New York Lifts Mandatory Quarantine for International Travel
Just 10 days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted New York’s coronavirus quarantine requirement for domestic travelers, the state has announced that international travelers who are asymptomatic no longer need to self-isolate either. The new guidance aligns with CDC requirements and recommendations for domestic and international travel released April 2, 2021. New York’s new policy requires proof of a negative test or recent COVID recovery in order to board planes headed to the U.S., but it doesn’t require isolation or testing for international travelers who lack symptoms upon arrival.
While quarantine is no longer required, state health officials still recommend those who are not fully vaccinated delay international travel. They recommend testing for fully vaccinated travelers anyway and say unvaccinated travelers should also get tested three to five days of arrival, too. The latter group should consider self-quarantine, but neither the isolation nor the testing is mandatory.
The CDC said earlier this month that fully vaccinated people could travel within the U.S. without getting tested or self-quarantining, but CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky urged caution at the time of that announcement. She said she would “advocate against general travel overall” given the rising number of infections across the U.S.
International Travel
All international travelers must comply with all CDC requirements, which currently include proof of negative test or recent COVID recovery in order to board airplanes headed to the US.
- Currently CDC does not require quarantine, work furlough, or testing requirements for asymptomatic international travelers.
- New York follows that recommendation with the following exceptions:
- Unvaccinated health care personnel who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months and who work in nursing homes, enhanced assisted living residences (EALRs) or assisted living programs (ALPs) must furlough for 14 days after arrival in New York from international travel, consistent with CDC recommendations to avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days after travel.
- Unvaccinated health care personnel who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months working in all other health care settings must furlough for 7 days with a test on day 3-5 after arrival in New York from international travel, or furlough for 10 days if not tested. Fully vaccinated individuals who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months are recommended to get tested 3-5 days after arrival in New York from international travel.
- All unvaccinated international travelers who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months are recommended to get tested 3-5 days after arrival in New York, consider non-mandated self-quarantine (7 days if tested on day 3-5, otherwise 10 days), and avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days, regardless of test result.
- Travelers from Canada, crossing at land borders subject to the agreement between the governments of the United States and Canada, are permitted to travel in accordance with said federal agreement and need not quarantine solely due to such federally authorized travel.
Check out the full Updated Interim Guidance for Travelers Arriving in New York State (NYS).
