New York sets New Travel Rule as COVID-19 Cases Rise in the U.S.

New York Sets New Travel Rule as COVID-19 Cases Rise in the U.S.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday October 31st outlined a new travel rule for those coming into New York State amid rising coronavirus cases across the country.

Gone is a travel quarantine advisory for individual states that required travelers entering New York to isolate themselves for 14 days.

The new rule: Travelers must test negative for COVID-19 three days before coming into the state and then once again test negative after three days of entering New York. "If you are coming into New York within three days you must have tested negative," Cuomo said on a conference call with reporters. "Once you arrive in New York, you must quarantine for three days and can take a test on the fourth day."

Cuomo outlined the new rule as cases have increased nationally and in parts of New York. The state's overall positive rate in the last day stood at 1.49%, a figure that also includes so-called "cluster" zones of COVID-19 cases in the Hudson Valley, New York City and Southern Tier.

Cuomo had previously announced coming changes to the state's travel quarantine rules. More than 40 states and territories have been previously added to the list. The new policy comes before the Thanksgiving holiday and amid concerns from public health experts the virus could spread as people visit their families. Cuomo said the new policy of test, travel, and test will be enforced by local public health departments. "People are going to travel for Thanksgiving," Cuomo said. "We're having issues with small gatherings, which is almost a psychological issue." The policy does not apply to people who travel into bordering states for less than 24 hours, something Cuomo has acknowledged would be impossible to police.