COVID-19: Holiday Travellers Fear New Omicron Restrictions Will Leave Them ‘stuck’ Overseas – Vancouver Sun

Vancouver residents planning to travel abroad this holiday season are being confronted with a troubling reality in the highly-contagious Omicron variant.

With news of COVID-19 cases rising in the province and globally, some have made the decision to call off their long-awaited vacation.

“We didn’t cancel because of worries we’d get sick. We just can’t risk getting stuck,” said Dr. Kevin McLeod, of West Vancouver, who cancelled his family’s flights to Hawaii Wednesday, days before the group was scheduled to leave. McLeod’s entire family, including his wife and four children, have all been double vaccinated. And all six have recovered from COVID-19.

“Westjet gave us credit and our hotel was understanding and refunded us — but we’re sad, we had all of these family activities planned.”

Currently, international travellers are required to show proof of a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test in order to board flights to Canada. The test, which costs about $195 plus GST, must be performed within 72 hours of departure.

McLeod, who is scheduled to return to work three days after Christmas, was worried his patients at Lions Gate Hospital would be the ones who suffer, should he, or a member of his family, test positive for COVID-19 while abroad.

“Maybe if I was retired I could afford to take the risk but me having to quarantine for two weeks would cause a lot of harm,” said the 47-year-old. “I can’t just not show up to work. There isn’t anyone who can cover my shifts.”

Although McLeod’s decision to stay home was a hard one, he feels it was the right thing to do.

“With numbers expected to rapidly rise, the risk of getting stuck abroad is real,” McLeod said.

Modelling information released this week shows that even though community transmission of the Omicron variant is currently low in the province, daily infections could hit up to 2,000 a day within six weeks.

Of the 44 Omicron cases detected in B.C. so far, 20 were traced to recent travel to countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Egypt. Federal bans currently restrict travellers from 10 African countries.

Wednesday, 10 days before Christmas, Canada announced a “Level 3” advisory against all non-essential international travel.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos confirmed that those who travel abroad risk being stranded, as Canada may change its rules on short notice. “You may have difficulty returning to Canada, or may have to remain abroad for an indeterminate period,” said the government website.

Airline customers who planned to travel abroad have already been cancelling in the thousands, according to Air Transport Association of Canada CEO John McKenna, due to uncertainty of restrictions on the return home.

“People are not cancelling because they’re scared of getting sick but because it’s just so complicated travelling back,” McKenna said.

Despite current restrictions, some Vancouver residents who planned to go abroad this Christmas have stayed the course.

Real estate consultant Mike O’Flaherty arrived in his home country, Ireland, Thursday morning after more than two years without seeing his family.

“It is great to be here,” the 29-year-old said. “However, I’m worried about how Omicron will affect me getting back to Vancouver once this is all over.”

O’ Flaherty and other overseas travellers will need a negative PCR test result before flying back to Vancouver, and may need to undergo an antigen test upon arrival and quarantine until receiving a negative result.

“I hope it’s not long,” he said.

Westjet expressed its dissatisfaction with the government over its new travel advisory.

“Air travel is the most tested and protected consumer activity in Canada, every person travelling internationally is tested on average twice throughout their travel journey,” said Harry Taylor, CEO of the company, in a news release Wednesday.

“We are very concerned today’s announcement will create unnecessary disruption and chaos in advance of the holiday travel season.”

With files from Joanne Lee-Young

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