Snowbirds unfairly vilified over COVID

DEAR EDITOR:

I am a snowbird. Off to Yuma Az. on Nov. 26 2020. Due to COVID-19 we had to fly. The U.S. government allowed this even if our fearless leader in Ottawa thought it wasn’t a great idea.

Have our own place so self-isolated for 14 days (not needed — just in case) and after only Saturday in sun, walked, went to grocery and home improvement stores. After six weeks, two friends from Canada arrived so we had a bubble of two.

A while after, two more friends came down, a bubble of four. On Feb. 2, we had our first vaccine and on March 2 we got our second dose. Our bubble also got their shots around this time as did most of the people in our complex.

Wore our masks, distanced, sanitized and whatever else officials wanted — just in case. Had a great time, weather was great, beer is cheap, a T-bone is five bucks a pound... what’s not to like? Out for supper twice, lunch once and breakfast twice and no matter what you hear on COVID-TV, almost everyone followed the rules.

End of March, time to come home. COVID test March 31 for peace of mind then April 13, which was the 72-hour test needed to cross the border. Both negative.

Had a plan to cross the border on foot rather than air to avoid the $2,000 COVID hotel. Worked great. Had another COVID test at the border, results in two days — also negative.

Every Snowbird I talked to had a similar experience and every person across the border is tracked so why isn’t our government reporting on how many COVID positive people are coming into Canada. Probably because there are not any.

Variants and cases can certainly happen domestically (check the news) and can not be kept out by a line on a map. I strongly believe our government is incompetent in this quarantine situation. I would like to know how many shares they or their buddies have in the hotels people are being sent to. I have 12 more days in quarantine which I will respect and after that I will still be responsible. I also do not care how many people think I did something wrong. I did not endanger anyone and I am not in the line for a shot in front of any Canadian.

Curb your jealousy. This is strictly my opinion. My wife and friends are not aware I wrote this. Doug Yeast Summerland