Where exactly are Canadians taking COVID-19? The authorities are not entirely sure

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U.S. data from a Massachusetts Institute of Technology paper indicates that, before the pandemic, indoor dining accounted for by far the largest number of socializing encounters – 13% – followed by fast-food, retail, gyms and other venues. . That research didn’t ascertain the amount of socialization that took place in private gatherings.

It would be nice to have more field data in Canada, but those numbers indicate where blockages should occur, Evans said.

“We know that when we don’t impose or limit things, people will naturally return to those specific circumstances they tend to socialize in,” he said. “If you look at the United States now, that probably explains why they are out of control over there.”

As for the suggestion that most of the transmission takes place in private homes, “there is very little data to support that claim,” said the queen’s professor.

But that’s not good enough for the country’s restaurants, who suspect they are a “scapegoat” based on flimsy evidence, with devastating consequences.

About 10,000 restaurants have already closed permanently, wiping out hundreds of thousands of jobs, said Todd Barclay of Restaurants Canada. Meanwhile, operators have spent approximately $ 750 million on measures to protect customers and staff.

Governments should at least release data separating restaurants from bars, Barclay said, as its members’ experience suggests restaurants are less responsible for spreading COVID than drinking establishments.

“The problem for us is that we’re not getting the information to suggest where it’s happening,” Barclay said. “They’re trying to get out of it and guessing where they should focus, instead of using the data to allow them to focus on the areas that create the biggest problems.”

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