NJ Expands Coronavirus Travel Quarantine List To 46 States
NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has once again expanded New Jersey's quarantine travel advisory list to its biggest ever, now demanding any travelers from 46 states and territories to quarantine for two weeks after returning – even if their travel route started in the Garden State.
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.
It's not clear how much of the travel advisory list will remain intact for Thanksgiving, but Murphy has consistently expanded the number of states in recent weeks as the coronavirus outbreak has gotten worse.
The new list comes as New Jersey has taken new steps to curtail the spread of the virus in the Garden State. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ To Lower Gathering Limits Amid Coronavirus Spikes
New Jersey reported 4,060 new COVID-19 coronavirus cases and 38 more fatalities on Tuesday – the highest single-day death toll since early July.
Murphy added one state on Tuesday – Vermont – raising the total of states and territories included in the advisory to 46, 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 state that could appear on the list – but doesn't – is 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 face the second wave of this virus, we need to recommit ourselves to the mindset of personal responsibility that helped us flatten the curve earlier this year,” said Murphy. “We are asking anyone arriving from these 46 states and territories to get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine for 14 days.”
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
Vermont
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 Manasquan-Belmar Patch
