NEW YORK (AP) — New York, Connecticut and New Jersey will require visitors from states with high coronavirus infection rates to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, beginning Thursday, the three governors said.
“We now have to make sure the rates continue to drop,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday at a video briefing with Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut, both fellow Democrats. “We also have to make sure the virus doesn’t come on a plane again.”
What was presented as a “travel advisory” affects three adjacent Northeastern states that after time were able to check the spread of the virus this spring as New York City became a hot spot for the pandemic.
And the governors are now warily eying other states with rising caseloads, trying to keep history from repeating itself.
“This is a smart thing to do,” Murphy said. “We have taken our people, the three of us … to hell and back. The last thing we need to do right now is subject our folks to another round.”
The states’ health departments will provide details of how the rule will work, Murphy said. Visitors to New York from affected states will be informed that they need to quarantine and that violators could face a mandatory quarantine and a fine, Cuomo said.
The quarantine is voluntary but “urgent guidance,” Lamont said at a briefing in Hartford, noting it will be enforced differently in each state. Connecticut is considering putting up signs at entry points and getting the word out via social media.
The announcement comes as summer travel to the states’ beaches, parks and other attractions — not to mention New York City — would normally swing into high gear.
Visitors from states over a set infection rate will have to quarantine, Cuomo said. As of Wednesday, states over the threshold were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.
And this is still the first wave…
The quarantining would be dandy were if enforceable. But alas, it ain’t.
I have to wonder how bad does it have to get for people to finally start taking this seriously.
We are a tourist factory town and when a provincial couple barges in without reading the precautions sigh on the door and stand right next to masked people asking for service, the cultural difference can’t make up for the rude behavior. We tell them they have to wear one of the masks we have on hand, and they respond: 'You have to be kidding me." Then they get scanned for a fever and the same response comes out with attitude. Price and quality of service depends on attitude, so some equalization comes about.
I wouldn’t have to be this way if people would just keep the First “I would rather” of FSM in mind, mainly, “Don’t be an asshole.” Ramen, Ramen. Lasagna in the Highest.
Lots of places have restricted hours for people vulnerable to the virus. Why shouldn’t we have a “limited to assholes” time and tell them they can come in between 8 and 9 am. Of course the store won’t open until 10.
Why can’t this be a public health “no shirt no shoes no service” thing?