Compared with the other Group of 10 (G10) countries, Canada performed better than most in terms of percentage of the population receiving 2 doses of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and on measures assessing the direct effect of the pandemic: number of people infected, number who died from COVID-19 and total excess deaths.
People in Canada experienced some of the most restrictive public health measures across a broad range of domains, including restrictions on public gatherings and school closures.
Canada’s economy showed similar growth in inflation and public indebtedness, but weaker gross domestic product growth than other countries.
As Canada enters the third year of the pandemic, government and public health leaders should inform the public about the nation’s successes and ongoing challenges, shape expectations regarding pandemic control measures that may be necessary in the months ahead, and focus public health restrictions on those that remain essential to contain spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection.