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Cuomo cracks down on violators of out-of-state travel ban

Office of the Governor
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is cracking down on violators of New York's out-of-state travel ban.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is tightening quarantine orders for of out of state travelers with high rates of COVID-19. Cuomo said travelers from the 19 states now on the restricted list will be required to fill out a form that includes the address of where they will be for the mandatory 14-day quarantine or there will be immediate repercussions.

“It will be enforced in every airport in the state of New York,” Cuomo said.

Violators who don’t turn in the forms will face an automatic $2,000 fine and may be called to a hearing before a judge to arrange a mandatory supervised quarantine.

The governor issued the rules after incidences upstate of travelers from Georgia and Florida spreading the virus, two states on the travel ban list. He said New York now has very low rates of COVID-19 -- with just 10 deaths on Sunday -- and he does not want to see the virus rate increase because of infection brought in from other states.  

States included on the travel advisory as of July 13 from New York State Department of Health:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi 
  • North Carolina
  • Nevada
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah

This is based upon a seven-day rolling average of positive tests in excess of 10%, or number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents.
The leader of minority party Republicans in the Senate, Robert Ortt of North Tonawanda, said Cuomo’s order infringes on civil rights.

“This overreach of power violates the civil liberties of New Yorkers and citizens across this country, who do not need the government to threaten fines and quarantines in order to travel responsibly,” Ortt said in a statement. “This is putting an unwelcome mat at New York’s door. Such severe action will keep people and their dollars away, at a time when our businesses need them most.”

Ortt encouraged civil liberties groups to challenge the order in court.

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau Chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 public radio stations in New York State. WBFO listeners are accustomed to hearing DeWitt’s insightful coverage throughout the day, including expanded reports on Morning Edition.
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