Snowbirds debate making southern migration during COVID crisis
A couple of years ago, Renee Huart-Field and her husband packed up their lives in Bracebridge, Ont., in pursuit of the retirees’ dream.
And for a while, they were living it. The couple loaded most of their worldly possessions into a trailer, and with their two golden retrievers in tow, started splitting their time between two picturesque destinations.
During the warm months, they retreated to their home along the red bluffs of Little Pond, P.E.I. And when the Maritime cold sets in, they hit the road and head for the sunshine of Florida’s Gulf Coast at their other property in Englewood.
But now, Huart-Field says she’s among the many snowbirds whose cross-border lifestyles have been derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. And despite having two homes, the 63-year-old says neither seems like a suitable place to wait out the winter months.
Last Friday, authorities announced that the partial closure of Canada’s border with the U.S. will be extended until Oct. 21. While the restrictions don’t apply to entry to the U.S. by plane, land crossings are limited to essential travel.
Huart-Field and her husband aren’t keen on flying because of their canine companions, so if the rules remain in place, it seems like heading to Florida is off the table. And at their age, Huart-Field said braving the cold by themselves on the remote shores of P.E.I. also doesn’t seem feasible.
The couple is contemplating a return to Ontario, or perhaps finding a rental in Charlottetown. But amid all the uncertainty about travel rules, insurance coverage and public health risks, Huart-Field said Canada’s snowbird community has been left without many good options.
“People sort of think well, gee, must be nice to have that dilemma. But it’s not, ” said Huart-Field. “As you get older, the winters become harder... It’s a health thing.”
Dr. Monika Dutt, a public health physician based in Sydney, N.S., said snowbirds have a host of health concerns to consider in deciding whether to migrate south this winter.
Snowbirds tend to be older, so they’re more likely to have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk of COVID-19 complications, said Dutt.
Many popular winter destinations, including several U.S. states such as Florida and California, have struggled to contain their COVID19 outbreaks, she said. Relatively speaking, Dutt said many parts of Canada have been more effective at reducing rates of infection.
But there are other health factors to consider, said Dutt, ones that can’t be measured by a comparison of new COVID-19 cases on either side of the border.
Between physical distancing precautions and icy conditions that can limit mobility, Dutt said many older Canadians may suffer from isolation this winter. This can increase their risk of falls, cognitive decline and substance use, she said.
To make informed winter plans, Dutt recommends that snowbirds familiarize themselves with the Canadian government’s travel advisories, public health measures at their intended destination and quarantine requirements upon arrival and return.
“You need to decide is it better for you to be at home where you’re potentially near support and family and a health-care system that you know you can depend on, versus being somewhere else in the world?”
Karen Palmer, an independent health policy analyst and adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University, also said it’s critical that snowbirds consider the perils of relying on a foreign health-care system.
Some jurisdictions may not have the medical infrastructure to treat an influx of international patients, which could pose a risk to travellers and local populations, said Palmer.
Moreover, Palmer urged snowbirds to purchase travel insurance, and read the fine print to ensure the policy comes with comprehensive health coverage.