New York airports are being asked to alert passengers to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's executive order requiring a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from states with high Covid-19 rates.
Shelley LaRose Arken, the commissioner of Long Island MacArthur Airport, said the state had provided sample signs to inform travelers of the order and the states that meet the quarantine criteria, and asked all New York airports to display them on digital message boards, websites, and social media. MacArthur Airport has complied with the state's request, she said.
At East Hampton Airport, the terminal is closed to the public, and passengers disembark along the side of the building. In that area, there are no such signs posted. James Brundige, the airport manager, was not available to discuss the airport's procedures for alerting passengers.
Sixteen states, including Florida, Texas, California, and Georgia, currently meet the criteria for the quarantine.
According to FlightRadar24, a flight tracking service, jets originating from West Palm Beach and Stuart, Fla., Houston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles were scheduled to arrive at East Hampton Airport yesterday. The privately owned Cessna Citation from Atlanta is registered to an Ormond Beach, Fla., corporation.
On June 24, Dr. Howard A. Zucker, the commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, issued guidelines that put the onus on individuals to comply with the quarantine order. "The travel advisory requires all New Yorkers, as well as those visiting from out of state, to take personal responsibility for complying," the directive said.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said on Tuesday the state planned to do "spot checks" on travelers at airports, and would inform the county of those who test positive for the virus. The county's contact tracers would then alert those who have been in their proximity. Otherwise, officials are focused on making people aware of the order in the hope that they'll use "common sense" and self-quarantine because "it's not possible to ID everyone who comes into the state," Mr. Bellone said.
For travelers who may not be abiding by the honor system, the State Department of Health does offer a phone number to call to report anyone not adhering to the quarantine order. The number is 1-833-789-0470.