Florida officials are now checking vehicles entering the state via major roads — including Interstate 95 — to screen out people fleeing the New York City area, the current epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has also announced a similar checkpoint in northwest Florida, which will target motorists from Louisiana, also becoming a hotbed for the virus. The new moves expand screenings already taking place at certain Florida airports, also intended to target people from the tri-state area around New York City, including New Jersey and Connecticut.
“Florida officials on Saturday were operating a checkpoint on Interstate 10 west of Pensacola, with all non-commercial motorists detoured to a vehicle weigh station where license plates and driver’s licenses were checked and motorists were asked about their travels,” the Tampa Bay Times reported.
“Initially I was concerned about doing this because I don’t want there to be a backup,” DeSantis told reporters at a Saturday press conference. “But they’re doing it in a great way where the trucks are going through. We’re not worried about that. We’re just worried about the people fleeing some of those areas.”
“Whatever works, I think we need to do,” the governor said. “There is a lot of logistics involved and I think the president can figure that out.”
“Effective immediately, motorists who are traveling from areas with substantial community spread including Louisiana, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, will be required to isolate for a period of 14 days upon entry to Florida or for the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter, and should be prepared for additional monitoring by DOH [the Department of Health] to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” the Florida Department of Transportation announced on Sunday.
“Upon entry in Florida, each arriving traveler or responsible family member (if traveling as a family) will be required to complete a traveler form. The form requires key information, including each traveler’s contact information and trip details. Failure to complete the form and failure to follow any isolation or quarantine order from DOH are a violation of Florida law,” the department said.
“Additionally, travelers will be provided with a traveler card, which has contact information and guidance in the event the traveler exhibits symptoms while in isolation that are attributed to COVID-19, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath.”
The department also said troopers will be there 24/7.
“To assist with the implementation and enforcement of the Executive Order, [Florida Highway Patrol] will staff the checkpoint at I-95 at the Georgia/Florida line 24 hours a day with more than a dozen troopers in 12-hour shifts,” the department said. “Depending upon the motorist’s origin, they will be directed to either proceed back to the Interstate or to pull aside for further screening. Commercial motor vehicles should proceed in the left lane and may bypass the checkpoint to ensure timely delivery of products across the state.”
President Trump on Saturday said he was considering an “enforceable” quarantine on New York state, as well as parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.
“We’d like to see New York quarantined because it’s a hot spot — New York, New Jersey, maybe one or two other places, certain parts of Connecticut quarantined. I’m thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it but there’s a possibility that sometime today we’ll do a quarantine — short term two weeks for New York, probably New Jersey and parts of Connecticut,” Trump said.
On Saturday night, he pulled back.
“A quarantine will not be necessary,” Trump wrote on Twitter, noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would issue a “travel advisory” later in the evening.
“On the recommendation of the White House CoronaVirus Task Force, and upon consultation with the Governor’s of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, I have asked the @CDCgov to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government. A quarantine will not be necessary. Full details will be released by CDC tonight. Thank you!” the president wrote.