More Canadians now view COVID-19 as serious and worried they or their family will fall ill

As the COVID-19 virus spreads so do the number of Canadians who say they see the threat of a coronavirus outbreak as serious, says a new report released March 17.

The report by Angus Reid Institute indicates that 68% of Canadians see the virus as serious, more than a 50% increase in the number saying so 10 days ago.

Having said that, Angus Reid also notes that one in three Canadians view the situation as “overblown.”

Falling ill anxiety level rises

Meantime, anxiety over personally falling ill – or seeing it happen to a friend or family member – is also dramatically increasing. Nearly one-in-five (17%) Canadians worry that if they contract COVID-19 their illness will be severe or life threatening. This sentiment almost doubles (33%) among those over the age of 65. Where three-in-ten were worried for themselves at the beginning of February, twice as many are now (57%). Where fewer than half (39%) were worried about family and friends six weeks ago, fully three-quarters (76%) are now.

As well, more Canadians are expressing trust in the information news organizations and officials are offering about the crisis than they were a week ago. More Canadians are inclined to say their provincial governments are doing a good job handling the crisis over the same period of time. And in every region of the country with the exception of Quebec (where sentiment is unchanged) more people say the same about the federal government’s performance.

Financial markets, how long the virus will last and hand-washing views have changed

The latest survey also indicates:

• As the outbreak has worsened, so too have financial markets. Half of higher-income Canadians report their investments have taken losses. In addition to this, one-in-ten, regardless of income, report having lost hours at work, a number that is sure to rise as businesses close.
• When Canadians are asked how long they anticipate it will be before things are back to what they consider to be normal in Canada, the most common response is three to six months. Two-in-five (38%) feel this is the timeline. One-quarter feel it will be a month or two (26%) and the same number anticipate it taking six months to a year (25%):
• Canadians are circumspect over whether behaviour changes like hand-washing will have a significant impact on slowing or stopping the outbreak. While one-quarter (24%) say their efforts will have a “huge” impact, most (65%) say there is only so much they can possibly do.