BirdTalk Featuring the letters & concerns of our members SEND YOUR LETTERS TO Bird Talk, c/o CSANews 180 Lesmill Road Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5 or by e-mail: csawriteus@snowbirds.org Bird Talk Dear Bird Talk, I have just returned fromTexas after spending 3 1/2 months in the Rio Grande Valley. I thought that the association might be able to provide some data. What is your estimate about how many snowbirds travelled to the U.S. Sunbelt over the past winter? For snowbirds with Medipac, I was wondering how many claims were reported in respect to COVID? I figure that most returning snowbirds were fully vaccinated. Since the government closely tracks each returning snowbird, I would be curious how many vaccinated snowbirds have tested for COVID? The Federal Government should have the data on that. On our return, they specifically asked if we had been vaccinated. It would be greatly appreciated if you could shed some light on issues. Brian Fitzpatrick High River, AB Ed.: Real information on COVID is almost impossible to get. At this point, I believe nothing I read or see on TV with regard to COVID statistics.We estimate that between 150-200,000 Canadian snowbirds visited the U.S. this past season. According to the Conference Board of Canada, 914,000 trips were recorded throughout the first half of 2021, compared to 8.1 million last year and 16.7 million in 2019. Compared to the first half of 2019, overseas activity has declined by 94 per cent and transborder trips have fallen by 95 per cent. Medipac has had several COVID claims, one of which was well in excess of $1 million. Dear Bird Talk, As anyone who pays attention knows, the crime rate in the U.S. over the last eight months has increased by more than 300%. One of the big reasons is the thousands and thousands of criminals released from jail. A lot of these inmates are very dangerous; some were even serving life sentences. There have been a lot of carjackings, muggings and assaults, and some even worse. For 13 years, we have crossed over at Sarnia and taken highways 69 and 65 and then on down to Panama City Beach. In view of the huge increase in crime, how safe do you think this drive will be this winter? Gord & Patty Port Dover, ON Ed.: I believe that the drive will be the same as in prior years – safe. Most of the increases in crime have occurred in the very large inner cities, which I would avoid. Dear Bird Talk, Good day. We are planning on purchasing the multi-trip plan this year and we were wanting to know if we would quality for full discounts even though we didn’t travel or purchase insurance for the 2020-2021 season. With the COVID restrictions on travel and the warnings put out by the Canadian government, we were leery of travelling to the United States. We have been going to Florida for the past nine years and rent a condo for four months. We have plans also to visit our grandson in Canmore, AB in September, so we will be purchasing the multi-trip. So, will we be able to receive full discount on the multi-trip package? Michael Landon Rockland, ON Ed.: Yes. Medipac has maintained everyone’s applicable discounts through this COVID mess and hopefully, you were in time to get the Early Bird pricing. CSANews | FALL 2021 | 13
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