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Out of State Quarantine Four-Day

By Anthony Baudone, Staff Writer

On Oct. 31, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo updated COVID-19 guidelines that permit out-of-state travelers who come to New York to opt to “test out” of the mandated 14-day quarantine previously established. 

“We’re going to a new plan given the changing facts, and the experts suggest we shift to a testing policy,” Cuomo said. “We bent the curve of this virus by following the data and the science, and we are continuing that approach with these new guidelines.”

Effective Wednesday, Nov. 4, out-of-state travelers may, following a mandatory three-day quarantine, on the fourth day of quarantine seek another COVID-19 test. If both the original test taken over the previous three days of the quarantine period and the fourth day test come back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine.

The Nov. 4 policy changes affect members of the campus community attending from out-of-state.

 Out-of-state sophomore health science major Miranda Ruiz shares her thoughts on the updated policy allowing for a briefer quarantine experience. 

“I like not having to stay in quarantine for a whole two weeks. However, I know that those two weeks are necessary for determining whether or not someone is infected with COVID-19, so it’s a little worrying,” Ruiz said. “I don’t feel as though it’s as effective as the two-week quarantine, because most symptoms don’t begin showing themselves until after a week and also most people with COVID-19 are contagious for around 10 days.”

Out-of-state sophomore musical theatre major Hannah Winston also shared her thoughts on the pre-spring semester quarantine mandate. 

“I believe it will give us as students time not only to settle in, but just to be safe before we are all exposed to each other again when classes start up,” Winston said.

Students attending from outside of New York State share their prospects of returning to campus in the spring 2021 semester. 

“I plan on coming back for the spring [2021] semester,” Ruiz said. “I don’t intend on wasting the money I paid for room and board. I also think attending class in-person is more effective.”

 Some students have personal motivations for returning to campus in the spring 2021 semester. 

“I do plan to come back for the spring [2021] semester because I have siblings and family back home and their school situations could be different or change again from being in-person to online,” Winston said. “I also am coming back just so I can still be able to work and focus on my own individual environment.”

Post requested payment for meal plans during the four-day quarantine required in the spring 2021 semester. 

Some students that are required to take part in the four-day quarantine share their thoughts on the meal plan payment.

 “I understand what they are trying to do with this option because people quarantining need to be able to have access to food, but it will depend on how much it is for me to figure out my options,” Winston said. “As of now, I don’t know if I will be purchasing a meal plan or not.”

Other students are concerned about the quality of the meal plan and how it will be handled during the quarantine. 

“I hope that the delivery of the meals is better than the fall [2020] quarantine. I was constantly forgotten about and my meals would be brought late,” Ruiz said. “I will likely buy the meal plan just because it is more convenient, but only time will tell.”

Out-of-state students are generating alternatives to the meal plan should they choose to opt out.

 “A plan for me could be either a delivery service or finding a friend on campus with a car to go and grab food/meals and/or groceries before the term starts,” Winston said.

This prospective alternative to purchasing the meal plan is shared by other out-of-state students. 

“If I opt out, I will buy groceries and just make my own meals,” Ruiz said.

Updates to what will happen next semester at Post are sent through student emails from President Kimberly Cline and student affairs whenever decisions are made.

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