Quarantine Being Considered for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

Update: Mr Trump tweeted that instead of quarantine, a “strong travel advisory” would be issued to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he is considering a short-term quarantine of New York state and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut as cases of coronavirus continue to rise drastically.

“We’re thinking about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it’s a hotspot. … We might not have to do it, but there’s a possibility that sometime today we’ll do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks on New York. Probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut,” he said, CNN reports.

President Trump touched down at Joint Base Andrews at 12.33pm where he answered more answered questions on the possible quarantine. “We’re looking at it,” he said on quarantine of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. “No we wouldn’t do that,” when asked about closing the New York City subway. He said he would talk to Governor Andrew Cuomo later today, The Guardian says.

New York City is the hardest hit area in the country. Data released Saturday shows the death rate from coronavirus sharply accelerating, with one person dying every 9.5 minutes in the last 24 hours. At least 67 more people died overnight from COVID-19, bringing the death toll for the five boroughs to 517. The total number of infected in the city is now 29,158.