Cuomo: 16 states meet threshold for travel order
ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo doubled the number of states included in a travel advisory mandating visitors coming from areas hit hard by coronavirus must quarantine for two weeks.
Eight additional states reporting rising infection rates meet the threshold set by the governor last week.
“We now have 16 states that meet the formula for quarantine, so that has gone way up,” Cuomo said during an interview Tuesday morning on NY1. “That’s a very significant problem.”
Eight states were included during the initial rollout of the order last week, but as the virus spreads throughout the country, Cuomo said travelers from California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee are now on the list.
The other states announced last Wednesday were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. Washington was placed on the original list, but removed last week.
Under the travel advisory, individuals traveling to or returning to New York from states with increasing rates of COVID-19 are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days.
On Monday, Cuomo said that people flying into the Empire State will be asked to fill out forms that will aid the state’s new policy.
Last week, Cuomo said violators will be subject to a judicial order, as well as fines of $2,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense, and $10,000 thereafter.
New Jersey announced earlier Tuesday that the order applies to the additional states as well.
— New York Daily News
FBI warns of about fraudulent COVID-19 antibody tests
The FBI is cautioning consumers about fraudulent COVID-19 antibody tests.
Scammers are marketing the fake or unapproved tests to capitalize on public fears, make a quick buck or even just collect sensitive personal data such as Social Security numbers and Medicare information, the FBI said in the new warning.
Federal officials are urging people to be wary of “claims of FDA approval” that can’t be verified and testing offers that come in the form of unsolicited telephone calls, social media ads or emails.
Consumers should check the fda.gov website for an updated list of approved antibody tests and testing companies before agreeing to undergo serology screening, officials said.
People also should check with a primary care physician before undergoing such tests and only share personal or health information with known and trusted medical professionals, they said.
If you believe you have been the victim of a COVID-19 fraud, you can report it to National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.
—New York Daily News
Block on U.S. travelers extended
European Union governments extended a travel ban for U.S. residents, deeming the American response to the coronavirus pandemic insufficient to allow its citizens to enter the bloc for non-essential reasons.
The decree, which will be reassessed every two weeks, signals that the ban disrupting both business and leisure travel across the Atlantic won’t be lifted until U.S. authorities control the spread of the deadly virus. In the same decision, the EU will lift travel restrictions for Chinese residents as of July 1, on the condition that Beijing confirms that the same applies to EU citizens.
“We appreciate the transparency and concerted efforts of our European partners and allies to combat this pandemic, and we are committed to coordinating with them as we look forward to reopening our economies and easing restrictions,” according to an emailed statement from the U.S. mission to the EU before the decision was made formal.
The EU judgment, which is non-binding on member states, recommends that visitors only be allowed into the bloc from countries where the average number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the past two weeks is similar or below the level of the EU and that the trend of new cases is declining.
In addition to China, residents of the following countries are set to be allowed to travel to Europe as of July 1: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
— Bloomberg News
