NJ Expands Coronavirus Travel Quarantine List To 43 States

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has expanded the quarantine travel advisory list to its biggest in weeks, now demanding any travelers from 43 states and territories to quarantine for two weeks after returning – even if their travel route started in New Jersey.

Nonessential travel from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware also is highly discouraged, although none of the states are on the travel advisory list. New York and Connecticut are also discouraging nonessential travel to and from the Garden State, but they are not mandating that travelers quarantine.

Delaware, Connecticut and Pennsylvania meet the criteria for New Jersey's travel advisory, but they were left off the list due to the interconnected nature of the region, Murphy said. A 14-day quarantine for travelers from these states is "not reasonable in all instances," Murphy said.

Murphy added two states this week - California and Massachusetts - raising the total of states and territories included in the advisory to 43, marking the largest number of states on New Jersey’s quarantine list to date.

Anybody traveling south will still have to find a circuitous route since Maryland remains on the quarantine list. In fact, traveling to many parts of the southern U.S. will be difficult without having to isolate upon return (see full list of states on the quarantine list below).

The travel advisory is issued for states with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10 percent or higher positive rate over a 7-day rolling average.
Anyone returning from the designated states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel or other temporary lodging, Murphy said, and only leave for medical care or essential items.

New Jersey has reported 245,257 total coronavirus cases and 14, 591 confirmed deaths since the pandemic began.

“As a second wave of COVID-19 has begun across the nation and our state, we must do everything possible to stop the further spread of COVID-19.” said Murphy. “It remains our top priority to ensure the safety of New Jersey residents, and we ask individuals arriving from these 43 states to get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine for 14 days.”

Murphy is now saying New Jersey may have to suspend further reopenings if cases continue to rise. Murphy made the comments after the Garden State had its highest daily number of new cases in four months. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ May Stop Reopenings If COVID-19 Cases Keep Rising

Murphy has issued guidance on family gatherings amid the coronavirus crisis. Here's what that means. Read more: Start Planning For Small Holiday Gatherings, Murphy Says

Here is the latest list:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Guam
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Montana
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• Nevada
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wisconsin
• West Virginia
• Washington
• Wyoming

Travelers and those residents who are returning from impacted states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel, or other temporary lodging. Individuals should leave the place of self-quarantine only to seek medical care/treatment or to obtain food and other essential items.
It is expected that individuals will follow the public health advisory to self-quarantine. The list of states will be updated on a rolling basis and is accessible here.

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