New Yorkers should think twice about traveling out-of-state for the holidays amid the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
De Blasio on Tuesday made a plea for city dwellers to make an admittedly “painful” choice — avoid seeing family outside the city during the holiday season and staying at home — in order to avoid the risk of contributing to a coronavirus “second wave.”
“I hate to say it, but I have to urge all New Yorkers to not travel out of state for the holiday, do not travel to a state with a high infection rate, do not travel to a country with a high infection rate,” he said. “Realize that by doing that, unfortunately, you could be putting yourself and your family in danger and also the risk of bringing the disease back here.”
The city’s coronavirus positivity rate stood at 2.48 percent on Tuesday — higher than average, but still lower than the vast majority of states.
The plea followed weeks of concerning COVID-19 spikes across the city and state. The city’s coronavirus positivity rate stood at 2.48 percent on Tuesday — higher than average, but still lower than the vast majority of states.
De Blasio reminded New Yorkers that travelers from 40 states and territories with high infection rates must quarantine for 14 days upon entering the Empire State. The city will take steps in the coming weeks to more strictly enforce the quarantine, he said.
Hizzoner also encouraged New York city dwellers who do travel to get tested in addition to quarantining.
Hizzoner also encouraged New York city dwellers who do travel to get tested in addition to quarantining. He called on the federal government to mandate negative coronavirus tests for travelers before they board planes.
All arriving travelers will be pushed to get tested “immediately” at JFK and LaGuardia airports, where the city is setting up sites, he said.
De Blasio said his family traditionally travels over the holidays but will not this year. He urged all New Yorkers to “take a deep breath,” plan to not travel and know that the situation will be better next year.
“Let’s do the smart thing this holiday season,” he said. “Let’s stay nearby, let’s protect each other.”
The states and territories on New York’s quarantine travel advisory are:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
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