Miami in Québec? It’s Been a Tough Year for Canadian Snowbirds
Category: Travel
March 22, 2021 — Covid has caused so many terrible tragedies. One that is not so serious, but nevertheless painful, has been the effect on the many snowbirds who were not able to come south this winter. That includes many people from the U.S., and especially the almost 1 million Canadians who normally migrate south to places like Arizona, Florida, or Mexico for some of the winter months. It also affects the U.S. economy, as snowbirds are important contributors to warm weather economies.
Fly Yes, Drive No
Canadian citizens can fly to the U.S., if they have a negative Covid-19 viral test within three days of their departure, or documentation that they have recovered from Covid-19 within the last 90 days. Land crossings, however, are banned for non-essential travel. “Non-essential” travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature, which would cover snowbirds. Additionally, some states require or recommend people coming in from other states or countries to quarantine for up to two weeks. Since many Canadians travel either in motor homes or RVs, the non-essential restriction meant they didn’t go south this year. Others who like to drive south so they can take more of their belongings with them, stayed home too (although it is possible to fly to the U.S. and have your car shipped separately).
Comments on "Miami in Québec? It’s Been a Tough Year for Canadian Snowbirds"
Daryl says:
After reading The NY Times linked article about Domaine de Florida, what caught my eye was that Canadian snowbirds in Florida were able to receive the COVID vaccine while there:
“... a Montrealer, is on the board of Century Village East, a condominium complex in Deerfield Beach where about half of the more than 8,000 condominiums are owned by Canadian snowbirds. ...said that after arriving in Florida in January, he had been vaccinated within 48 hours. ‘This is my life we are talking about,’ he said, explaining his rationale for traveling. He said vaccinating Canadian residents in Florida, big contributors to the local economy, was a public health imperative.”
And here in PA the “PADOH has asked all Pennsylvanians to practice patience and to receive the vaccine in the COUNTY in which they reside.” So we sat in the gloomy snow and practiced our patience waiting for vaccine shipments to trickle in.