As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, most Canadians were compelled to spend another weekend without many of the regular distractions that the season usually brings.
The country will have to prepare for “virtual” Easter get-togethers, hoping that our efforts to observe social distancing will pay off with a quicker road to our regularly scheduled way of life.
Research Co. and Glacier Media collected some data to find out what Canadians are doing and missing as we continue to be, for the most part, confined to our homes.
In a sign of just how much this outbreak has captured our attention, three in five Canadians (61 per cent) say they have read, listened to or watched the news more often over the past month. Alberta boasts the highest proportion of avid news consumers (70 per cent).
Technology has clearly allowed our self-isolation to be more bearable. Just over two in five Canadians (41 per cent) say they are taking part in entertainment activities that involve electronics – such as tablets, smartphones or video game consoles – more regularly than before. A practically identical proportion of Canadians (40 per cent) are streaming content online more often than before the outbreak forced them to stay in.
As expected, Canadians aged 18 to 34 are significantly more attached to electronics (58 per cent for tablets, smartphones or video game consoles and 57 per cent for streaming content online) than older residents.
This does not mean that more traditional forms of amusement are going unnoticed. More than a quarter of Canadians (27 per centr) are reading books more periodically than before, including 35 per cent of British Columbians. In addition, one in five Canadians (20 per cent) are partaking in entertainment activities that do not involve electronics (such as board games or puzzles) more often now.
More than a third of Canadians (36 per cent) have communicated with relatives more frequently than before the outbreak, including 44 per cent of Albertans and 39 per cent of women.
With gyms and yoga facilities closed, three in 10 Canadians (30 per cent) have turned to exercising at home more regularly. British Columbia appears ready to defend its title as the fittest province in the country, with 36 per cent of residents dusting off old workout routines to follow within their home’s walls. Conversely, 10 per cent of Canadians are exercising outside their home more often, including 13 per cent in Ontario.
Across the country, restaurants first offered reduced hours and seating capacity, only to later become “ghost kitchens” for take-out and delivery service. Canadians appear to be articulating a combination of economic caution and concerns about contagion, in spite of multiple reminders abut “touchless delivery.” Only 14 per cent of Canadians are ordering food in more regularly than before the outbreak, including 22 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 and 18 per cent of Quebecers.
One in 10 Canadians (11 per cent) say they are meditating more often now than they did before. British Columbia is ahead of all other provinces on this indicator (17 per cent) while Alberta is last (five per cent).
Canadians who profess a religion were asked if they are engaging in prayer more regularly than before. One in four religious Canadians (25 per cent) are indeed praying more often, including 29 per cent of women and 30 per cent of those in the highest income bracket.
When Canadians are asked what has been “hard” from their time of self-isolation, being unable to see family (45 per cent) and friends (44 per cent) in person are at the top of the list. Albertans are more likely to yearn family (49 per cent) and British Columbians feel the same way about friends (53 per cent).
Just over two in five Canadians (41 per cent) say it has been difficult to skip on travel, including 51 per cent of British Columbians. A slightly smaller proportion of Canadians (38 per cent) say surrendering dinners at restaurants has been tough.
More than a third of Canadians (36 per cent) have found it “hard” to not have the chance to attend entertainment events, such as concerts, plays or movies. Slightly fewer (32 per cent) say it is difficult to miss out on live sports. As expected, there is a gender gap: 41 per cent of men long for sports, compared to 24 per cent of women.
The cancellation of camps for kids forced parents to share their isolation pods with their children. While it is heartening to see that 51 per cent of Canadians with children aged 14 or younger have found it “easy” to coincide all day, more than two in five (44 per cent) say it has been a struggle. Parents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the most likely to say that this experience has been “easy” (52 per cent). Atlantic Canada is at the bottom (31 per cent).
We do not know yet how long this is going to last, but Canadians are taking steps to maintain their sanity in the face of an unsolicited lockdown. And while some are evidently missing the opportunity to see family and friends, news organizations and entertainment providers are playing an essential role in making our collective captivity easier to withstand.
