or ahead of us, 59 per cent of all Canadians said the worst is over. The split was closer in Ontario, where 54 per cent believe the pandemic will worsen, and 46 per cent say it will get better.
As the weeks wear on, Angus Reid says most believe normalcy is still a long way off. Two months ago, 43 per cent of respondents said it would take the country longer than six months to return to the way it was. This month, 72 per cent now believe it will take at least half a year.
Angus Reid conducted the survey of 1,510 Canadian adults between June 8 and 10. Those polled are members of the Angus Reid Forum, and the poll carries an error margin of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.