Canadian snowbirds: retirees who spend the summer in Canada but go south to the United States to have a warmer winter than if they spent the same time in Canada. Not to be confused with Snowbird, written by Gene MacLellan and famously sung by Anne Murray.
The snowbirds were able to return to Canada at the start of the pandemic. Given where we are in the pandemic, some snowbirds will be stuck in Canada during the upcoming winter.
Canadians can fly to the United States, even with the border being closed. Driving is not an option either way and Americans can't fly into Canada. So Canadian snowbirds can fly south. While some states have potential quarantines, the states where snowbirds reside won't have that as an issue. The NFL had an issue with Kenny Albert being in Canada but snowbirds should be fine.
The problem is that snowbirds generally travel by car or their home to their southern destination. A trailer or RV needs to cross a land border.
Some Canadians are flying and having friends take them around or grocery shop for them as needed. Some Canadians are planning to stay because of the transportation issues.
Snowbirds also have to factor in health insurance, since some insurance companies aren't offering coverage because of the nonessential travel advisory.
Canadian snowbirds deciding whether to fly south or hibernate for winter (The Current CBC Radio)
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Do the snowbirds own or rent in the United States? Can they afford to rent in Canada for the winter? So many questions.
In The Current segment on the topic on CBC Radio One, some of the respondents said they would wait until well after the November election since they feared riots based on the decision.
We have mentioned the economic impact of Canadians shopping in the United States, places such as Bellingham, WA, that have disappeared during the pandemic. Those small towns in Florida, Arizona, and other snowbird places rely heavily on Canadians economically in the winter.
Some of the snowbirds time their departure from the United States after MLB spring training ends. A 2021 MLB season isn't likely to have spring training in Florida and Arizona this coming March. The snowbirds who do make the trip are likely to leave sooner as soon as the weather gets reasonable in Canada.
The snowbirds also have to wrestle leaving relatively good COVID-19 numbers back home for the COVID-19 numbers in the United States, especially in Florida and Arizona. Winter might look bad to the snowbirds but the numbers to the south makes snow and ice more tempting than usual.
Canadians going to the U.S. south for the winter will have to quarantine back home for 2 weeks when they return in the spring of 2021. Those rules could change by then but likely not. Nostradamus would have no clue.
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Some snowbirds are headed west instead of south, staying in Canada but in Victoria and other sites on Vancouver Island. Not as warm but a lot less snow and ice.
Even if snowbirds make the trip, the season won't be quite the same. The activities may be limited, though maybe not in Florida. Canadians wearing masks might stand out in Florida and Arizona, where mask wearing isn't required. The age of traditional snowbirds is sadly a major factor in terms of recovery if they contract COVID-19.
photo credit: Snowbirds film (2017)
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