As cases of Covid-19 surge around the country, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new guidelines allowing out-of-state travelers to New York to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Travelers from contiguous states to New York (New Jersey, Connecticut) as well as essential workers (truck drivers) are exempt from travel restrictions.
For any traveler to New York State from out of state, exempting the contiguous states, the new guidelines for travelers to test-out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine are below:
- For travelers who were in another state for more than 24 hours:
- Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure from that state
- The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days
- On day 4 of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain another COVID test. If both tests come back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test
- For travelers who were in another state for less than 24 hours:
- The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State
- However, the traveler must fill out our traveler form upon entry into New York State and take a COVID diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York
Local health departments will validate tests, if necessary, and if a test comes back positive, will issue isolation orders and initiate contact tracing. The local health department must contact the state the traveler came from, to ensure contact tracing proceeds there as well.
As we know with the updated guidelines of the cluster action initiative, the state will continue to tweak programs as more information becomes available.
For general inquires contact the call the Hotline: 1-888-364-3065. To complete the traveler health form click here.
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