CLEVELAND, Ohio — Some states are now taking precautions regarding people traveling outside of the New York area.
- Ohio has not announced any specific restrictions on people entering the state from New York
- There are daily flights from New York City to Cleveland
- CDC issued a guidance that advised anyone who has been in the New York City area to self-quarantine for 14 days
New York has become of the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in America, with nearly half of the COVID-19 deaths coming from the tri-state area.
As the death toll continues to rise, some states are taking extra precautions to keep travelers from spreading the virus in their state.
The Centers for Disease Control issued a guidance that advised anyone who has been in the New York City area recently to self-quarantine for 14 days.
The governor of Florida announced it will roll out highway checkpoints to screen new york motorists.
Rhode Island’s governor had its state police pull over drivers with New York license plates and even went door-to-door to enforce a 14-day quarantine.
Rhode island has since broadened its enforcement to include travelers from anywhere outside the state.
Ohio has not announced any specific restrictions on people entering the state from New York and police have not been directed to pay special attention to them.
“Troopers will still be responding to calls for service and assisting the motoring public while the order is in effect. They will remain highly visible and will not be stopping motorists for the sole purpose of determining compliance with the stay-at-home order. As always, troopers will continue to stop motorists who present a danger on Ohio roadways,” said Ohio Highway Patrol Sergeant Ray Santiago.
There are daily flights from New York City to Cleveland and some flights have been canceled due to the corona virus, according to the Cleveland Hopkins Airport website.
President Donald Trump floated the idea of a quarantine for New York residents, but the administration opted for the guidance instead.
However, officials are concerned about nearby states like New York and Michigan.
“Certainly, if you've traveled recently to a place that is one of those more hot spots, you should almost be imagining that you are coming back from China. You really should stay at home and quarantine yourself voluntarily for 14 days if you've been in an area where there is just a huge huge amount of activity. The problem right now is that’s starting to be just about everywhere,” said Dr. Amy Acton, director of health for the Ohio Department of Health.