New York tightens travel requirements and expands quarantine list

The number of states, whose residents will be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival in New York, has increased to 35. In addition, the city authorities have introduced new requirements for travelers. The edition writes about it NBC New York.

Who made the list?

Four states - Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia - were added on September 8 to the quarantine list. As a result, the total number of US states and territories whose residents will be quarantined upon arrival in New York has reached 35.

Thus, the New York authorities continue to protect the residents of the state from the pandemic.

Another measure aimed at this - checks, which will begin to carry out sheriff's deputies. They will stop buses heading to the city from the so-called "hot spots" - states and territories where the virus is especially active today. This requirement was put forward by the mayor of the city, Bill de Blasio, announcing it on Tuesday. During stops, passengers will be asked to complete special forms and quarantine plans.

This is the last measure introduced by the mayor to enforce the quarantine.

On the subject: New York introduced a new restriction for travelers: whom it touches and what threatens

Residents of the listed states and territories are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine when entering New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The quarantine list includes states in which there are more than 100 cases of COVID-10 per 19 thousand people per week, or 10% or more in the last week.

In recent weeks, Bill de Blasio has also allowed accidental vehicle checks at checkpoints, and has ordered hotels to deny travelers room access if they refuse to fill out a special medical form.

The mayor of New York said that up to 20% of COVID-19 cases in New York were associated with out-of-state travel. Travelers who arrive at New York airports from one of the hot spots must also fill out a form or face a $ 2000 fine.

Updated quarantine list

The total number of US states and territories on the quarantine list has reached 35.

In addition to the four states mentioned above, the list includes states and territories such as: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam Territory, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma , South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Officials are monitoring the situation closely, given the increased rate of spread of the coronavirus. Especially during public holidays, when many people relax and forget about the danger. The last holiday celebrated by Americans is Labor Day, which is celebrated in the country every year.

The New York authorities, which recently found themselves in the epicenter of a pandemic, were especially wary of the celebration. Cuomo and out-of-state governors discouraged people from traveling out of state for the holiday weekend, urging residents not to repeat the mistakes made on Memorial Day and July Fourth.

Public health officials insisted on the same. “I look at Labor Day weekend as really a critical moment,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's leading infectious disease expert. "Will we go in the right direction and continue downward, or will we have to step back a little when a new surge occurs?"

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told CNN on Tuesday that his team has not seen significant gains since Labor Day weekend. “We're collecting data, but it's been an incredibly good weekend,” he said. - This is a virus that is still among us. We will do everything in our power to track down the virus and establish policies to prevent it from spreading, which is what we do every day. ”

Test results for COVID-19 by New York Region

New York authorities are closely monitoring how the virus spreads throughout the state. Daily monitoring of test results in each region allows potential hotspots to be identified before they arise.

Here is the latest tracking data by region.

In addition to the danger that travelers can pose, the main threat is non-compliance with the established requirements by New Yorkers themselves. And the opening of schools and select businesses in the coming weeks marks a new stage in the fight against the pandemic.

The consequences are already obvious. A late summer party on Long Island forced one school district to cancel full-time education just two days before the scheduled start of classes.

Carle Place School District officials said several people who were confirmed to have COVID-19 "had close or direct contact with other students throughout our district." “Since we are on a difficult road, the actions of some people can affect many. Please refrain from large indoor gatherings, stay two meters apart and wear a mask, ”Schools Superintendent Christine A. Finn wrote in a letter to parents.

A number of colleges were also forced to send students home for the remainder of the fall semester due to the outbreak. SUNY Oneonta did just that last week as coronavirus cases soared to nearly 400, largely due to illegal parties. Of the nearly 2000 tests conducted at Oneonta over five days, 91 were positive at an infection rate of 4,6%. Testing data showed that 93% of positive results were among people aged 18-24. "Colleges are a problem and it continues to be a problem," Governor Andrew Cuomo said on September 8.

At New York University, officials threaten disciplinary action against all students attending a mass gathering Saturday night in a park in Washington Square. School officials say more than 20 students have already been suspended for failing to adhere to safety protocols such as social distancing and wearing masks.

Thereafter, each school district will have to submit daily reports on the COVID situation. Based on these reports, the state will issue report cards for each school in the state. Positive cases of COVID-19, identified among students and staff, and other indicators will be taken into account. If the number of new cases of coronavirus reaches 100, the school or college will have to switch to distance learning.

On the subject: Penalty up to $ 10 thousand: Checkpoint to check for COVID-19 will begin to operate in New York

Meanwhile, New York prepares to open schools. The start of studies is scheduled for September 21. If this happens, New York will become the largest neighborhood in which students can physically be in school buildings during the pandemic.

Regardless, restaurants in New York are still not allowed to host indoor guests. Cuomo said he was not satisfied with the level of enforcement of the law. A team of inspectors checked nearly 5000 bars and restaurants in the city and on Long Island over the Labor Day weekend and found more than 30 violations. In this regard, Cuomo is convinced that if the safety rules are not observed now, then the opening of restaurants will make the situation even worse.

Cuomo stressed that until the administration of the city's mayor, Bill de Blasio, has developed a comprehensive law enforcement strategy for violators, there is no need to talk about opening restaurants.

At the same time, Cuomo welcomed the steady progress of New York: until recently it was the epicenter of morbidity in the camp, and today it is one of the safest places, and daily mortality is expressed in single digits.

However, this does not mean at all that you can relax. “Our actions today determine the level of infection tomorrow,” the governor added.

Mortality from COVID-19: Latest Data

Over the weekend in the United States, the number of deaths from the coronavirus was more than 190, according to NBC News.

In total, 6,2 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in America. Thus, the incidence rate for COVID-19 in the United States is the highest among all countries in the world. “This country is losing more people per day to the coronavirus than any other country in the world,” Cuomo said on September 8. - Do you know what is to blame for this? Donald Trump's incompetence. And now they (the authorities - Ed.) Refuse to allocate federal funding to eliminate the consequences of what they have done. "