COVID-19 Local Impact Survey Results

• Overall in March/April 2021, 70% (95% confidence interval: 68% - 72%) of respondents said that the pandemic is ‘very serious’, with another 22% (20% - 24%) calling it ‘somewhat serious’.

• Perceived seriousness of the pandemic increases with age.Some of the age-related differences in following public health measures may be attributable to the perceived seriousness of the pandemic.
  
  

• Public health measures such as physical distancing and wearing face coverings/masks in indoor spaces can help stop the spread of the virus.Since July 2020, everyone entering indoor public spaces (businesses, organizations, public transit) in Simcoe Muskoka has been required to wear a face covering/mask. According to the spring 2021 survey, respondents were more likely to avoid indoor private gatherings (e.g. parties) (78% (76% - 80%)) than indoor public spaces (e.g. stores) (61% (59% - 64%)).Avoidance of indoor public spaces increased significantly between fall 2020 and spring 2021.

• Respondents who did not avoid these places were more likely to distance at public spaces (84% (82% - 86%)) than private gatherings (46% (41% - 50%)). Distancing at indoor private gatherings decreased significantly between fall 2020 and spring 2021.
• Respondents who did not avoid these places were more likely to mask at public spaces (96% (94% - 97%)) than at private gatherings (44% (40% - 49%))
• Seniors aged 65 and older were more likely to avoid attending public spaces (67% (62% - 71%)) or private gatherings (86% (82% - 90%)) compared to younger adults aged 18-34 (public: 55% (49% - 60%) and private: 63% (57% - 69%))
• Among people who do go, seniors were more likely to distance in public spaces (92% (88% - 95%)) or private gatherings (65% (52% - 76%)) compared to younger adults aged 18-34 (public:76% (70% - 81%) and private: 35% (27% - 44%))

• The survey asked Simcoe Muskoka adults about their level of concern on a number of topics. The spring 2021 results show that people were as concerned about the indirect impacts of the pandemic as they were about the direct impacts. For example, 94% (95% confidence interval: 93% - 95%) of respondents were somewhat/very worried about the impact of the pandemic on the economy and 87% (85% - 88%) were somewhat/very worried about a high-risk family member or friend becoming infected. Significantly more people were concerned about social and recreational activities, mental health, burning out, restrictions on personal freedoms and household conflict in the spring 2021 survey compared to fall 2020.There were significantly fewer people concerned about income and access to food programs in the spring 2021 survey compared to the fall 2020.
  
  

• There were age and sex differences for the following topics of concern:

• Female respondents were more concerned about burning out because there is no break from responsibilities, and the ability to provide care for others, their personal or household mental and physical health, and about the impact on a high-risk individual that they know, compared to male respondents.
• Young adults aged 18 to 34 were more concerned about burning out because there is no break from responsibilities, and their education and household conflict compared to seniors.Young adults were more concerned about public transit than 35-64 year olds.
• Seniors were less concerned about restrictions on personal freedoms, personal/ household mental health and the impact on income than 18-34 year olds or 35-64 year olds.
  
  

• Approximately one in three survey respondents were parents to children less than 18 years old.Parents were also asked questions about concerns regarding their child’s wellbeing.The results in spring 2021 show parents were more concerned about indirect impacts of the pandemic on their child/children than they were about their children becoming ill. For example, 87% (84% - 90%) of parents were somewhat/very worried about the loneliness or isolation of their child(ren)while 61% (57% - 65%) were somewhat/very worried that their children would become sick from COVID-19.Significantly more parents were concerned about their child(ren)’s loneliness, mental health, amount of screen time and physical activity in the spring 2021 than in fall 2020.Significantly fewer parents were concerned about their child becoming ill with COVID-19 in spring 2021 than in fall 2020.

• Female respondents were more concerned about their child becoming sick with COVID-19 and their children passing COVID-19 onto family or friends, than males.
• Young adults 18-34 years old were less concerned about the mental health of their child, the amount of screen time their child is engaging in, the amount of physical activity and their child’s online safety than 35-64 year olds.
  
  

• There were income or education differences for the following topics of concern:

• Survey respondents with household incomes less than $50,000 (before tax) in 2019 were more concerned about access to food programs, impact of the pandemic on income, public transit, and their child(ren)’s physical health compared to respondents with higher household incomes.
• Survey respondents without a post-secondary diploma or degree were more concerned about the impact of the pandemic on income and public transit compared to respondents with less formal education.
• Respondents with post-secondary diploma or degree were more concerned about burning out because they have no break from their responsibilities and their child(ren) passing COVID-19 onto friends or family compared to respondents with less formal education.
• Survey respondents who identified as belonging to a visible minoritygroup were more concerned about access to technology, and their child(ren) missing routine vaccinations compared to those who identified as belonging to a non-visible minority group.

• The survey asked about experiences with needing and accessing health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.A significant proportion of respondents or their household members who required a health care service avoided getting care (61% (95% confidence interval: 58% - 63%) and/or experienced delays/cancellations (69% (67% - 71%)) receiving care. The proportion of respondents who avoided health services is significantly higher in the spring 2021 survey compared to fall 2020.

• Among those who had either avoided and/or delayed care, 18% (16% - 20%) felt that their health had become a lot worse as a result, and another 53% (51% - 56%) felt that their health had become somewhat worse.

• It has been acknowledged the public health measures required to reduce transmission of COVID-19 can be detrimental to individual mental health and substance use behaviours.For resources on how you can find mental health supports in this challenging time, visit the health unit’s website on Supports for You.
  
  

• In general, mental health and wellbeing has declined during the pandemic for Simcoe Muskoka residents.For pre-pandemic data on the mental health of Simcoe Muskoka residents, please visit the HealthSTATS pages on mental health.
  
  

• In spring 2021, over half ofadult residents (56% (95% Confidence Interval: 54% - 58%) rated their mental health in the past two weeks as “Fair” or “Poor” while 18% (16% - 20%) rated their mental health as “Excellent” or “Very Good”.There were significantly more respondents reporting ‘fair or poor” mental health in spring 2021 compared to fall 2021.

• Younger adults aged 18-34 years were more likely to rate their mental health as “Fair or “Poor” (71% (66% - 76%)) than 35-64 year olds (59% (56% - 62%)) and seniors aged 65 and older (39% (35% - 44%))
• Females were less likely to rate their mental health as “Excellent” or “Very Good” (13% (11% - 14%)) than males (23% (20% - 27%))
  
  

• The survey also asked about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected levels of stress, anxiety, loneliness, and sense of community belonging. Nearly three quarters of respondents indicated that feelings of stress (72% (70% -74 %)) and anxiety (74% (71% – 76%)) worsened compared to before the pandemic. Six in ten respondents indicated that feelings of loneliness (62% (60% - 64%)) and their sense of community belonging (63% (61% - 66%)) had worsened due to the pandemic.All of these self-reported changes were significantly worse in the spring 2021 survey compared to fall 2020.

• Females were more likely to report their stress, anxiety, loneliness and sense of community belonging had worsened due to the pandemic compared to males.
• Younger adults aged 18-34 were more likely to report their sense of community belonging and loneliness had worsened compared to seniors aged 65+.Adults 18-64 years were most likely to report that stress and anxiety had worsened compared to seniors.
  
  

• Self-reported substance use generally increased during the pandemic among those who used these substances, with cannabis use increasing the most compared to alcohol use, cigarette use, e-cigarette use and non-medical use of other drugs.For pre-pandemic data on substance use, please visit the HealthSTATS pages on tobacco, alcohol & drugs. There were no significant changes in self-reported substance use between fall 2020 and spring 2021 surveys.

• Seniors aged 65 and older who previously used alcohol were less likely to increase their use (23% (18% - 27%)) compared to 18-34 year olds (38% (32% - 45%)) and 35-64 year olds (42% (39%-46%))
• Seniors who previously used cannabis were less likely to increase their use (33% (22% - 46%)) compared to 18-34 year olds (60% (51% - 69%))
• Seniors were less likely to increase their non-medical use of other drugs (10% (5% - 19%) compared to 18-34 year olds (48% (30% - 67%)) and 35-64 year olds (31% (25% - 39%))

• In addition to the threat of COVID-19 infection, the pandemic has had other impacts on physical health.The survey asked questions about sleep, exercise, eating habits and screen time.Between 5% and 20% of survey respondents made positive changes in these domains, however, for the most part, more respondents reported there were no changes, or that there were negative changes due to the pandemic. There was a significant increase in respondents reporting less sleep, exercise and healthy eating in spring 2021 compared to fall 2020. For pre-pandemic data on physical health of Simcoe Muskoka residents, please visit the HealthSTATS pages on healthy eating healthy weights, or physical activity

• Adults aged 18-34 (48% (42% - 53%)) and 35-64 (36% (33% - 39%)) were more likely to report a decrease in healthy eating compared to seniors aged 65 and older (20% (16% - 24%))
• Adults aged 18-34 (87% (83% - 91%)) and 35-64 (84% (82% - 86%)) were more likely to report an increase in social media use compared to seniors (77% (73% - 81%))
• Females were more likely to increase social media use (85% (84% - 87%)) compared to males ((80% (77% - 83%))
• Females were more likely to increase exercise (25% (23% - 32%)) compared to males (20% (17% - 23%))
• Respondents with a household income less than $50,000 (before tax) in 2019 were more likely to report a negative change in sleep compared to higher income groups.
• Survey respondents who identified as belonging to a visible minority group were more likely to report a decrease in healthy eating compared to those who identified as belonging to a non-visible minority group.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted economic security and food security for many individuals and families.
  
  

• Survey results indicate approximately one in four (26% (24% - 28%)) respondents received financial assistance from some level of government since the beginning of the pandemic.Despite this, between 22% and 32% of all respondents reported that it was more difficult to pay the mortgage/rent, pay bills and/or debts, buy enough food, and buy high quality food. There were no significant differences in financial impacts between fall 2020 and spring 2021 surveys.

• Between 25% and 35% of adults aged 18-34 and 35-64 report the pandemic made it harder to pay rent or mortgage, pay bills and buy enough food compared to less than 12% of seniors
• The pandemic-related difficulty in paying debts and buying high quality/ variety of food decreases with every age group starting around 40% in 18-34 year olds and decreasing to 10% (debts) and 20% (high quality/ variety food) in seniors.
• Respondents with household income less than $50,000 (before tax) in 2019 were more likely to report the pandemic has made it harder to pay rent or mortgage, pay bills and debts, buy enough food and buy high quality food compared to those with higher incomes.
• Respondents without a post-secondary diploma or degree were more likely to report the pandemic has made it harder to buy enough food and buy high quality food compared to those with a diploma or degree.
  
  

• At the time of the survey in spring 2021, 18% (16% - 20%) of households had experienced food insecurity in the past 30 days.This includes 5.4% (4.3% - 6.7%) in marginal food insecurity, 7.3% (6.1% - 8.6%) in moderate food insecurity and 5.1% (4.1% - 6.3%) in severe food insecurity.
  
  

For pre-pandemic data on economic security, please visits the HealthSTATS pages on income measures or household food insecurity.

• The survey asked respondents about their perception of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s (SMDHU) response to the pandemic including protecting the health of Simcoe Muskoka residents, and providing up-to-date, clear, and credible information.
  
  

• Overall, between two thirds (63%) and three quarters (76%) of respondents somewhat/strongly agreed that SMDHU provides credible information, is doing everything it can to protect the health of its residents, is providing up-to-date information about COVID-19, and is providing information on how to protect residents. Level of agreement with all four of these statements was significantly lower in the spring 2021 survey than in fall 2020.

• Females were more likely to somewhat/strongly agree with all four statements compared to males.
• Younger adults aged 18 to 34 were less likely to agree with the statements about providing clear information (67% (61 % - 72%)) and doing everything SMDHU can to protect health of residents (54% (48% - 60%)) compared to 35-64 year olds and seniors.
  
  

For information about SMDHU’s pandemic response and information for the public, visit the health unit’s website at www.smdhu.org and the HealthSTATS COVID-19 pages.

• Immunizing the population is key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is working with many community partners to meet this goal.For more information on the local immunization campaign, please visit the health unit’s website on COVID Vaccines and Immunization or the COVID Immunization HealthSTATS page For data on routine (non-COVID-19) vaccines, please visit the (non-COVID) Immunization HealthSTATS page.
  
  

• At the time of the survey in spring 2021, almost 20% of respondents had been vaccinated.Among those who were not yet vaccinated, over 80% (82%, 95% Confidence Interval 80% - 83%) of adult respondents indicated they definitely or probably plan to get the vaccine.
  
  

• One-in-ten unvaccinated adults said they would probably not get the vaccine or were unsure whether they would get the vaccine (10% (9% - 12%)).Another 7% (5.7% - 8.5%) of unvaccinated adults stated they would definitely not get the vaccine.Vaccine acceptability increased significantly between fall 2020 and spring 2021.

• Seniors were more likely to plan to get the vaccine (97% (94% - 98%)) compared to 35-64 year and 18-34 year olds (both groups between 70% and 80%)

• Respondents with a post-secondary diploma or degree were more likely to report that they would definitely or probably get the vaccine compared to those without a diploma or degree.