Ending Travel Quarantine Rules Is 'April Fool's Joke,' Mayor Says

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Bill de Blasio was hoping he'd hear a "just kidding" after learning New York would end quarantine travel restrictions on April 1.

The mayor urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday to backtrack his plan to lift quarantine requirements for domestic travelers coming into the state at the start of next month, which the governor first announced Thursday.

"I don't know if that's the state's idea of an April Fool's joke, but it's absolutely the wrong thing to do," de Blasio said. "It's reckless and it doesn't help with our recovery."

De Blasio reiterated Friday that he wasn't consulted about Cuomo's announcement, saying he and New York City health officials were "surprised and shocked" when they heard about it.

The change applies to domestic travelers coming from other states or U.S. territories. It will lift the requirement to quarantine, but keep it as a recommendation.

Travelers must all continue to fill out the state's Traveler Health Form, he said.

Cuomo has said that easing the restrictions is a sign the state's vaccination effort is paying off and will help with reopening the state's economy.

But city officials said pulling back now would be a mistake, especially considering new coronavirus variants that are prevalent in certain parts of the country.

About 5 to 10 percent of coronavirus cases in the city have been associated with travelers throughout the pandemic, mayoral advisor Dr. Jay Varma said.

"As we know with this disease, even one case can lead to an outbreak and spread," he said.