Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo repealed her executive order that specifically forced travelers from New York to quarantine after entering her state, opting instead for more expansive restrictions targeting all out-of-state visitors.
Fellow Democrat, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who had threatened to sue Rhode Island over the initial order, revealed the shift during a press conference on Sunday.
“I don’t think the order was called for, I don’t believe it was legal, I don’t believe it was neighborly,” Cuomo said. “I understand the point, but I thought there were different ways to do it, and the governor of Rhode Island was very receptive.”
Raimondo’s original executive order gave Rhode Island police the authority to pull over cars with New York license plates and order them to self-quarantine for two weeks. Authorities could also go door-to-door in search of New Yorkers who may have defied the order.
Raimondo broadened the restrictions to cover all visitors to Rhode Island rather than only New Yorkers in an executive order signed Saturday night.
“Any person coming to Rhode Island from another state for a non-work-related purpose must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days. This quarantine restriction shall not apply to public health, public safety, or healthcare workers,” the new order said.
Cuomo acknowledged the changes to Raimondo’s executive order on Twitter, writing, “We will not let New Yorkers be discriminated against. Rhode Island will no longer be stopping New Yorkers at their border. We thank Rhode Island for their cooperation in repealing this executive order.”
That tweet was later deleted.
President Trump considered ordering a quarantine of New Yorkers as well but decided to issue a “strong” travel advisory for the state’s residents.
“On the recommendation of the White House CoronaVirus Task Force, and upon consultation with the Governor’s [sic] 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,” he tweeted Saturday evening.
