Low-income Canadians more likely to die of Covid-19: StatsCan

Low-income Canadians suffered higher mortality rates from Covid-19 in the first wave of the pandemic, according to new research from Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The research found the mortality rate from Covid-19 was about 1.4 times higher for those living in low-income households during the first wave of the pandemic.

For low-income single parents, the mortality rate was 1.7 times higher than for other single-parent households, the research found.

Overall, single-parent households had “significantly lower” mortality rates than larger households — such as couples with children, and those living with roommates.

While the data reveals differences in mortality rates between household types and low-income groups, “other lifestyle, geographic and socioeconomic factors also influence risk of Covid-19 transmission, infection, and morbidity, warranting further study,” StatsCan said.

The research was based on deaths attributed to Covid-19 between January 1 and July 4, 2020. The household classifications were based on data from the 2016 census.

James Langton

James is a senior reporter for Advisor.ca and its sister publication, Investment Executive. He has been reporting on regulation, securities law, industry news and more since 1994.