The regulations represent a sharp escalation of efforts to keep the low rates of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations Massachusetts has achieved. Once one of the most affected states during the pandemic, Massachusetts now reports that only 1.8 percent of coronavirus tests are positive, based on the most recent seven-day average.
“Since March, the people of Massachusetts have made a great sacrifice and have shown great discipline,” Baker said at a House of Representatives press conference, “and as a result, our state has made great progress in controlling COVID- 19 “.
Now, he said: “Many people travel to and from Massachusetts for vacations or in some cases preparing to return to school. … Every traveler who comes to Massachusetts, no matter where they are from, has a responsibility to help keep COVID-19 out of the Commonwealth. “
But the enforcement will be based largely on the honor system, according to Baker, who said he hopes “the vast majority of people” will adhere to the new order.
Dr. Thomas Tsai, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, called Baker’s executive order “the absolutely right approach.” Although he was unaware of studies showing the effectiveness of such travel restrictions, Tsai said: “It makes epidemiological sense. It makes intuitive sense. “
Other states in the region have taken similar measures. New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey require travelers from states experiencing a significant spread of the coronavirus corona to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, and warnings from Nueva York and Connecticut come with fines of $ 2,000 and $ 1,000 respectively.
Since March, Baker had issued only travel “guides”, without threat of a fine, urging people to quarantine if they were traveling from other states.
But he and Stephanie Pollack, the state’s transportation secretary, said state data showed that trips were collected on state highways and at Logan International Airport. Every day more than 50 flights arrive from Texas, California and Florida, where the virus has exploded to dangerous levels and has forced officials to back down on their reopening plans.
“Our goal is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as out-of-state travel increases,” Pollack said. “All of these travelers have a responsibility to help the Commonwealth keep transmission levels as low as possible.”
Before arriving in the state, visitors must complete and submit a “Massachusetts Travel Form” online, which can be found at www.mass.gov/MAtraveler or by texting “MATraveler” to 888- 777.
Local health boards, or the state contact that tracks the collaboration, will supervise those in quarantine. Residents can report suspected violators to the health board, which will impose any fine.
Hotels and Airbnb hosts will be responsible for notifying visitors of the rules.
“The goal here is to trust what we trusted from the beginning, which is that people generally follow the rules,” Baker said.
People in these “lower risk” states are currently exempt from the quarantine requirement: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Hawaii. Any changes to the list will be posted at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order#lower-risk-states-
Visitors from other states may skip quarantine if they can provide, upon request, proof of a negative coronavirus test administered within 72 hours of arrival in Massachusetts.
Eligible tests involve obtaining a sample collected from someone’s nose, either a PCR test or an antigen. However, a negative antigen test result will need to be confirmed by PCR. Antibody tests, which are done on a blood sample, are not acceptable. The Department of Public Health advises people planning to travel to Massachusetts to seek the advice of their healthcare provider on the correct type of test.
Exemptions are also allowed for people who pass through the state, travel through state lines to work, travel to Massachusetts for medical treatment, or who comply with military orders.
The order also strongly discourages employers from allowing business-related travel outside of low-risk states, and requires them to ensure that employees comply with quarantine if they do so.
Travel rules are likely to have the greatest effect on the tourism and higher education industry, but they met little rejection from either group.
Richard J. Doherty, president of the Massachusetts Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said the order “is based on the robust testing procedures and robust public health policies that colleges and universities are implementing to support a campus environment healthy and safe. “
Throughout Massachusetts, universities have devised a variety of reopening plans, many of which involve the return of a limited number of students to campus. Most include some form of assessment requirement that will exempt most students from quarantine.
Northeastern University, for example, plans to evaluate 5,000 students a day and process the tests in its own laboratory in Burlington, expecting a 24-hour change, said Michael Armini, senior vice president of external affairs. More than 500 dormitories have been reserved to isolate positive students.
“Because the new guidance allows for a negative test to deny quarantine, we hope to be in very good shape,” said Armini.
Similarly, Boston University plans contact detection, testing, and follow-up protocols for students, faculty, and staff. “We are very supportive of Governor Baker’s executive order, and our testing and quarantine plans are consistent with it,” BU spokesman Colin D. Riley said in an email.
Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui said he believes the governor’s rule is smart.
“The more precautions we have, the better, and I’m glad we are very cautious here,” said Siddiqui. “It could be very easy for someone who comes from a low-risk state, who flies from Mississippi, and that there is an outbreak.”
As for tourism, industry leaders in the Boston area and Cape Cod said that the majority of visitors to Massachusetts come from low-risk states and are therefore exempt from quarantine.
Martha Sheridan, executive director of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she does not expect a profound impact on the flow of existing tourism, but travel rules will delay efforts to attract visitors who do not live within driving distance. from Boston
“If more of the country had followed the protocols that we implemented from the beginning, [maybe] we could have avoided this kind of scenario and [seen] an economic recovery will come a little earlier, “Sheridan said.
Wendy Northcross, executive director of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, said the requirements could deter coach visitors who tend to make short visits in the fall.
“I wouldn’t say we are not concerned,” added Northcross. The uncertainty of changing the directives “is very difficult for companies to handle,” he said.
Cape Cod homeowners whose tenants come from non-exempt states are likely to return the deposits and will have no problem filling the slot again, said Joan Talmadge of WeNeedaVacation.com, which advertises Cape Rentals. “There has been such a demand,” she said. “Our site just exploded with activity.”
At the press conference, Baker criticized the crowding on M Street Beach in Boston last weekend, saying that if people cannot distance themselves from each other and wear face covers, “we will have to limit the number of people who can be there”. “
Currently, the state limits indoor meetings to 25 people and closed-door meetings to 100 people.
Jon Chesto, Christina Prignano, Laura Krantz and Felice Belman of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
Matt Stout can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @mattpstout You can reach Martin Finucane at [email protected] Felice J. Freyer can reach [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @felicejfreyer
