Why some snowbirds are still heading south this winter despite COVID-19 and a closed land border

Despite the U.S. having the world's highest number of COVID-19 cases, Canadian snowbird Elizabeth Evans is determined to head southnext month. That's because her only winter homeis parked atan RV resort in Williston, Florida.

"I don't have a [winter] home here," said Evans, who's currently living in her summer trailer at a campground in Niagara Falls. "I don't have any winter clothes."

Evans is one of a numberof snowbirds set on going to the U.S. this winter, despite the ongoing pandemic. But getting there may not be easy: To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the Canada-U.S. land border remainsclosed to non-essential traffic until at least Oct. 21.

Evans believes the closure will be extended, so she plans to fly to Florida on Oct. 30 two days before thecampground where she's livingcloses for the season.

"There's no way I am staying here," she said. "Even if I had to get on the plane buck-naked, I'd be on it."

The Canadian Snowbird Association which has more than 110,000 members said it's hard to gauge at this point what percentage of its members will actually head south this winter.

Some snowbirdshave alreadynixed their plans,while others are undecided.

"A significant portion of them are in a holding pattern, just to see what shakesout at the land border," said spokespersonEvan Rachkovsky.

WATCH | Alberta snowbirds planningto spend winter at home:

Alberta snowbirds planning to spend winter at home

4 years ago

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Snowbirds who would normally be preparing to head off for warmer climates are now stuck in Alberta preparing for winter thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some expertspredict the Canada-U.S. land border could stay closed to non-essential travel until the new year.

Although Canadians can still fly to the U.S., Rachkovsky said many snowbirds won't go without their cars butcan't afford the big fees between $1,500 and $6,000 to ship their vehicles.

"It's not really an option for some of them to fly."

Evans is one of those who would typically drive downto the U.S., which allowed her to transport her household supplies in her truck. She said shecan't ship her truck packed with luggage, so this year she's leaving itbehind, along with many household necessities.

But she's still bent on going to the U.S., even as health experts warn of a possible surge of COVID-19 cases in the fall.

Evans said she plans to take precautionary measures such as social distancing and keep to her RV resort.

"I will take the riskbecause I know how to protect myself, and everybody at least in my resort follows the rules," she said. "I'm more concerned about falling off my bicycle than I am of COVID."

Escape winter while isolating

Travel insurance brokerMartin Firestonesaid so far less than 10 per cent of his snowbird clients have made firm plans to go south this winter. He said those who are going say they will aim to avoid crowds, just as they would in Canada during the pandemic.

"They're going to be prisoners in their developmentsor their condos," said Firestone, with Travel Secure in Toronto. "They're saying, 'I guess I'd rather sit down in Florida than sit here in Ontario and face the harsh climate.'"

That about sums up Perry Cohen's itinerary. The snowbird who is one of Firestone's clients aimsto head to his condo in Deerfield Beach, Fla., inearly Decemberas long as the COVID-19 case count remains low in thatarea.

Cohen, who lives in Toronto,said he plans to take the necessary precautions and stickto hisgated community all while enjoying the warm weather.

"Why would I want to be cooped up here when I can be there, out in the sunshine, in the fresh air?" he said. "You have more positives to go than to stay here."

Cohen also plans to fly to Florida and has a car parked at his condo.He said an added reassurance for him is that he can now purchaseCOVID-19 medical insurance just in case he or his wife did get the virus.

"I like a complete package to know I'm looked after [if],God forbid, I have a problem."

COVID-19 medical coverage returns

Several travel insurance providers recently restarted selling COVID-19 medical coverage, after dropping it in March when the pandemic began its global spread.

Firestone said that even with thecoverage, snowbirds could face problems if the community wherethey're living has an outbreak.

"The hospitals will get filled, the intensive care units will get filled, and then the fun will begin, regardless of whether you have insurance or not."

Cohen argues Canada could also experience overrun hospitals. Currently, COVID-19 case numbers are surging in Ontario and Quebec.

"You take a chance and go, because we can have the same problem here."