A new survey suggests six out of ten Canadians are afraid of contracting COVID-19, but that fear did not deter a large percentage from visiting with friends and relatives over the Christmas Holidays.
The survey by Leger was conducted between December 30, 2020 and January 4, 2021. Over 1,500 Canadians, including 600 in Ontario, were chosen at random from the pollsters' opinion panel.
The poll also suggests we are not very confident spread of the virus will be brought under control over the next few weeks.
Half of those surveyed across the country said they did not venture out during the holidays, but 48 per cent admitted to visiting relatives and friends at least once. About two per cent said they hosted or were hosted more than three times.
The numbers in Ontario, where daily case numbers are surging, were very similar. Of those asked, 53 per cent admitted to going to someone else's home for a visit.
On Monday, healthcare leaders in Windsor-Essex made a plea to the public to stay home.
"We really need people to stay at home, shelter in place, social distance, wear their masks," said Erie Shores Healthcare CEO Kristin Kennedy. "The numbers are showing that we -- are not following those practices."
Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington has opened its third unit for COVID-19 patients. It has also had to transfer some patients to Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Windsor Regional Hospital reported Tuesday its intensive care unit is over capacity.
It is not that Canadians are not afraid of catching the virus that has killed more than 16,000 people across the country. The survey shows 23 per cent of Ontario respondents are "very afraid", and 43 per cent are "somewhat afraid" of getting COVID-19.
Another 28 per cent said they were not afraid of getting the virus, and one per cent said they had either already been exposed or tested positive.
The anxiety reported by a majority was reflected in another question asked by Leger's pollsters; were they confident Canada will be able to limit the spread of COVID-19 over the next few weeks. Only 38 per cent were "very" or "somewhat" Canadians would flatten the curve.
Since March, Leger has also kept tabs on how Canadians feel about the evolution of the pandemic, and this last survey shows half of all respondents believe we are in the worst of it now.