Reopen NYC: Travelers face COVID-19 quarantine checkpoints at major entry points

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City has set up checkpoints to trace travelers from states or locations on the Tri-State Travel Advisory list, with fines up $10,000 fines for quarantine violations.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says the COVID-19 traveler registration checkpoints are located at key entry points into New York City to ensure compliance with New York State quarantine requirements and further the containment of COVID-19.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announces COVID-19 traveler registration checkpoints at key entry points into New York City to ensure compliance with New York State quarantine requirements.

Travelers who have visited those designated states or territories with high COVID-19 transmission rates are required to complete the New York State Department of Health traveler form and quarantine for a period of 14 days upon entering New York City.

RELATED: More locations added to Tri-State travel advisory

The New York City Sheriff's Office, which operates under the Department of Finance and is working in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, is managing the traveler registration checkpoints at major bridge and tunnel crossings.

The first checkpoint was set up on Staten Island on Wednesday, and education outreach and engagement by the city began at Penn Station on Thursday.

Officials say one out of five COVID-19 cases in New York can be traced back to travelers from out of state, and the mayor and governor say vigilance is key to keep New York's numbers low.

"New York City is holding the line against COVID-19, and New Yorkers have shown tremendous discipline," de Blasio said. "We're not going to let our hard work slip away and will continue to do everything we can to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy."

Non-essential workers subject to the State's travel quarantine must:

--Stay at their residence or in a hotel room, leaving only for essential medical appointments or treatment or to obtain food and other essential goods when the delivery of food or other essential goods to their residence or hotel is not feasible

--Not invite or allow guests, other than caregivers, into their quarantined residence or hotel room

--Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and seek appropriate medical advice or testing if COVID-19 symptoms arise.

Essential workers subject to the State's quarantine must:

--Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and self-quarantine and seek medical advice or testing if they show symptoms of COVID-19

--Limit their activities involving contact with other persons for 14 days to the purposes that exempted them from the self-quarantine requirement to the extent possible

--If staying longer than 36 hours in New York state, seek diagnostic testing for COVID-19 as soon as possible upon arrival (within 24 hours).

Failure to quarantine is a violation of state law, and individuals who fail to quarantine are subject to a $10,000 fine. Individuals who refuse to fill out the New York State Department of Health travel form are subject to a $2,000 fine.

The travel advisory list as of August 5, 2020 includes:

Alaska

Alabama

Arkansas

Arizona

California

Florida

Georgia

Iowa

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Minnesota

Missouri

Mississippi

Montana

North Carolina

North Dakota

Nebraska

New Mexico

Nevada

Ohio

Oklahoma

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

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