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 The team, comprised of Mayor Bill de Blasio's public engagement unit
and the city's COVID-19 Test & Trace Corps, were running a
"checkpoint" starting at Penn Station on Thursday to ensure that
visitors from any of the 35 states on New York's travel advisory
were aware of the 14-day quarantine mandate.
Their measure aims to keep the infection rate low in the city,
formerly the epicenter of the nation's epidemic in the spring with
thousands of new cases per day.
Matthew Joseph, 46, getting off the train from Miami, said he had
not been aware of the quarantine order when he boarded.
"I'm not as much of a believer on a lot of this stuff, but I follow
whatever's necessary to accommodate everyone else," he said.
Checkpoint staff handed out fliers informing disembarking passengers
of the quarantine and instructing them to fill out an online form to
enable contact tracers to reach them during their stay.
But it was unclear if the screening at Penn Station, along with
other checks of cars at tunnel and bridge crossings into the city,
would enhance the government's ability to enforce quarantine orders
intended to stop the virus from spreading through interstate travel.
A spokeswoman for City Hall said refusing to fill out the quarantine
form could subject travelers from designated states to a $2000 fine,
and violations of the quarantine orders could result in a $10,000
fine.
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'WEBSITE WAS GREAT'
The staff also told travelers about home delivery services for food and
medication that the mayor's office was providing for quarantining visitors.
Joseph said he did not think he would use those resources, since he only planned
to be in New York City "a very short time" to look at a property in Manhattan
where he wants to open a bar.
Some travelers welcomed the screening.
Amy Clobertson, arriving from Washington D.C. for a medical appointment on
Thursday and wearing latex gloves and a mask, immediately filled out her
traveler form at the station - even though travelers from Washington D.C. are no
longer required to quarantine.
"The website was great. It was really informative. I wish every state was doing
this because we have to stop the virus," Clobertson said.
Chris Keeley, Chief Operating Officer of the city's Test and Trace Corps, told
Reuters he was pleased with reactions to the screening on its first day of
implementation.
"People are interested to hear about the responsibilities. People are interested
to hear about the resources that are available to them," he said.
(Reporting by Gabriella Borter; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Nick Zieminski)
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