A new poll shows an increase in the number of Canadians who are worried about catching COVID-19, but many rarely wear masks and some not at all.
The results of the Angus Reid survey, conducted online between July 10-11, show that 59 per cent of Canadians are worried about personally contracting the virus.
That’s an increase of 13 per cent from last month, which was the lowest point of a steady decline since the beginning of April, when 73 per cent of the population worried about getting COVID-19.
Despite growing concerns, only 20 per cent of those surveyed said they wore a mask any time they went out, and 35 per cent said they did so “most of the time.”
32 per cent said they rarely wear a mask, and 13 per cent never do.
The main reason respondents gave for not wearing a mask was that physical distancing is enough, with 28 per cent writing this option in under the “other” field.
The next most common reason was forgetting to wear a mask, which 26 per cent of respondents chose.
The survey also found that younger respondents were more likely to cite a lack of worry about the virus as their reason for not wearing a mask.
Yet even among non-mask wearers, there is support for mandatory mask policies.
A whopping 74 per cent of Canadians said they would be fine with a mandatory mask policy in public spaces where they live.
Support for this type of policy was highest in Atlantic Canada (80 per cent) and Ontario (79 per cent), and lowest in Saskatchewan (55 per cent) and Alberta (60 per cent).
In B.C., 75 per cent of respondents said they would support a mandatory mask policy in their community’s public spaces.
