'They're letting people decide what's best': Making vacation plans during 2nd COVID-19 summer

More of Ontario is reopening, including amusement parks and tourist attractions.

But at the same time, public health officials are still warning against "non-essential travel."

It's leaving people to make their own decisions about what's safe to do during this second COVID-19 summer.

The owner of a paralegal firm says she's also thinking about the small business owners in the tourism industry who are struggling and need customers. 

"I'm not worried any more. Last year I was severely worried," said Murray.

Sandy Robinson of Sault Ste. Marie is also planning a trip to southern Ontario, to spend a few days with friends in Sarnia.

But she plans to stay in their backyard, not visit shops or restaurants, and is a little nervous about stopping for gas on the way down.

"I've been reading everything I can to find out what we can do when you're fully vaccinated, and even that's a little unclear, but I could pick out the parts that work for me," says Robinson. 

"Even if the pandemic ended in September and everything was wide open again, I find most people would want to give it a few months, just to make sure."

At the Voyageurs' Lodge and Cookhouse on Highway 17 in Batchewana Bay, every day, Frank O'Connor sees the people who have decided to leave their homes and get out on the road.

"Starting to see licence plates from other provinces now that folks are starting to travel a little bit more," he says. 

"People show up at my place and they're just exhausted from the whole winter, from the six months of lockdown, and they just want to be out in the open air."

O'Connor said the motel side of his business is almost fully booked for July and August, but fears it will not be the same for northern Ontario lodges that rely on American tourists who are still not allowed to cross the ground border. 

Chris Mayne, who runs a travel agency in North Bay and is a city councillor, said business is picking up a bit with people booking flights to visit family in other parts of Canada that are also reopening.

But he believes it's best for people to hold off on vacations this summer, even if you're planning to visit and spend money in North Bay. 

"The messaging from politicians seems to be inconsistent with advice coming from medical, science-based advisers. It's difficult to make those judgments yourself," said Mayne. 

"My own perspective, as someone who sells travel is to be cautious on the side of avoiding spread, and if it means not travelling for six months, nine months ... to me that would be good advice."

Alain Simard, an immunologist at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Sudbury, said while it's "more acceptable" to travel after being double vaccinated, it "doesn't mean we should go back completely to normal, because there's still a risk."

He said there's especially a risk if you're travelling with children under 12 who are not yet eligible to get the vaccine, and that could spark a new outbreak of the virus, as was recently seen in the James Bay community of Kashechewan.

"It is very confusing right now," said Simard. 

"They're letting people decide what's best and whether that's going to be the right approach remains to be seen."