New York implements testing, quarantine procedure for travelers

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Nearly everyone entering New York from other states will now have to receive two coronavirus tests and complete a quarantine upon arrival, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday. 

The state’s protocols, which do not apply to travelers from New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Connecticut, will require people entering New York state to bring proof of a negative COVID-19 test completed in the last three days. Travelers must then quarantine for another three days before receiving a second test that determines if they can leave quarantine. 

Travelers who don’t get tested will still have to quarantine for 14 days upon entering the state, Cuomo said. 

The testing and quarantine procedures will replace the state’s travel advisory, which required travelers from COVID-19 hotspot states to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in New York state. The advisory impacted over 3,000 Syracuse University students at the beginning of the fall semester, resulting in many having to quarantine at their own expense at SU or nearby hotels. 

The changes come amid a steady increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state. New York reported over 2,049 cases of the virus Friday, the fourth straight day new cases rose above 2,000.

Onondaga County and SU health officials have said that the increasing case numbers in New York state and Onondaga County may undermine SU’s ability to reopen in January.