Sociodemographic disparities in knowledge, practices, and ability to comply with COVID-19 public health measures in Canada

The effectiveness of public health interventions for mitigation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic depends on individual attitudes and the level of compliance toward these measures. We surveyed a representative sample of the Canadian population about risk perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours towards the Canadian COVID-19 public health response. Our analysis demonstrates that these risk perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours varied by several demographic variables identifying a number of areas in which policies could help address issues of public adherence. Examples include targeted messaging for men and younger age groups, social supports for those who need to self-isolate but may not have the means to do so, changes in workplace policies to discourage presenteeism, and provincially co-ordinated masking and safe school reopening policies. Taken together such measures are likely to mitigate the impact of the next pandemic wave in Canada.