New York Updates Travel-Related Quarantine Requirements

The Department of Health (DOH) released a new Travel Advisory on April 10^th that relaxes travel-related quarantine and testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers and those who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months. However, the new guidance imposes new, more stringent quarantine requirements on health care personnel (HCP) in nursing homes, enhanced assisted living residences (EALRs), and assisted living programs (ALPs) who are neither vaccinated nor recently recovered from COVID-19.

Fully Vaccinated and Recently Recovered HCP

Under the new guidance, HCP returning to New York from domestic or international travel do not have to quarantine, furlough, or undergo testing upon arrival if they are fully vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19. Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated individuals who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months are recommended to get tested three to five days after arrival in New York from international travel.

A traveler is fully vaccinated if it has been at least two weeks since he or she received the final dose (e.g., first dose for Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, second for Pfizer or Moderna) of a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or authorized by the FDA for emergency use. A traveler is recently recovered if he or she:

recovered from laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 by meeting the criteria for discontinuation of isolation;
is within the three-month period between the date of arrival in New York and either the initial onset of symptoms related to the laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection or, if asymptomatic during the illness, the date of the laboratory-confirmed test; and
is asymptomatic after travel or new exposure.

Unvaccinated and Not Recently Recovered HCP in Nursing Homes, EALRs, and ALPs

Unvaccinated HCP who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months and who work in nursing homes, EALRs, or ALPs must furlough for 14 days after arrival in New York if they travel to non-contiguous states for more than 24 hours or foreign countries.

Unvaccinated and Not Recently Recovered HCP in Other Settings

All other HCP who travel internationally and are neither vaccinated nor recently recovered must furlough for seven days with a test on day three to five after arrival in New York or furlough for 10 days if not tested. The guidance recommends that HCP who travel domestically and are neither vaccinated nor recently recovered get tested three to five days after arrival in New York, consider non-mandated self-quarantine (seven days if tested on day three to five, otherwise 10 days), and avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days. Regardless of any furlough requirements, individuals should self-quarantine when not at work, avoiding large gatherings or exposure to individuals at high risk for COVID-19.

Paid COVID Leave

Employers are not required to provide paid COVID leave to employees who voluntarily go to another state or country for purposes unrelated to the person’s employment and not at the direction of the person’s employer.

Non-HCP Travelers

Asymptomatic travelers who do not work in health care settings are not required to test, furlough, or quarantine upon return to New York after domestic or international travel. It is recommended, however, that travelers who are neither vaccinated nor recently recovered get tested three to five days after arrival in New York, consider non-mandated self-quarantine (seven days if tested on day three to five, otherwise 10 days), and avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days. Testing is also recommended for fully vaccinated individuals who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months at three to five days after arrival in New York from international travel.

All Travelers

All travelers who return to New York from a non-contiguous state after a stay of more than 24 hours or who return from international travel must complete the New York State Traveler Health Form.

Contact: Karen Lipson, klipson@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8838