Travelers should self-quarantine
State planning to ramp up tracking
Gov. Charlie Baker is urging travelers to stay out of Massachusetts or self-quarantine for 14 days, amid plans to “ramp up” tracing people who have been exposed in his latest aggressive measures to combat the coronavirus.
“If you’re coming back from some place, we want you to spend two weeks selfquarantining,” Baker said during his daily coronavirus update at the State House Friday. “Further, we’re asking folks that are considering travel to Massachusetts, for whatever reason, do not travel to our communities, especially if you have symptoms.”
Folks coming in through the state’s major transportation hubs will be handed a flyer with instructions to self-isolate for 14 days, including at Logan International Airport, Worcester Airport, South Station and rest stops along the Mass Pike. Baker said he is specifically targeting southbound areas coming from New York, a national COVID-19 hot spot. He cited the White House Coronavirus Task Force’s advisory for anyone who recently left or traveled through the city to self-isolate for two weeks.
“We’re taking extraordinary steps here to keep folks safe, including asking folks to stay home and closing nonessential businesses,” Baker said. “Every decision comes with a certain amount of pain, frustration and disruption for the people of the commonwealth.”
There is no enforcement mechanism in place if people don’t comply, according to Baker, but the instruction is meant to help protect “the most vulnerable among us all,” including the elderly and people with underlying health conditions. Essential workers are exempt from the advisory.
Meanwhile, Baker hinted at a new series of policies to intensify the state’s tracking and tracing initiatives for people who have been exposed to the virus.
“I fully expect, now that we’ve ramped up our testing activity, that we’re going to significantly ramp up our tracing and tracking activity as well,” Baker said.
Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said the plan involves expanding the breadth of tracking to include not only people who tested positive and their immediate contacts, but also the next circle around them. Sudders, who heads the state’s Coronavirus Command Center, said an announcement with more information will come in early next week.
Baker also cast doubt on President Trump’s hopes that the U.S. economy will be ready to reopen by Easter, citing guidance from the Coronavirus Advisory Committee, public health experts and public health providers.
“Yeah, no. We’re not going to be up and running by Easter — no,” Baker said.
The state also announced Friday a partnership with Massachusetts-based Buoy Health to launch a new online health assistance tool to offer medical advice for people who are experiencing coronavirus symptoms. Additionally, the Board of Registration of Medicine will give emergency 90-day limited licenses to medical school graduates who meet specific criteria.