[dropcap]A [/dropcap]small outbreak of the novel coronavirus in an upstate New York county last week has led Gov. Andrew Cuomo to beef up previously implemented restrictions on out-of-state travel.
Cuomo, a Democrat, directed the state Department of Health on Monday to issue an emergency health order mandating travelers from states on an already announced quarantine list to provide contact information before entering New York to help enforce an initial 14-day quarantine period.
“It’s all across the country and it’s undeniable,” said Cuomo about the rising number of COVID-19 cases nationwide. “And it’s now a threat to the state of New York.”
Beginning July 14, passengers will be asked to fill out a Department of Health traveler form while on inbound flights anywhere in New York state. Cuomo said the traveler form will also be available through the ny.gov website. Enforcement teams will be stationed at each airport throughout the state to ensure compliance.
“You must give officials at the airport your form as to where you came from and where you’re going before you leave the airport,” he said about the new procedure.
Violators face fines of $2,000 if they fail to provide their information before leaving the airport and can also be called for a hearing and subject to mandatory quarantine.
The new order is a progression of the governor’s June 25 tri-state travel advisory, which required any travelers of states with coronavirus infection rates topping 10% to self-quarantine for 14 days when visiting New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. The infection rates are charted based on seven-day rolling averages and the list of states is updated daily. As of July 14, 22 states were now on the list.
“None of this is pleasant,” he said. “We can’t be in a situation where we have people coming from other states in the country and bringing the virus again, it is that simple.”
While New York sees an overall diminution of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, the same can’t be said for many areas of the country. As hotspots pop up in dozens of states throughout the South and out West, some governors are beginning to rollback reopening plans in response to an uptick in infection rates.
And that has led to concerns for state officials over noncompliance with the governor’s travel advisory.
A cluster of COVID-19 was recently found in New York’s Rensselaer County after three residents returned home on a flight departing from Georgia on July 6. The three passengers tested positive for coronavirus on July 10 and the virus has since been transmitted to at least 23 additional people, including several in an area nursing home.
Prior to that, a cluster was identified in Chappaqua after a participant of a drive-in high school graduation ceremony, who had previously traveled to Florida, tested positive for the virus on June 20 and was believed to have infected up to 27 others, including a handful of cases in Mount Kisco, Bedford and Pleasantville.
“We have done a quarantine for the highest risk infection states,” Cuomo said. “We know there has been instances of noncompliance. Noncompliance can lead to outbreak.”
CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com
