New Yorkers who flee to Florida during the coronavirus outbreak will have to self quarantine for two weeks when they arrive — or risk facing criminal charges, the Sunshine State’s governor said Monday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was issuing the executive order that would apply to all travelers from New York City, which, as of Monday, has recorded 12,305 cases of the virus. By comparison, Florida so far has 1,100 cases.
The order also applies to areas surrounding the Big Apple, but DeSantis didn’t specify the exact perimeter.
The Florida governor said about 100 flights from New York City and the surrounding area arrive to his state daily. He said he believes at least one person aboard each flight is infected with the illness.
DeSantis at an earlier Monday press conference said, “We are getting huge amounts of people flying in. We are looking at how to address those flights.”
“In New York (City), when they did the stay-at-home order, what did people do? A lot of people fled the city and they are going to stay with their parents or fly (out),” DeSantis said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday issued a statewide lockdown, which went into effect Sunday night, that closed all non-essential businesses and requires all nonessential government and private-sector employees to work from home.
The Florida governor said he spoke with President Trump Sunday night about the influx of New Yorkers, but had not yet received any federal help curtailing the flights.
New Yorkers who fly to Florida will be screened upon arrival, according to Desantis. He said the travelers will be prohibited from quarantining with friends or family in the state, though it is unclear where they are supposed to ride out the window.
It’s also unclear how the state plans to enforce the mandate, but Desantis said “it is actually a criminal offense if you violate the quarantine order.”
People could be “held accountable if they buck the law,” he added.
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday night questioned Florida’s move.
“I’m not sure it’s the most enlightened approach,” the mayor said at a press briefing. “I’m sure a lot of people in Florida are going to be put off by that.”
With Post wires