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Similarly, there's been an increase in helicopter traffic in Western New York. But, we do know why. It's Canadian snowbirds trying to skip the border shutdown t

Similarly, there's been an increase in helicopter traffic in Western New York. But, we do know why. It's Canadian snowbirds trying to skip the border shutdown to head to Florida https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/canadians-buzz-through-buffalo-as-a-way-to-beat-border-closure/71-07c93156-1365-46ab-80c1-613e5b1d7938 https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/canadians-buzz-throu...

pbourke 6y ago
Probably this will be discontinued now that the US will require a negative COVID test prior to entry via air.
- ikpomtdk 6y ago
  These passengers were still subject to quarantine requirements (enforcement may be a different story). There are no direct flights between Toronto and Buffalo so the helicopter charters were filling this gap, while also skirting the physical border closures.
- sandworm101 6y ago
  Given the up to 10k they are paying for flights and to have their RVs driven across the boarder (yes, commercial drivers can cross in RVs) a few hundred dollars for a covid test won't be an issue. Private covid tests in canada cost about 250$.
  - thatguy0900 6y ago
    You have to pay $250 in Canada for a covid test?
    - nucleardog 6y ago
      Private COVID tests. There’s an upper limit to testing capacity, and optimistically the government allocates that capacity in the way it thinks it will do the most good. They’re worried about processing tests from care homes, healthcare workers, suspected positive patients, outbreaks, etc... not old people that want to go to Florida for vacation. But that doesn’t preclude finding a private company that will test you, but the government isn’t going to pay for non-medically-necessary medical treatment and testing from a private company.
      - thatguy0900 6y ago
        In the US I just went to a local er and got a 30 min response quick test for 25$ because I felt like my throat was a little itchy, not for any real reason. Are you saying that this wouldn't be an option in Canada? That seems really surprising to me
        monkeybutton 6y ago
        If you experiencing symptoms, the test is free and available through the public system.
        deskamess 6y ago
        Yes, but how soon do you get results. Is it instantaneous or do they call/text your the results?
        na85 6y ago
        Depends on which test you get but I've seen people who work for me get both same-day results and results within 72 hours.
        nucleardog 6y ago
        In case you're actually curious (even though this is like two weeks later): Despite never leaving the house I woke up with little to no smell/taste the other day and while it was likely some random sinus infection or something, given the vulnerable people I live with I isolated and immediately got tested. Went online and scheduled an appointment for an hour later. (They had sooner, but I took that one.) Drive through test. Just had to provide my usual identification for healthcare (provincial health card), but there was no screening as far as whether I really needed it since the labs aren't really backed up right now. About 20 hours later got a text with the result in the middle of the night. From "Maybe I have covid?" to getting a PCR test result was 21 hours and $0. A antigen test would only take an hour or two, but be much less accurate. As far as PCR testing, no complaints here. Only had to spend one night sleeping on the couch in the basement before knowing I wasn't going to infect and kill my family.
    - alibarber 6y ago
      Most countries that I know of (even the ones with famously socialised health care) won't actually give you a certificate with the info you need for travel, like passport number and ID verification, for free even if general public testing is free.
      - thatguy0900 6y ago
        Thank you, this makes a lot more sense to me then not being able to get a test
    - singlow 6y ago
      He specified private COVID Test. I assumes that means that it is for someone who is not covered by the nationalized health system or that it is a situation not covered by insurance. Typically insurance in the US will only pay for testing if you have symptoms or known contact. If you require testing for travel or occupational purposes, you or your employer would usually foot the bill. Healthcare workers have special exceptions. Probably Canada is similar.
  - sokoloff 6y ago
    The helicopter flight is $1200 for up to 3 pax: https://greatlakeshelicopter.ca/flights-to-the-u-s-a/ https://greatlakeshelicopter.ca/flights-to-the-u-s-a/ and an RV shuttle looks to be $1600.
- CyberDildonics 6y ago
  You think people who can afford to fly on helicopters can't get a covid test?
Triv888 6y ago
They can still fly to come down here (but if they want to bring their car, they need to ship it down). It is packed with Canadians down south Florida.
- deskamess 6y ago
  Many have also jumped the queue to get free COVID shots (Tampa had a recent news report). One couple said they booked shots (4 weeks in the future) for their friends who are still in Canada (they will travel down shortly). Not sure how this is permitted although it makes scientific sense (anyone can transmit). The US is currently well ahead of Canada in per-capita COVID delivery.
  - tenpies 6y ago
    > The US is currently well ahead of Canada in per-capita COVID delivery. The US is actually well ahead of most of the world, especially when you factor population and geography [1]. Sure, Israel has crushed everyone, but I think we can all agree there are exceptional circumstances which make this easier in Israel than in most other countries. Other success stories have been largely small, wealthy countries. It's a shame that the US media is so politicized as to not recognize Operation Warp Speed and the men and women - from researchers, to logisticians, to clinicians - who have made this possible. It has been an absolute miracle of human achievement and will hopefully be celebrated by historians, since the current generation refuses to do so. --- [1] https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
    - throwaway894345 6y ago
      This is pretty remarkable. I wonder why numbers in so many European countries are so much lower?
      - xeromal 6y ago
        I heard on NPR that the EU as a whole is ordering the vaccines so there's probably a bit of red tape holding things up.

pbourke 6y ago

Probably this will be discontinued now that the US will require a negative COVID test prior to entry via air.

ikpomtdk 6y ago
These passengers were still subject to quarantine requirements (enforcement may be a different story). There are no direct flights between Toronto and Buffalo so the helicopter charters were filling this gap, while also skirting the physical border closures.
sandworm101 6y ago
Given the up to 10k they are paying for flights and to have their RVs driven across the boarder (yes, commercial drivers can cross in RVs) a few hundred dollars for a covid test won't be an issue. Private covid tests in canada cost about 250$.
- thatguy0900 6y ago
  You have to pay $250 in Canada for a covid test?
  - nucleardog 6y ago
    Private COVID tests. There’s an upper limit to testing capacity, and optimistically the government allocates that capacity in the way it thinks it will do the most good. They’re worried about processing tests from care homes, healthcare workers, suspected positive patients, outbreaks, etc... not old people that want to go to Florida for vacation. But that doesn’t preclude finding a private company that will test you, but the government isn’t going to pay for non-medically-necessary medical treatment and testing from a private company.
    - thatguy0900 6y ago
      In the US I just went to a local er and got a 30 min response quick test for 25$ because I felt like my throat was a little itchy, not for any real reason. Are you saying that this wouldn't be an option in Canada? That seems really surprising to me
      - monkeybutton 6y ago
        If you experiencing symptoms, the test is free and available through the public system.
        deskamess 6y ago
        Yes, but how soon do you get results. Is it instantaneous or do they call/text your the results?
        na85 6y ago
        Depends on which test you get but I've seen people who work for me get both same-day results and results within 72 hours.
        nucleardog 6y ago
        In case you're actually curious (even though this is like two weeks later): Despite never leaving the house I woke up with little to no smell/taste the other day and while it was likely some random sinus infection or something, given the vulnerable people I live with I isolated and immediately got tested. Went online and scheduled an appointment for an hour later. (They had sooner, but I took that one.) Drive through test. Just had to provide my usual identification for healthcare (provincial health card), but there was no screening as far as whether I really needed it since the labs aren't really backed up right now. About 20 hours later got a text with the result in the middle of the night. From "Maybe I have covid?" to getting a PCR test result was 21 hours and $0. A antigen test would only take an hour or two, but be much less accurate. As far as PCR testing, no complaints here. Only had to spend one night sleeping on the couch in the basement before knowing I wasn't going to infect and kill my family.
  - alibarber 6y ago
    Most countries that I know of (even the ones with famously socialised health care) won't actually give you a certificate with the info you need for travel, like passport number and ID verification, for free even if general public testing is free.
    - thatguy0900 6y ago
      Thank you, this makes a lot more sense to me then not being able to get a test
  - singlow 6y ago
    He specified private COVID Test. I assumes that means that it is for someone who is not covered by the nationalized health system or that it is a situation not covered by insurance. Typically insurance in the US will only pay for testing if you have symptoms or known contact. If you require testing for travel or occupational purposes, you or your employer would usually foot the bill. Healthcare workers have special exceptions. Probably Canada is similar.
- sokoloff 6y ago
  The helicopter flight is $1200 for up to 3 pax: https://greatlakeshelicopter.ca/flights-to-the-u-s-a/ https://greatlakeshelicopter.ca/flights-to-the-u-s-a/ and an RV shuttle looks to be $1600.
CyberDildonics 6y ago
You think people who can afford to fly on helicopters can't get a covid test?

Triv888 6y ago

They can still fly to come down here (but if they want to bring their car, they need to ship it down). It is packed with Canadians down south Florida.

deskamess 6y ago
Many have also jumped the queue to get free COVID shots (Tampa had a recent news report). One couple said they booked shots (4 weeks in the future) for their friends who are still in Canada (they will travel down shortly). Not sure how this is permitted although it makes scientific sense (anyone can transmit). The US is currently well ahead of Canada in per-capita COVID delivery.
- tenpies 6y ago
  > The US is currently well ahead of Canada in per-capita COVID delivery. The US is actually well ahead of most of the world, especially when you factor population and geography [1]. Sure, Israel has crushed everyone, but I think we can all agree there are exceptional circumstances which make this easier in Israel than in most other countries. Other success stories have been largely small, wealthy countries. It's a shame that the US media is so politicized as to not recognize Operation Warp Speed and the men and women - from researchers, to logisticians, to clinicians - who have made this possible. It has been an absolute miracle of human achievement and will hopefully be celebrated by historians, since the current generation refuses to do so. --- [1] https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
  - throwaway894345 6y ago
    This is pretty remarkable. I wonder why numbers in so many European countries are so much lower?
    - xeromal 6y ago
      I heard on NPR that the EU as a whole is ordering the vaccines so there's probably a bit of red tape holding things up.