Ohio added to New York's quarantine order

COLUMBUS — Heading for New York state anytime soon? If so, you'll have to quarantine yourself for at least 14 days upon arrival as Ohio was one of four states Tuesday added to the list subject to a travel advisory because of climbing coronavirus infections. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced the addition of New Mexico, Minnesota and Wisconsin to that list. States made the list because their positive test rate has climbed above 10 per 100,000 people or more than 10 percent of tests have come back positive over the past seven days. Ohio qualified because it has had added an average of 10.9 cases per day per 100,000 of its population over the seven days examined, according to Department of Health spokesman Melanie Amato. None of Ohio's neighbors have made New York's list, which also includes more obvious hot spots as Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California. "...the success of our efforts depends on citizens' willingness to comply with state guidance, socially distance, wear masks, and wash their hands, and rising cases around the country continue to threaten our progress, which is why four new states have been added to New York's travel advisory," Mr. Cuomo said. Beginning Tuesday, New York began enforcing the policy among arrivals at New York airports. Disembraking passengers will be approached to request proof that they've completed a state Department of Health traveler form. Someone who leaves the airport without doing so could be fined $2,000, subjected to a hearing, and still be mandated to quarantine. Early on in the crisis when Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's stay-at-home order was in place, the governor had strongly recommended that anyone traveling into Ohio from outside the state self-quarantine for 14 days. Even more recently when states like Florida began spiking, Mr. DeWine again urged those returning from high-infection states to quarantine. In all, 22 states are on New York's quarantine list. Over the last couple of weeks, Ohio's numbers have been climbing, setting a new one-day record of new infections of 1,524 on Friday and, for the first time, at least 1,000 new infections have reported on average each day for the last 21 days. Ohio reported 1,142 new infections on Tuesday, pulling the 21-day average up to a new high of 1,041. In all, the state has had 67,995 cases. Hospitalizations and intensive-care stays were up, too — 134 and 22, respectively, both above their 21-days averages. But there is still no sign that deaths are following. There were five new deaths reported, less than a third of the daily average. DeWine did not hold his regular Tuesday briefing on Ohio's fight against coronavirus. His office did not immediately provide a reason for the cancellation or a date for the next briefing. In recent weeks, what had once been daily briefings at the start of the crisis has been reduced to twice weekly events. Spokesman Dan Tierney stressed that the delay was not because the governor has tested positive. Among other things, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted had been expected on Tuesday to provide a progress report on the state's prevalence study, nasal and blood testing of a random sample of the population to estimate how much of Ohio's population have coronavirus antibodies. That would allow for projections on how many people have already been infected by coronavirus and may have already recovered. Husted said last week that 12,000 postcards went out last week to a random sampling of Ohioans in hopes that 1,200 statewide will agree to participate. Sampling began last week in central Ohio. Northwest Ohio is expected to be last region tested. The testing is expected to be concluded by July 28. ——— ©2020 The Blade (Toledo, Ohio) Visit The Blade (Toledo, Ohio) at www.toledoblade.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.