A Narrative Research survey shows how much asymptomatic testing is being done in each province. Photo: Narrative Research
A new research poll conducted by Narrative Research shows that Nova Scotians have been eager to undergo asymptomatic COVID-19 tests when compared to the rest of the country.
The survey found only around a third of all Canadians have received at least one asymptomatic test.
Nova Scotia performed the best of all the provinces with 48 per cent of the population receiving at least one asymptomatic test.
Nova Scotia was enjoying relatively low COVID-19 case numbers for the first two waves of COVID-19 but following the third wave which saw a surge in case numbers. The provincial government responded by encouraging people to go out for asymptomatic testing and setting up sites to meet the demand across the province.
Those strategies appear to be paying off as demonstrated by testing figures and the reduced case numbers Nova Scotia has seen in recent days.
New Brunswick fared the worst in asymptomatic testing with only 9 percent of their population having received an asymptomatic test.
Both Quebec and Ontario were close to the national average of 33 per cent with 35 and 38 percent of their respective populations receiving at least one asymptomatic test.
A graph showing how many tests individuals have received. Photo: Narrative Research
The survey found people with higher incomes were more likely to get tested and those under the age of 35 were the age group most likely to have been tested.
Narrative Research estimates around 4 per cent of the national population did not have access to asymptomatic testing depending on where they live.
The survey results came from an online survey conducted May 19-21, 2021, with 1,232 Canadians 18 years of age or older.
