Close X
Monday, December 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canadians support travel rules amid Omicron: Poll

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Dec, 2021 11:47 AM
  • Canadians support travel rules amid Omicron: Poll

OTTAWA - Since the announced detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, a new poll suggests Canadians bracing for the worst.

More than four in five respondents to an online survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies said they support closing the Canadian border to travellers coming from specific countries where the variant is already present.

In response to the detection of Omicron, Canada quickly put in place travel measures, including banning visitors who have recently travelled through 10 African countries, to curb the spread.

The poll of 1,547 Canadians was conducted Dec. 3-5. It cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered truly random samples.

Based on respondents’ feedback on the potential impact of Omicron, Leger executive vice-president Christian Bourque said people are expecting the new variant to be as bad if not worse than the Delta variant.

Forty-four per cent of respondents said Omicron would have a worse impact on case counts than Delta while 43 per cent said the impact would be the same.

“Expectations aren’t overly optimistic,” said Bourque.

Sixty-eight per cent said they would approve of reintroducing restrictions like social distancing and temporary lockdowns in Canada for certain public places and certain activities.

Bourque said the approval rate for restrictions has waned somewhat compared to previous polls, in which more than 80 per cent were in favour of these safety measures.

“I don’t think Canadians are looking forward to having to go back there,” he said.

A majority of respondents said they are in favour of possibly closing Canada's border with the United States for a period of time.

“We were kind of surprised to see that almost two out of three Canadians are saying we should consider closing back the border with the U.S. although, and for many months, a lot of Canadians were waiting for the day the border would open back,” said Bourque.

Seventy-eight per cent said they would support accelerating plans to introduce a "booster" or third dose of approved COVID-19 vaccines to certain populations.

“I believe if the government was to say, ‘This is our policy about the booster shot moving forward,'” that Canadians will be largely responsive, and it would not be an issue at all,” said Bourque.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in Canada, Leger has asked respondents to describe their opinion about the state of the pandemic in the country.

The latest poll showed the a significant drop in the share of respondents who believe the worst of the crisis is behind us.

“Since Omicron has been announced, then we see really a dip in Canadians that are optimistic about where we are in the pandemic,” Bourque said.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Made-in-Canada COVID drugs show industry rebound

Made-in-Canada COVID drugs show industry rebound
At the outset of the pandemic, Canada's lack of biomanufacturing capability came into sharp focus, and the incapacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines domestically caused some major initial stumbles in the country's early vaccine rollout.    

Made-in-Canada COVID drugs show industry rebound

Liberals introduce changes to drug laws

Liberals introduce changes to drug laws
The federal government has introduced a bill in the House of Commons that would repeal mandatory minimum penalties for drug offences and some gun-related crimes. It would allow a judge to exercise discretion in imposing sentences that relate to the facts of the case, including considerations of the individual's experience with systemic racism and whether they pose a risk to public safety.

Liberals introduce changes to drug laws

Storms bring snow warnings for parts of B.C.

Storms bring snow warnings for parts of B.C.
Snowfall warnings have been issued for parts of central and northern B.C. Environment Canada predicts 15 to 20 centimetres of snow will fall in the northeast, including the Prince George, Williston, McGregor and Peace River areas, intensifying throughout the day and continuing Tuesday night.    

Storms bring snow warnings for parts of B.C.

Vandalism of public washrooms in Surrey parks

Vandalism of public washrooms in Surrey parks
Over the last few months, Surrey RCMP have received multiple calls of vandalism to public washroom facilities, particularly in the Cloverdale area. The damage has included smashed toilets, broken doors, partitions, vents, as well as stolen soap dispensers.

Vandalism of public washrooms in Surrey parks

B.C. man charged in girlfriend's death in 2016

B.C. man charged in girlfriend's death in 2016
A man has been charged with one count of second-degree murder following an investigation into the death of a woman who went missing close to six years ago from Salmon Arm, B.C. The RCMP say Derek Favell has been charged in the death of Ashley Simpson, his girlfriend at the time she disappeared in 2016.    

B.C. man charged in girlfriend's death in 2016

VPD's investigation leads to criminal networks trafficking stolen property in DTES

VPD's investigation leads to criminal networks trafficking stolen property in DTES
VPD’s Anti-Fencing Unit launched an undercover sting in April, sending entrenched officers to the Downtown Eastside to observe and gather evidence about the rampant trafficking of stolen property.

VPD's investigation leads to criminal networks trafficking stolen property in DTES

PrevNext