NY, NJ and CT Impose New Quarantine

photo: pixabay

In a live press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that NY, NJ and CT will jointly impose a new 14-day quarantine for travelers entering from states with covid-19 spikes, and that this quarantine is effective beginning tonight.

These are the states currently on the quarantine list: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas & Utah & Washington. They need to add Nevada to the list so we can meaningfully say What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

The first question that many people are asking is one of enforcement. I hardly believe that people will be whisked from their Miami flight arriving at La Guardia airport. But that does not mean there won’t be compliance and/or enforcement. Certainly many employers will require quarantine by employees under these circumstances. Exactly what forms of compliance will be instituted, including fines for noncompliance, is yet unknown.

As a frequent traveler, a big question in my mind is when someone is transiting through a restricted state. For example, if you change planes in Texas or Florida, but don’t leave the airport. Or if you are driving cross-country and drive through a restricted state, but don’t leave your vehicle.

I think this is a developing story. More details will be available soon. What questions or comments do you have?

For the record, this new travel restriction makes sense. Unfortunately, my travel plans over the next three months included North Carolina, Arizona and Florida. Oh well.

Maybe the EU should allow compliant residents of NY NJ and CT to travel to Europe while excluding the rest of the country? (Not likely)

And this all happened on the same day that the 2020 NYC Marathon was canceled.

Stay safe. Wear a mask. Please.