On March 11, 2021, New York announced that quarantine would no longer be required for any domestic travel entering the state as of April 1, 2021. This is a very surprising development, especially given that the state updated the travel advisory yesterday for the first time since Nov. 3, 2020. You may find that updated guidance here.
Travelers must continue to fill out the traveler health form. Further, all individuals returning from travel must monitor for symptoms for 14 days after their return and immediately self-isolate if symptoms emerge.
What About Between Now and April 1?
People will have to quarantine upon arriving to New York between now and April 1, but there are now two exemptions. To fit into one of these exemptions, an individual must be either:
- Fully vaccinated, within three months of receiving the final dose of the vaccine, and remain asymptomatic; OR
- An asymptomatic individual who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past three months and has since recovered. The three-month period begins either on the date of symptom onset or the date of the first positive diagnostic test if the individual remains asymptomatic.
Between now and April 1, the remainder of the travel advisory remains unchanged. Domestic travelers from contiguous states (Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) do not need to quarantine. Travelers who are in a non-contiguous state for less than 24 hours do not need to quarantine or be tested but must fill out the traveler health form. The essential worker exception remains unchanged. Finally, those subject to the travel quarantine may test out under the existing rules.
What About International Travel?
The domestic guidance has no impact on international travelers. All travelers must quarantine upon returning from international travel. This is a new rule. Travelers must quarantine for seven days, with a test three to five days after returning, or must quarantine the full 10 days without a test.
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