Updated Guidance from New York State

Updated April 14, 2021

Quarantine after domestic travel is recommended, but not mandatory. Please visit this website for more information: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

International travel follows CDC guidance that can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html

All travelers must complete the NYS Travel Form unless the traveler had left New York for less than 24 hours or is coming to New York from a contiguous state (i.e., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont).

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March 19, 2021

Dear NECSD Faculty, Staff, and Families:

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) have recently provided updated guidance on travel restrictions in light of the vaccination program and updated quarantine protocols following COVID-19 exposure in the community.  The Governor’s Office has clarified that the terms of March 10, 2021, Interim Travel Guidance will be in effect until at least April 1,  2021, when further guidance may be forthcoming. 

The Updated Interim Travel Guidance 

A. Travelers who have not been fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID 19. All  individuals entering New York from a non-contiguous state (Domestic travelers who enter New York from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont are exempt from the precautionary quarantine protocols) who have traveled outside of  New York for more than 24 hours shall quarantine consistent with the NYSDOH guidance on  quarantine unless they have:  

1. Obtained a test within three days before arrival in New York; AND  

2. Quarantined according to Department guidelines for a minimum of three days,  measured from the time of arrival; AND  

3. Obtained a diagnostic test on the fourth day in New York, measured from the time of arrival.  

Travelers that meet the criteria above may exit quarantine upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test result.  

B. Travelers who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID 19. Domestic  travelers to New York or residents returning to New York may be exempt from quarantine if they satisfy the following criteria: 

1. Consistent with recent CDC guidance and March 10, 2021, NYSDOH guidance,  individuals who are asymptomatic after having been vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to quarantine during the first three months after being fully vaccinated if  such travelers:  

• Are at least two weeks past the receipt of the second dose of a two-dose series,  or at least two weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine;  AND  
• Are within three months following receipt of the last dose in the series; AND  
• Have remained asymptomatic since the last COVID-19 exposure.  

OR 

2. Consistent with CDC guidance from February 13, 2021, asymptomatic individuals who have previously been diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and have since recovered are not required to retest and quarantine within three months after the date of symptom onset from the initial COVID-19 infection or the date of a first positive diagnostic test, if asymptomatic during illness.  

Note: If an individual has traveled outside of the U.S. or U.S. territories, s/he will have to follow the quarantine period set forth on March 10, 2021, NYSDOH Travel Advisory Guidance. 

Quarantine Rules for Individuals Exposed in the Community to COVID-19 

A. Exposure following being fully vaccinated. Consistent with recent CDC guidance and March 10, 2021, Interim NYSDOH Guidance, an asymptomatic individual who has been fully  vaccinated against COVID-19 does not need to quarantine during the first three months after  full vaccination if the following criteria are met:  

1. Such individual is fully vaccinated (i.e. at least two weeks has elapsed following  receipt of the second dose in a two-dose series or at least two weeks following  receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine); AND 

2. Such individual is within three months following his/her receipt of the last dose in the  vaccination series (or within three months of the receipt of a single dose vaccine);  AND 

3. Such individual has remained asymptomatic since last COVID-19 exposure.

Note: While it is rare for fully vaccinated individuals to become symptomatic upon exposure to COVID-19 if symptoms have developed following a close or proximate contact to a  COVID-19 positive individual, ordinary quarantine rules apply.  

B. Exposure following recovery from COVID-19 infection. Consistent with recent CDC  guidance, asymptomatic individuals who have previously been diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and have since recovered, are not required to retest and quarantine within three months after the date of symptom onset from the initial COVID-19 infection, or from the date of the first positive diagnostic test, if asymptomatic during illness.  

C. Criteria for all others. Individuals who do not meet all of the criteria under either paragraph  “A” or “B” above and who have been exposed to someone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 are required to quarantine for 14 days after exposure, or 10 days if they meet the criteria for a reduced quarantine (i.e., remain asymptomatic during the duration of the quarantine). Consistent with previous CDC and NYSDOH guidance, there is no testing required to end the quarantine if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period. However, a test should be sought immediately if any symptoms develop during the 14 days following exposure to an individual who tested positive for the  COVID-19 virus.  

While this recent guidance is indicative of the fact that the vaccination is highly protective against COVID-19, it is important for faculty and staff that are fully vaccinated to continue to adhere to health and safety protocols applicable in both in and out of the school setting (e.g., social distancing, hand hygiene, and adherence to masking protocols). 

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!