New York is doing away with its quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers.
By way of background, in June 2020, New York issued a COVID-19 Travel Advisory requiring certain travelers to quarantine upon entry to New York. In November 2020, New York modified its travel advisory to permit out-of-state travelers to test out of its mandatory quarantine. In a surprising move, however, on March 11, 2021, Governor Cuomo's office issued a press release stating that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine upon entry to New York from another state or U.S. territory.
Despite the change, the Governor's press release indicates that - regardless of quarantine status - all individuals returning from travel must still:
- Monitor symptoms daily through Day 14;
- Continue strict adherence to all recommended safety guidelines, including sanitizing hands, using face coverings, avoiding gatherings and social distancing through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated); and,
- Immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.
The Governor's press release also confirms that the new travel rule will not impact international travelers, who will still be subject to mandatory quarantine. Further, it does not change the fact that all travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form upon arrival in New York.
We will continue to monitor this change in travel restrictions and the issuance of further guidance on this new measure. In the interim, employers should advise employees of these new guidelines and update their daily screening questionnaires and COVID-19 protocols accordingly.
Originally Published by Reed Smith USA, March 2021
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.
