Less than half of B.C. residents believe more restrictions will lift on Sept. 7: poll

British Columbians are generally not confident that the provincial government will be able to move ahead with plans to remove more COVID-19 restrictions in early September, according to a Leger poll produced for Postmedia.

Only four in 10 residents (43 per cent) believe the province will be able to stick to its “fourth phase” of lifting restrictions on Sept. 7, which includes allowing increased capacity at large gatherings such as concerts, and further loosening of rules for businesses.

The survey also showed there is hesitancy among British Columbians to open the border with the U.S. Canada will start allowing fully vaccinated U.S. visitors into the country on Aug. 9 for non-essential travel.

The survey found that 71 per cent of British Columbians are comfortable with letting Canadians back from the U.S., but only 56 per cent are comfortable letting fully vaccinated American residents into Canada. Only 41 per cent are comfortable with the U.S.-Canada border being fully reopened.

The online survey of 1,002 residents of B.C. was conducted from July 23 to 25. There is no margin of error associated with a non-probability sample, but for comparative purposes, a probability sample of 1,002 respondents would have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The survey results come amid an increase in cases involving the more transmissible Delta virus variant, first identified in India, as well as a general surge in case numbers despite 81 per cent of those over 12 years of age being vaccinated in B.C.

On Thursday, the province reported 204 new infections in the past 24-hour period, the highest daily number since early June. More than half of the new cases are in the Interior.

The latest report from an independent COVID -19 modelling group, published Wednesday, noted there are signs the province may be entering a rapid virus growth phase and case numbers need to be watched carefully.

The report, from a group of epidemiologists from B.C. universities, also noted that the Delta variant continues to rise in frequency compared to other COVID variants.

“Communities with lower vaccination rates are seeing five times as many cases as those with higher levels of vaccination,” said the group's report.

The Leger survey also found there is hesitancy to gather in larger groups indoors even after restrictions were lifted on July 1.

Six in 10 British Columbians are keeping their indoor gatherings small, to only 10 people or less. Most are gathering at their home (68 per cent) or at a restaurant (29 per cent).

The survey also found that six in 10 residents are not wearing masks all of the time, mostly due to being fully vaccinated.