New York Drops Quarantine Mandate for Domestic Travelers
Starting April 1 travelers to New York from within the US no longer need to quarantine, but international arrivals must still isolate
Beginning April 1, travelers to New York state from other US states and territories will no longer be required to quarantine, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.
Under the new rules, the state department of health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel “as an added precaution,” although it’s no longer mandated, according to the announcement.
What is still required is for all travelers to fill out the Traveler Health Form when arriving in the state. Travelers must monitor symptoms daily for 14 days and self-isolate if any symptoms develop.
The rules for international arrivals will not change; travelers coming from foreign countries are still required to quarantine when they arrive in New York.
The state of New York’s quarantine policy for inbound domestic travelers was adopted last June. Under those rules which will end March 31, travelers are required to quarantine for 10 days. Alternately they can quarantine for four days and then get a COVID-19 test. If the results are negative they are free to go.
Travelers from Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and those who have been fully vaccinated within the past 90 days are exempt from the current requirements.
In announcing the change, Cuomo noted the “strength and perseverance” of New Yorkers and said, “We’re making significant progress in winning the footrace between the infection rate and the vaccination rate, allowing us to open new sectors of our economy and start our transition to a new normal in a post-pandemic world.”
Cautioning that the change does not signal “an all-clear,” Cuomo said, “To beat this virus once and for all we all must continue doing what we know works to stop the spread, including wearing masks, washing our hands and practicing social distancing.”
