NJ COVID-19 Travel Quarantine Now Applies To All Except 4 States

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy has a new message for anyone who wants to travel outside of New Jersey:

Don't.

But Murphy did make an exception for four states — New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware — because jobs and family likely make travel to those locations essential.

Murphy announced this week that he's scrapping the quarantine travel advisory list that had been expanding regularly in recent weeks since the second wave of the coronavirus started driving New Jersey's daily case numbers to their highest numbers ever.

Ten times over the past two weeks, New Jersey recorded new case numbers topping 4,000 — the first time that's happened since the pandemic began in March. New Jersey on Wednesday also recorded its highest death toll — 50 — since July 8.

Hospitalizations have also hit their highest numbers in months.

As a result, any travelers in the U.S. except from those four states are strongly urged to quarantine for two weeks after returning — even if their travel route started in the Garden State.

"Given the increased risk of spreading COVID-19 for both residents who travel outside the state and for visitors into the state, New Jersey continues to strongly discourage all nonessential interstate travel at this time," Murphy said.

Murphy said New Jersey will no longer use previously outlined metrics to inform its travel advisory. The travel advisory was issued for states and territories with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10 percent or higher positive rate over a seven-day rolling average.

That number reached 46 last week, leaving out only Hawaii, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. New York and Connecticut are also discouraging nonessential travel to and from the Garden State, but they are not mandating that travelers quarantine.

Now, Hawaii is included in the advisory.

Travelers and those residents who are returning from impacted states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel or other temporary lodging. People should leave the place of self-quarantine only to seek medical care/treatment or to obtain food and other essential items.

It is expected that people will follow the public health advisory to self-quarantine.

"The Department of Health will issue additional information in the coming days regarding travel precautions," he said. "Individuals should continue to abide by the state’s current guidance until a new policy is issued.”

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.