White House warns travelers from New York City area to isolate

ajc.com

With a growing number of Coronavirus infections in and around the city of New York, the White House on Tuesday asked anyone who had left that region in recent days to self-isolate for up to two weeks, as public health officials expressed concern that those people could be spreading the virus to other areas and states.

"We're particularly focused on New York," Vice President Mike Pence told reporters on Tuesday at the White House.

"We are asking anyone who has traveled out of the New York City metropolitan area to self-isolate for 14 days," Pence added.

The warning came as the United States went over 50,000 diagnosed cases of the Coronavirus, as the death toll soared over 600 on Tuesday.

"We remain deeply concerned about New York City and the New York metro area," said Dr. Deborah Birx, a top White House official on the Coronavirus task force.

"About 56 percent of all the cases are coming out of that metro area," Birx added.

"It's a very serious situation," said Dr. Anthony Fauci.

"When they go to another place - for their own safety - they've got to be careful," Fauci said, echoing the call for those travelers to self-isolate for up to two weeks.

"We don't want that to be another seeding point for the rest of the country," Fauci added, talking about how people can spread the virus to other places, whether on Long Island, the Jersey Shore, or in Florida.

The Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has been raising red flags about people traveling from New York to the Sunshine State, and possibly spreading the virus.

DeSantis has also asked New York travelers to self-isolate for 14 days, whether they are arriving by plane or car.

About the Author