NEW JERSEY - The state has changed its quarantine guidance to align with the new federal and CDC recommendations, shortening the quarantine time for those coming from outside New Jersey from 14 to 10 days.
New Jersey residents, or those traveling from outside the Garden State, should quarantine for 10 days, or seven days if a viral test after arrival comes back negative, according to an updated advisory from the New Jersey Department of Health.
The policy is applicable to those coming from all regions beyond New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Travel to those states is frequently essential because it typically involves work, medical or military reasons as well as court-order compliance, such as child custody.
If testing is not available, or if the results are delayed, travelers are instructed to quarantine for 10 days after travel.
Health officials say the initial recommendation for a 14-day quarantine was based on the incubation period of the virus, but the CDC's intention now is to gain better compliance with quarantining and contact tracing activities. Read more: NJ: 3 Out Of 4 Not Cooperating With COVID-19 Contact Tracers
Still, as state officials said last week, the state “strongly discourages all nonessential interstate travel at this time” and notes that “compliance is expected." Read more: Gov. Murphy To NJ: 'Don't Travel, Period' Amid COVID Pandemic
Indeed, the recommendation comes as New Jersey has seen a record number of daily cases reported in recent days. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know
Most recently, the state saw a record-high COVID-19 cases reported over the weekend with 6,046 more positive tests as of Sunday. According to New Jersey Department of Health Medical Director Dr. Edward Lifshitz, it was the highest number of positive tests in New Jersey in a single day since the outbreak began. Read more: NJ Tops 6K New Cases For 1st Time, Clarifies Entertainment Rules
Last weekend saw an "all-time high" in reports of new COVID-19 cases, with around 5,300 new positive cases on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - believed to be "directly related to the Thanksgiving holiday," Lifshitz said Monday.
Those traveling to areas with increasing COVID-19 cases "may wish to postpone their travel to the region" if they are unwilling or unable to follow the quarantine advisory, the notice reads.
That's why the state's updated advisory also came with a warning.
"The advisory is no longer specific to certain states. Because of the rising number of case counts across all states, there is an increased risk of spread of COVID-19 upon return from any travel," the advisory continues.
Last month, Gov. Phil Murphy scrapped a state-by-state travel advisory after most U.S. states and territories topped the list.
Murphy's original state-by-state quarantine lists began when the state started to see numbers leveling while other regions of the country saw spikes. States and territories were added to the list if they had a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average or if they had a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents.
New Jersey residents may be eligible to use state-mandated earned sick leave to self-quarantine, according to the updated advisory:
"The New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Law allows an individual who has worked for their employer for at least 120 days to use earned sick leave that they have accrued under law when, during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, or upon the recommendation, direction or order of a health care provider or the Commissioner of Health or other authorized public official, the employee undergoes isolation or quarantine as a result of a suspected exposure to a communicable disease and a finding by the provider or authority that the employee's presence in the community would jeopardize the health of others," the update continues.
For more information about leave eligibility, click here.
With reporting by Kara Seymour
