More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still global demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). The emergence of new COVID-19 variants, continuation of public health guidelines, and the evolving rates of vaccination among Canadians influence the demand for PPE and bring uncertainties in the supplies and inventories of PPE.
The onset of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the latter part of 2021 prompted provincial governments across the country to tighten public health guidelines, which continued through the first few months of 2022, so as to limit the spread of the virus. Complementing the public health restrictions are sturdy vaccination rates, which by February 27, 2022, indicated that more than 80% of the Canadian population was fully vaccinated (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022). Since July 2020, the Personal Protective Equipment Survey (PPES) has provided a portrait of demand and supply of PPE in Canada. This article explores the evolution of private sector businesses’ demand and supply of PPE using data from the January 2022 PPES.
Demand for PPE among businesses that needed or expected to need PPE declined in January 2022. Compared to August 2021, significantly more businesses reported having concerns about shortages of essential PPE in January 2022. Most shortage expectations were reported by businesses in the educational sector. Among the required PPE, businesses indicated an increased need for surgical masks, respirators, and COVID-19 rapid test kits in January 2022 compared to August 2021.
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