As I step through the sliding doors of Vancouver International Airport, the familiar hum of travelers fills the air. Families with overstuffed suitcases, business people clutching coffee cups, and the occasional mask-wearer navigate the terminal. It’s a scene that feels almost normal now, but the remnants of our pandemic vigilance remain visible if you know where to look.
“We’re seeing about 30% more travelers requesting N95 masks at our information booth compared to last month,” says Mira Patel, who has worked at the airport’s health services desk for five years. “People are hearing about the uptick in cases and taking precautions, especially if they’re visiting family overseas.”
The uptick Patel references isn’t just anecdotal. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, COVID-19 test positivity rates have increased by 18% since early April, with hospitalization rates beginning to climb in several provinces. This pattern isn’t isolated to Canada – it’s part of a global surge in cases attributed to the new XEC variant, a descendant of Omicron that appears to be more transmissible than its predecessors.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, addressed the situation last week, noting that while this isn’t cause for panic, it does warrant attention. “What we’re experiencing is the continued evolution of this virus, something we’ve anticipated,” she stated during a press briefing. “Our systems are monitoring these developments closely.”
The World Health Organization has reported that over 40 countries are experiencing similar increases, with particularly sharp rises in parts of Europe and Southeast Asia. The variant was first detected in India in January before spreading rapidly across multiple continents.
For many Canadians, especially those with summer travel plans, this news brings a sense of déjà vu and uncertainty. When I visited the Kitsilano Community Centre’s weekly seniors’ program, the topic dominated conversation among those planning to visit family abroad.
“I’ve postponed seeing my grandchildren in London twice because of COVID,” says Marjorie Kwon, 73, who finally booked her tickets for July. “I’m not canceling again, but I am bringing my masks and being more careful about indoor gatherings.”
This sentiment – a determination to move forward with life while acknowledging the ongoing risk – seems to be the prevailing attitude. Unlike earlier pandemic phases, public health officials aren’t calling for travel restrictions or widespread lockdowns. Instead, they’re recommending familiar precautions: staying up to date with vaccinations, wearing masks in crowded indoor settings, and being mindful of symptoms.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer, emphasized this balanced approach at a recent community forum in Victoria. “We’re in a different phase now, where individual risk assessment and basic preventive measures remain important, but broad societal restrictions aren’t warranted by the current epidemiological picture.”
The variant’s emergence coincides with waning immunity from previous vaccination campaigns. Health Canada data shows that less than 25% of eligible Canadians received a COVID-19 booster in the past six months. This timing concern prompted the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to issue updated guidance last week, recommending additional boosters for those at higher risk, including people over 65 and those with compromised immune systems.
When I visited the Downtown Eastside’s community health center, nurse practitioner Samantha Williams described the challenges of communicating this nuanced public health message. “There’s definite fatigue around COVID discussions, but also lingering trauma,” she explained while preparing vaccine doses. “Some residents still suffer from long COVID symptoms, and they’re the ones spreading the word about staying protected.”
Indigenous communities across British Columbia are taking proactive approaches to managing this latest wave. In Bella Bella, the Heiltsuk Nation has reinstated their community testing program and is offering transportation assistance for elders needing updated vaccinations.
“We learned from previous waves that early action protects our knowledge keepers,” says Marilyn Slett, Chief Councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council. “Our community members still remember the devastation of historical epidemics, so there’s a deep understanding of protecting the collective.”
For travelers, the landscape of testing requirements remains simplified compared to earlier pandemic phases. Most countries, including Canada, have removed entry testing for fully vaccinated travelers. However, Japan and several Southeast Asian countries have reinstated pre-departure testing requirements in response to the current surge.
Travel medicine specialist Dr. Raj Sharma advises his patients to research destination-specific requirements well before departure. “Beyond formal requirements, I recommend packing rapid tests, high-quality masks, and considering travel insurance that explicitly covers COVID-related disruptions,” he told me from his Richmond clinic. “The days of massive cancellations are likely behind us, but having a contingency plan remains wise.”
Airlines report they’re monitoring the situation but haven’t seen significant cancellations. Air Canada spokesperson Michel Tremblay confirmed that their summer schedule remains unchanged, though they’ve increased their onboard air filtration maintenance protocols in response to the surge.
For Vancouverite Celia Morrison, who works remotely while traveling, the news hasn’t altered her upcoming multi-country European trip but has adjusted her approach. “I’ll avoid the most crowded tourist spots during peak hours, eat outdoors when possible, and mask up on trains and buses,” she says. “It’s become second nature – finding that balance between living fully and staying healthy.”
As we enter this next phase of living alongside an evolving virus, that balance seems to be the key. Public health experts emphasize that we now have tools and knowledge unavailable in earlier pandemic stages. Rapid tests, effective treatments like Paxlovid, improved ventilation standards, and updated vaccines provide layers of protection that allow for more normalized movement despite the virus’s continued presence.
Standing at the departure board in YVR, watching families, couples, and solo travelers check flight information, the resilience of human connection despite ongoing challenges is evident. We move forward, adapting rather than stopping, learning to navigate a world where COVID remains present but no longer dictates every decision.
Perhaps that’s the most significant shift of all.
