COVID-19 Holiday Season Surge
With the holiday season now upon us, the number of active COVID-19 cases continues to surge locally, regionally, and nationally. The active case count and other metrics and returned to levels not seen for many months, having increased exponentially over the past month.
We have all been bombarded with messaging highlighting our personal and collective responsibilities to wear a face covering, practice social distancing, and avoid both public and private gatherings. However, this is not the time for fatigue to set-in. Please continue to pay close attention to the advice of public health officials and adhere to the regulations promulgated to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, state, and Nation. The sections below summarize the current public health and regulatory landscape, particularly as relates to holiday travel and private gatherings.
This holiday season, please do not give the gift of COVID-19.
Three Things to Remember: Regulatory Mandates
- Gatherings at private residences, whether indoors or outdoors, are limited to no more than ten persons.
"The directive contained in Executive Order 202.45, as extended, which amended the directives in Executive Order 202.42, 202.38, and 202.10, that limited all non-essential gatherings to allow gatherings of 50 of fewer individuals for any lawful purpose or reason, is hereby modified only insofar as to further limit non-essential private residential gatherings to 10 or fewer individuals for any lawful purpose or reason, provided that social distancing, face covering, and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the Department of Health are adhered to." Governor Cuomo's Executive Order 202.74
- Persons traveling to a non-contiguous state must either quarantine for 14 days upon return or comply with the testing protocol and accompanying reduced quarantine period. Travel to a contiguous state is exempt, but all travelers -- including travel to a contiguous state -- must complete a Traveler Health Form.
For any traveler to New York State from a non-contiguous state, US territory, or CDC level 2 or level 3 country, the latest guidelines for travelers to test-out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine are below:
For travelers who were in a non-contiguous for more than 24 hours:
- Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure, prior to arrival in New York.
- The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days.
- On day four of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain another COVID test. If both tests comes back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.
For travelers who were in a non-contiguous state for less than 24 hours:
- The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State.
- The traveler must fill out a Traveler Health Form upon entry into New York State, and take a COVID diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York.
- Wear a face covering when in public and unable to maintain social distancing of at least six feet.
" . . . any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance." Governor Cuomo's Executive Order 202.17.
Additional Resources and Information