President’s Message Karen Huestis CSA President As we go to press, Canada is in the grip of the third wave of the pandemic, with new daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 now outpacing the United States per capita. As of April 10, 2021, the rolling seven-day average of new cases in Canada was 207.27 cases per million people, according to both Oxford and Johns Hopkins Universities. The United States is now dealing with 206.66 cases per million people. The good news is that despite the slow initial rollout, 20 per cent of the Canadian population has now received at least one dose of vaccine to protect against COVID-19, with 2.1 per cent of Canadians now fully vaccinated. In comparison, the United States has administered at least one dose of vaccine to 37 per cent of the population, with 22.7 per cent of Americans fully vaccinated as of April 13. United States President Joe Biden has stated that 90 per cent of Americans will be eligible to get at least one shot of vaccine by April 19, while Prime Minister Trudeau has indicated that all Canadians will be eligible to receive at least their first dose of vaccine by the end of September. Having said that, the first doses of vaccine are nowwidely available to Canadians over the age of 65 and most Canadian seniors should be fully vaccinated by the end of the summer. Nearly 80% of Americans 65 and older have already received at least one dose, and 62% are now fully vaccinated. Based on these numbers, we are hopeful that the fall travel season will look markedly different than this past winter, as we gradually return to something at least resembling normal. A reminder that as of February 22, 2021, all travellers arriving in Canada by land or air must now submit their travel and contact information electronically via the ArriveCanmobile app before or when crossing the border or boarding a flight. It is important to remember that this requirement also applies to NEXUS members. The ArriveCan app allows travellers to submit a quarantine plan and COVID-19 symptom self-assessments as required by law. ArriveCan is available for download to your phone at the Apple App Store or on Google Play. NEXUS and FAST enrolment centres remain closed due to COVID-19 and enrolment interviews are not currently being conducted. We are told that they will remain closed until the travel restrictions at the Canada-United States border are lifted. As a result, all previously scheduled NEXUS and FAST interviews will be cancelled and applicants and existing members will need to reschedule interviews after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection resume enrolment operations. Current members of both NEXUS and FAST who renew their membership before the expiry date on their card will be granted an extension of their membership benefits. CBSA recommends that you renew your membership before it expires, to avoid losing your privileges while your renewal is pending. The potential economic boost of “vaccine passports” is sure to be a hotly debated and controversial emerging global issue. Israel has embraced the view that proof of vaccine certification is a key component in restoring people’s confidence in flying, shopping and gathering in large numbers. The United States has said that it will not impose a national “vaccine passport,” but the concept of increased access for the vaccinated has already become a reality in the private sector, with some professional sports venues already limiting access to people with proof of vaccination. Proof of vaccination requirements are also emerging inEurope, where theUnitedKingdom is currently running a trial of “COVID-status certificates” which would permit more liberalized travel and enable access to certain events denied to the unvaccinated. The European Union is planning a “Digital Green Certificate” that would also allow holders easier movement throughout the EU. While Canada has thus far adopted a “wait and see” approach, Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu recently stated that she and her counterparts from the other G-7 nations agree that there needs to be some consistency and collaboration among the countries regarding this issue. Rest assured that we will be keeping a close watch on these discussions as they unfold. CSA staff is hard at work finalizing the 2021 membership renewal campaign. While much of what we know and love about travel will return, there will inevitably be changes. Government rules, regulations and health and safety advice will differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. During these challenging times, it is essential to have a resource that you can both trust and rely on. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, the Canadian Snowbird Association will continue to provide you with the most current, relevant and accurate information available. 10 | www.snowbirds.org
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