Domestic travelers arriving in New York will no longer be required to quarantine starting April 1, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced Thursday.
The mandatory quarantine directive does, however, remain in effect for international travelers.
“As we work to build our vaccination infrastructure even further and get more shots in arms, we’re making significant progress in winning the footrace between the infection rate and the vaccination rate, allowing us to open new sectors of our economy and start our transition to a new normal in a post-pandemic world,” Cuomo said in a statement.
Although the state is eliminating the mandatory quarantine, the New York State Department of Health is still recommending that domestic travelers quarantine as an added precaution.
The governor also urged New Yorkers to continue following safety guidelines, including mask wearing, social distancing and avoiding gatherings. Travelers are also still required to fill out the state’s traveler health form.
“This is great news, but it is not an all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down,” Cuomo said.
The news comes after New York and other states have scaled back some coronavirus restrictions, as cases, deaths and hospitalizations continue to decline.
On Wednesday, Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced that indoor dining capacity in New York City and New Jersey will be expanding to 50 percent starting March 19. In areas outside of New York City, Cuomo also announced that indoor dining maximum capacity would be lifted to 75 percent — a significant increase from the existing 50 percent cap.
On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced that the city’s high schools would reopen for in-person instruction on March 22.
Cuomo is currently under fire in New York after reports that his administration underreported the number of coronavirus deaths in the state. The governor is also facing calls for his resignation after several women have accused him of sexual harassment and making unwanted advances.
New York State has recorded more than 1.7 million positive COVID-19 cases, and more than 48,000 deaths, according to The New York Times.