More than half of Canadians think there's no way to avoid Omicron infection, says poll
More than half of Canadians think they’re doomed to get sick with COVID-19 as the Omicron variant spreads across the country, according to a poll from the Angus Reid Institute.
The national poll was conducted online between Jan. 7 and 10, a few days before reported cases of COVID-19 in B.C. began to dip slightly.
“More than half of Canadians – 55 per cent – say regardless of the precautions they take, they expect to contract Omicron,” reads a statement from Angus Reid Institute.
On Jan. 14, health officials said that even though the province may have reached its peak for the Omicron variant, hospitalization rates in B.C. are increasing and still a concern.
“Among those who feel that they will be infected with the latest variant no matter what they do, half say that public health measures should be removed completely, and half disagree,” the institute says.
Poll results also show that men are more likely than women to believe there’s nothing that can stop them from getting Omicron at this point.
“For both genders, the resignation to infection is highest among those aged 35 to 54, notably the age group more likely to have children living at home,” reads the institute’s poll analysis.
B.C.’s current public health measures include mandatory use of masks indoors and at school, restrictions on gathering sizes, and a requirement to show proof of vaccination at restaurants and for other non-essential services, among others.
On average, 37 per cent of Canadians think COVID-19 restrictions are “about right,” according to the poll results. But among B.C. residents, the approval rating is higher, with 42 per cent of B.C. residents agreeing the restrictions are sufficient.
Another 26 per cent of people in B.C. say the restrictions “go too far” and are “too strict,” compared to the national average of 32 per cent. And 31 per cent say the public health measures “don’t go far enough” or “should be stricter,” which is the same as the national average.
The poll was conducted using a representative randomized sample of 3,375 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum, and carries a possible margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot multiple times in attempted assassination
Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is in life-threatening condition after being wounded in a shooting after a political event Wednesday afternoon, according to his Facebook profile.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.