The Trump administration is advising that individuals leaving New York self-quarantine for 14 days to avoid spreading the coronavirus to other parts of the country.
Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, made the recommendation during a press conference as cases in New York continue to increase rapidly. “Everybody who was in New York should be self-quarantining for the next 14 days to ensure that the virus doesn’t spread to others, no matter where they have gone, whether it’s Florida, North Carolina or out to … Long Island,” Birx said.
It is the first time U.S. officials have recommended that individuals traveling domestically self-quarantine. The directive signals how dire the situation has grown in New York, which has become the epicenter of the epidemic in the U.S.
About 56 percent of all the cases in the U.S. are coming out of the New York metro area, Birx said.
“We have to deal with the New York City metro area as a high-risk area,” said Vice President Pence. “For that reason, we’re taking these steps and asking for the cooperation of the American people.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the rate of infection in the area is eight to 10 times higher than in other parts of the country.
“It’s a very serious situation. They’ve suffered terribly through no fault of their own,” he said.
It is important individuals leaving New York self-quarantine so they don’t seed outbreaks in other areas of the country, he added.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) also ordered individuals arriving in Florida from New York to self-quarantine for 14 days.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Tuesday the coronavirus outbreak could peak in the state in two to three weeks, with cases doubling every three days. There are nearly 22,000 cases in New York, including 157 deaths.
Updated at 7:07 pm.