Northeast Governors Tighten Travel Restrictions Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases

Strategic Insights -

Governors in the northeast have tightened restrictions on travelers from areas of the country seeing upward trends in positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Ahead of the July Fourth weekend, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut expanded their travel advisories, requiring people arriving from eight additional southern and midwestern states to quarantine for 14 days. This decision comes as the number of reported cases nationwide exceeds 2.6 million, and new cases in at least 36 states are trending upward compared to the previous week. The tri-state area's Democratic governors, along with Massachusetts' Republican governor, have taken action to maintain public safety and control the spread of the virus.

Key Takeaways:

  • New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut require travelers from 16 states to quarantine for 14 days, citing a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.
  • The travel advisory applies to anyone coming from states with a high number of new cases, except for essential workers.
  • Exemptions are in place for travelers from the northeast states of Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, which have shown low positive test rates in recent weeks.
  • Massachusetts has also implemented a 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state visitors, with exemptions for essential workers and travelers from the tri-state area and northeast states with low COVID-19 cases.
  • The decision to tighten travel restrictions comes as new cases in at least 36 states are trending upward compared to the previous week, with over 2.6 million reported cases nationwide.
  • Governor Andrew Cuomo emphasized the need to maintain the safety of New York's phased reopening, while Governor Charlie Baker stressed the importance of taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Statistics:

  • There are more than 2.6 million reported cases of coronavirus nationwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
  • New cases in at least 36 states are trending upward compared to the previous week.
  • The positive test rate in 16 states exceeds 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or has a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

Sources:

  • [CNN]
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Statement from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
  • Statement from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker