VIDEO: Polling reveals significant levels of pandemic skepticism

As of Thursday, it will be one year since the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 a pandemic. Over the past year, the virus has claimed more than 2.5 million lives and the financial costs are staggering.

Another impact is how it has divided us. Some new polling here in BC sheds some light on that.

The Research Co. poll found that more than one in six British Columbians could be classified as pandemic skeptics.

And here in the southern interior, the same polling found that percentage even higher, at about one in four.

The same polling delved into how people's opinions about the virus have affected personal relationships.

Overall, the heated discussions related to the pandemic have caused about 13% of us to cut off communication with a friend over the issue.

Among those who don't feel the virus is a real threat, the problem is even worse with about one-third of respondents report cutting off contact with friends and family over pandemic-related disagreements.

The poll shows more than half of British Columbians are happy with the work the news media is doing on the subject, but among the pandemic skeptics, fewer than 10% agree.