Cuomo Announces Removal of Five states from NYC’s Travel Quarantine List

New York has removed five states from the mandatory quarantine orders for travelers as it entered the 18th straight day of positive testing levels falling below 1%. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Tuesday, that the states removed from the “travel advisory” list are Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Maryland, and Montana. Whilst removing these from the quarantine list, the U.S. territory of Guam was added to it.

Source: News10 ABC

The travel and quarantine advisory requires people who have traveled to New York from areas with high levels of community spread to quarantine for 14 days. The quarantine applies to any person arriving from an area with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a seven-day rolling average, or an area with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.

Post these changes, a total of 31 states and territories are still on the list, as a precautionary measure against the transmission of the virus. This move came after the drop in COVID-19 cases across the city. With authorities upholding and implementing mandatory mask-wearing measures and certain reverse moves such as opening bars and indoor dining, New York is steadily moving into the phase of relaxed restrictions, whilst treading with caution.

Lauding the law enforcement and citizen co-operation, Cuomo stated that, “New Yorkers made enormous sacrifices to get our numbers as low as they are today, and we don’t want to give up an inch of that hard-earned progress. That’s why these travel advisory precautions are so important — we don’t want people who travel to states with high community spread to bring the virus back here.”

“While it’s good news that five states have been removed from the travel advisory, the list remains far too long as America continues to struggle with COVID-19. New Yorkers should stay vigilant and be careful — wear a mask, maintain social distance, and be smart. This pandemic is not over,” he added.