“I hate winter so badly”: Collingwood snowbirds still heading south despite COVID-19 concerns

Collingwood's Steve Assaff has been travelling south to Del Ray Beach, Fla., for many years.

I hate winter so badly," he said in an interview with Simcoe.com. I just would be a very sad person sitting on the side of Blue Mountain."

And in the midst of a global pandemic, this year is no exception.

However, Assaff said with his wife having gone through chemotherapy several years ago, it wasn't a decision they made lightly.

On the health side of things, (we are) certainly aware of the situation and are sensitive to it," he said. I can't say we weren't anxious about it (COVID-19) everywhere. There was never a point where we weren't going."

According to U.S. media reports, the number of coronavirus cases per week in the state has tripled since Gov. Ron DeSantis reopened Florida in late September, lifting all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses and banning local fines against people who refuse to wear masks.

Assaff said they will be doing some things differently while in Florida.

We're not going out for dinner," he said. "That's the biggest change."

Kathy Oates and her husband, Bill Blakely, are travelling to their winter home in Salinas, Ecuador.

She said they were hesitant" about making the trip, but noted they didn't go out since they returned home to Collingwood in May. In Ecuador, she said, they will be doing the same thing we're doing here in Collingwood. Only difference it's going to be plus 30."

We were thinking about trying to stay here for the winter, but now, with these cases going up and up, we said, 'We're going to go,'" she said.

She said the government has limited hours on the beaches and has banned tourists from attending Christmas celebrations.

Christmas is basically cancelled," she said.

When they arrive, they will be isolating for two weeks.

We don't have to quarantine, but we're going to for 14 days," she said. We haven't been in their bubble for nine months."