NY/NJ/CT remove Arizona, four other states from quarantine list; VMA performers exempted
ALBANY – The list of states subject to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut's COVID-19 travel order just got smaller.
Travelers from Arizona, Alaska, Delaware, Maryland and Montana will no longer be required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, paring back the list of affected states and territories to 31, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday.
The three most-populous states — California, Texas and Florida — remain on the quarantine list, while the territory of Guam was added for the first time Tuesday. The full list of states is below.
New York and the two neighboring states first implemented a joint travel advisory in late June as the coronavirus began to peak in other parts of the country after hammering the Northeast in March and April.
In order to qualify for the quarantine list, a state must have more than 10 average daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents over the last week. Alternatively, a state makes the cut if 10% of its COVID-19 tests come back positive.
New York updates the list each Tuesday.
In a statement, Cuomo said New York residents made "enormous sacrifices" to get its COVID-19 numbers in check. The quarantine order, he said, helps make sure the state doesn't "give up an inch of that hard-earned progress."
"That's why these travel advisory precautions are so important — we don't want people who travel to states with high community spread to bring the virus back here," he said.
Database: How is your state doing? See if it's close to joining the NY/NJ/CT quarantine list
CDC says travelers should follow state restrictions
Tuesday's announcement came four days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its recommendation that travelers quarantine for 14 days upon returning home from trips to high-COVID states or countries.
Instead, the CDC's updated guidance defers to states and localities, telling travelers to follow whatever travel restrictions or quarantine orders are put in place by their local or state government.
"State, local, and territorial governments may have travel restrictions in place, including testing requirements, stay-at-home orders, and quarantine requirements upon arrival," the CDC's Aug. 21 guidance says. "Follow state, local, and territorial travel restrictions."
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut all have different enforcement mechanisms for their joint travel advisory.
In New York, for example, those arriving by plane from a state on the quarantine list are required to fill out a form with their local contact information and information about their recent travels. Failure to complete the form can draw a $2,000 fine.
New York's rules include an exemption for essential workers traveling or returning to New York, though they are still required to avoid going out in public as much as possible.
VMA artists allowed to perform
The state has also relaxed the isolation requirements for professional athletes playing games in the state, as well as performers at the MTV Video Music Awards. Sunday's telecast which will include performances by stars such as Ariana Grande, BTS, the Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga at locations around New York City.
In a statement, the New York State Department of Health said MTV had requested and received permission for the artists to perform in New York despite coming from states on the quarantine list.
According to the agency, the VMA performers will be required to follow similar restrictions as Major League Baseball players and other professional athletes, who have to stay in their hotel or living accommodations when not doing work related their their job.
"Special considerations to the travel advisory, which the Department has granted on a case by case basis, include individuals who have traveled to New York for medical procedures or funerals, as examples," according to DOH.
Assemblyman Christopher Friend criticized the decision to allow the VMA artists to perform without a full quarantine, noting some New Yorkers have had to cancel travel plans at a significant personal cost because of the travel order.
"If the governor deems that these performers are safe, he should do the same for the residents and visitors of New York and lift these travel restrictions," Friend said in a statement.
Here is the latest list of states on the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut quarantine list, as of Aug. 25:
Alabama
Arkansas
California
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
Iowa
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
North Carolina
North Dakota
Nebraska
Nevada
Oklahoma
Puerto Rico
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Virgin Islands
Wisconsin
More: A COVID-19 quarantine order in New York? Not for professional sports teams
More: Returning from overseas or out of state? The CDC removes its 14-day quarantine recommendation
More: Q&A: What to know about the quarantine if traveling to NY, NJ and CT
Jon Campbell is a New York state government reporter for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at JCAMPBELL1@Gannett.com or on Twitter at @JonCampbellGAN.
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This article originally appeared on New York State Team: NY/NJ quarantine order: VMA acts exempted, 5 states cut from list
