Cuomo Lifts Quarantine Travel Restrictions, Updated Exposure and Travel Guidance from NYS DOH

Governor Cuomo announced that beginning April 1 domestic travelers to NY will no longer be required to quarantine, lifting his order made in June. Travelers will still be required monitor symptoms for 14 days upon arrival and to self-isolate if symptoms occur. A contact-tracing form must also be completed by travelers; Failure to do this can result in a $10,000 fine. No written guidance from the NYS DOH has been released on this announcement.

Earlier this month, Cuomo had also announced those who are asymptomatic and have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will no longer have to quarantine when traveling to or returning to New York within the first 90 days of their second dose. Written guidance from the NYS DOH on this travel-related announcement was released to local health departments on March 10, along with additional guidance on Quarantine for Community Persons exposed to COVID-19.

Some key points on the travel restrictions, which remain in effect until April 1, are outlined below. Refer to the links at the bottom for full written guidance. Full written guidelines on Cuomo’s announcement yesterday regarding complete removal of the travel quarantine is expected by April 1.

For now, in keeping with CDC guidance, domestic travelers to New York who are asymptomatic and have been vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to quarantine during the first 3 months after full vaccination if they satisfy all three of the following criteria:

• Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine); AND
• Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series; AND
• Have remained asymptomatic since last COVID-19 exposure.