Canadians' rising concerns of COVID-19 owing to uncontrollable outbreak south of border

There has been a drop in the newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada almost every day from between 1,000 and 2,000 over a month ago to 400 per day for over a week, and since June 7, the daily count of new cases in Canada has been 500 or less.

Canada is in a much better place than it was just a few months ago. Nevertheless, Canadians are feeling more worried at present according to a recent poll. 

A survey conducted by Léger for the Association for Canadian Studies between July 3 and 5, found that 58 percent of respondents were personally afraid of contracting COVID-19, up seven percentage points in two weeks and is now the highest it has been in Léger's weekly polling since mid-April.

Concern of COVID-19 peaked in early April, when 64 percent of Canadians reported being personally afraid of getting sick. At the time, Canada was reporting over 1,200 new cases every day.

According to the Léger poll, 82 percent of Canadians expect a second wave, that's up six points from early June.

Just eight percent of respondents are in favour of the government to accelerate the pace of relaxing physical distancing and self-isolation measures, down five points since last month. 

The number of respondents who want to slow down the pace has increased to 28 percent, up seven points. 

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

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