More than 17 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and New Brunswickers still have confidence in the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jennifer Russell.
A poll conducted by Narrative Research in the middle of July asked 1,231 Canadians 18 or older how much confidence they have in their respective chief medical officer of health to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
Respondents ranked their confidence from 1-10, with the latter meaning complete confidence.
Russell, responsible for steering the province through the COVID-19 emergency order, received a vote of confidence from 76 per cent of respondents.
All of Atlantic Canada’s top doctors received a high percentage of confidence from their respective provinces, with an average of nearly 80 per cent.
While all chief medical officers of health received a confidence vote above 50 per cent, some participants were hesitant. Notably, in Ontario and Alberta — provinces that saw large COVID-19 caseloads — their health officials received 55 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively.
The poll also asked each participant about their confidence in Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam. Overall, tam received a vote of confidence from 63 per cent of those polled.