Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, Albertans are still divided on most matters related to COVID-19.
In a new Angus Reid poll conducted from Jan. 7-10, a representative randomized sample of 3,375 Canadian adults were surveyed about COVID-19 and how the government in their province has handledthe pandemic.
In Alberta, 35 per cent of those polled think COVID-19 restrictions in the province are too strict, while 38 per cent think they haven’t gone far enough. Twenty-seven per cent think they are just right.
About 50 per cent of those surveyed in Alberta believe that it’s time to end restrictions and let people self isolate if they’re at risk. Across the country, one in three people think it’s time to end restrictions.
The majority of Albertans also think it is inevitable they will be infected with the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. In the poll, 57 per cent of Albertans either strongly agree or agree they it’s inevitable they’ll be infected, compared to 27 per cent who disagreed with the sentiment.
Albertans also aren’t convinced that 2022 will be the last year of the pandemic either. The poll shows that 49 per cent of those surveyed disagree or strongly disagree this will be the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly 50 per cent of parents surveyed in Alberta believe that mental health and social development should be the most important consideration for the government’s priorities for kids during the pandemic, while 14 per cent believe it should be preventing the spread of COVID-19, with 37 per cent saying both should be considered.