New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said state officials are “laser-focused” on curbing the spread of coronavirus to avoid another lockdown through a new testing protocol for travelers.
Hochul told WPIX Friday that New York is “not looking to have another lockdown” and will follow a strict new testing protocol to keep the infection rate low.
New York’s coronavirus positivity rate is the fourth best in the country at 1.64%, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
“That’s extraordinary and we’re laser-focused on keeping that down,” Hochul told the outlet.
She highlighted the state’s new testing protocol for travelers, which eliminates the quarantine advisory list previously put in place by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The new mandate applies to all travelers except New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania residents.
New York visitors must show proof of a negative test taken within three days of arriving in the state. They also must quarantine for three more days and get a new COVID-19 test on the fourth. If they test positive for the virus, they must complete a two-week isolation, Cuomo recently announced.
Cuomo's coronavirus quarantine list had 40 states and territories listed on it in mid-October.
“But if you’re going to travel, you’re tested when you return, you’re tested three days later and then we’ll have clarity as to whether or not you if you test positive you’re going to have a conversation with a contact tracer,” Hochul said.
She also told WPIX that New York has “done more testing that any state in the nation.”
“Yesterday alone 141,000 tests were administered,” she said. “So, this is an area we know we’re doing. We’ve excelled at it and we’re going to make sure that we get this right.”
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