By Canadian Press

Most abiding by COVID-19 rules, back fines, arrests of those who aren’t: Poll

Mar 31, 2020 | 2:05 AM

OTTAWA — A new poll suggests most Canadians are doing what they’re told to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and would support harsher measures to punish those who aren’t.

Of the 1,590 adults surveyed between March 27 and 29, more than 90 per cent said they were practicing social distancing, keeping at least two metres apart from others, washing their hands more frequently, going out only for necessities and coughing or sneezing into their elbows.

The poll suggests Canadians were broadly satisfied with how federal, provincial and municipal governments have responded to the pandemic.

But it also suggests they’d be prepared to see governments go further to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

Ninety-two per cent of respondents said they’d agree if governments authorized police to fine people who don’t abide by orders to keep their distance from others, to self-isolate or stay in quarantine and 77 per cent said they’d agree to quarantining an entire city if necessary.

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The online poll, conducted jointly by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet surveys are not considered random samples.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2020.

The Canadian Press