The Snowbird Association meets weekly on Monday mornings at Bits & Bites cafe. Part-time Osoyoos resident Allan Warren started the group in 2018 to give snowbirds a place to meet each other and “shoot the breeze.” From left are Wayne Bowes, Keith Lensen, Allan Warren and Bill Jewitt. (Vanessa Broadbent/File photo)

Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

The message from the Canadian Snowbird Association is simple for Canadians who winter in warmer climes: “Come home.”

“Were telling our members to heed the advice of the Government of Canada and come home as soon as it is feasible to do so,” said Evan Rachkovsky, director of research and communications with the Canadian Snowbird Association.

One of the first things snowbirds should be doing is getting in touch with their travel medical insurance provider, he said.

• Read more: Businesses adjusting to social distancing in Osoyoos

“We have received a number of confirmed reports where insurance companies are telling their policy holders that they have 10 days to return back home to Canada immediately or risk loss of coverage,” Rachkovsky said.

Travellers are advised to self-isolate for 14 days upon returning to the country under the advice of the public health authorities.

Another issue snowbirds are coming across is a number of Canadians who own U.S.-registered vehicles and want to bring them across the border.. Rachkovsky said Transport Canada has recently amended regulations to allow for that.

“If they do get in contact with Transport Canada, they can apply for a decleration to temporarily import those vehicles into Canada,” Rachkovsky said.

BC Government information: 

To view the provincial health officer’s order on mass gatherings, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics

For more information on B.C.’s updated testing strategy and self-isolation, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing-isolation

For recommendations on protecting yourself and your community, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)

For the COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and planning materials, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/pandemic-influenza.

For more information and latest updates on COVID-19, follow the BC Centre for Disease Control on Twitter @CDCofBC or visit the centre’s website: http://www.bccdc.ca/

For the latest audio clips of COVID-19 media availabilities, visit: https://soundcloud.com/bcgov