As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 rages around the globe, many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were faced with difficult decisions around coming home for the holidays.

New travel regulations require five-days of isolation for all travellers, but many are electing to stay put rather than risk coming home.

Carl Mercer, who grew up in Bay Roberts, is now the Communications Lead and Head Speechwriter for the President of the UN General Assembly, resides in New York City, and is one of many who made the decision not to come home this year.

He says the last thing they’d want to do is bring COVID home with them and infect someone.