Second in a two-part series on Torontonians' attitudes toward SARS
Over the past weekend, the SARS death toll in Toronto rose to 21 and medical experts are suggesting there may be more deaths in the near future as there are several critically ill patients currently in hospitals. On a positive note, the number of suspected or confirmed SARS cases in Toronto dropped below 100 and many patients who were being treated for SARS have been released from hospitals.
As Toronto continues to battle SARS, recent 优蜜传媒data show that most Toronto residents are satisfied with the measures that the government has taken to contain the virus, but are not sure that a cure will be found soon.
Satisfaction With Government Measures
The provincial government has undertaken a variety of measures to control the spread of the SARS virus. Among other things, those who have been exposed to SARS, have shown symptoms of the disease, or are currently showing symptoms are being asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves for 10 days. In an April 11-13 poll*, Gallup asked Toronto residents if they feel satisfied with what their government has done to contain SARS. More than two-thirds (69%) of Torontonians are either "very satisfied" (21%) or "satisfied" (48%) with the government's efforts. Fewer express dissatisfaction with government measures to contain SARS. Only 12% are "dissatisfied" and 4% are "very dissatisfied."
Medical Advances
How optimistic are Torontonians that a cure for SARS will be discovered in the near future? While the poll was being conducted, Canadian scientists announced they had sequenced the genome of the strain of coronavirus that is believed to cause SARS. The results show Toronto residents are divided in their opinions on this question -- about a third (38%) of Toronto residents agree that a cure for SARS would be discovered in the next month, while a similar number (40%) disagree. About one in five have no opinion either way.
Although it would be months at least before a vaccine for SARS could be approved for the public, most Toronto residents would agree to take one if it were available. A full two-thirds (66%) of Torontonians agree or strongly agree that they would take a vaccine against this virus. Only a fifth (20%) disagree.
Bottom Line
Although tourism and business travel to Toronto have been severely affected, hospitals are still under various restrictions, and many other businesses are feeling the effects of SARS, Toronto residents were still feeling positive about the government's handling of SARS as of mid-April. But if new cases continue to appear, residents' regard for the way the government is handling the situation may well decline. Torontonians satisfaction with their government's handling of the disease may largely rely on the rapidity of developments on the medical front.
*Results are based on telephone interviews with 504 adults in Toronto, Ontario, conducted April 11-13, 2003. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5%.