NJ Expands Coronavirus Travel Quarantine List To 45 States

Tom Davis
Updated ·3 min read

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has once again expanded the quarantine travel advisory list to its biggest ever, now demanding any travelers from 45 states and territories to quarantine for two weeks after returning – even if their travel route started in New Jersey.

Nonessential travel from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware also is highly discouraged, although none of the states are on the travel advisory list. New York and Connecticut are also discouraging nonessential travel to and from the Garden State, but they are not mandating that travelers quarantine.

Murphy added two states this week – Maine and New Hampshire – raising the total of states and territories included in the advisory to 45, marking the largest number of states on New Jersey’s quarantine list to date.

The travel advisory is issued for states with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10 percent or higher positive rate over a 7-day rolling average.

Delaware, Connecticut and Pennsylvania meet the criteria for New Jersey's travel advisory, but they were left off the list due to the interconnected nature of the region, Murphy said. A 14-day quarantine for travelers from these states is "not reasonable in all instances," Murphy said.

The only states that could appear on the list – but don't – are Vermont and Hawaii.

Still, anybody traveling south will still have to find a circuitous route since Maryland remains on the quarantine list. In fact, traveling to nearly all parts of the US will be difficult without having to isolate upon return (see full list of states on the quarantine list below).

Anyone returning from the designated states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel or other temporary lodging, Murphy said, and only leave for medical care or essential items.

“As we battle a second wave of COVID-19, stopping the spread of this deadly virus could not be more important.” said Murphy. “It remains our top priority to ensure the safety of New Jersey residents, and we ask individuals arriving from these 45 states to get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine for 14 days.”

The new list comes as New Jersey on Tuesday announced its highest daily case total since April — 3,877 — and the state's highest death toll since July: 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ COVID-19 Numbers Going 'In Wrong Direction'

"These numbers are devastating," Murphy said. "We are still in the midst of a pandemic. Wear a mask. Social distance. Stay safe."

Here is the latest list:

  • Alabama

  • Alaska

  • Arizona

  • Arkansas

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Florida

  • Georgia

  • Guam

  • Iowa

  • Idaho

  • Indiana

  • Illinois

  • Kansas

  • Kentucky

  • Louisiana

  • Maine

  • Maryland

  • Massachusetts

  • Michigan

  • Minnesota

  • Missouri

  • Mississippi

  • Montana

  • North Carolina

  • North Dakota

  • Nebraska

  • New Hampshire

  • New Mexico

  • Nevada

  • Ohio

  • Oklahoma

  • Oregon

  • Puerto Rico

  • Rhode Island

  • South Carolina

  • South Dakota

  • Tennessee

  • Texas

  • Utah

  • Virginia

  • Wisconsin

  • West Virginia

  • Washington

  • Wyoming.

Travelers and those residents who are returning from impacted states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel, or other temporary lodging. Individuals should leave the place of self-quarantine only to seek medical care/treatment or to obtain food and other essential items.

It is expected that individuals will follow the public health advisory to self-quarantine. The list of states will be updated on a rolling basis and is accessible here.

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This article originally appeared on the Asbury Park Patch