Restrictions lifted on travelers from La.
Starting Friday, travelers from New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana will no longer be required to selfquarantine in Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott rescinded that regulation.
In an executive order that goes into effect Friday, Abbott said that like Texas, Louisiana has “similarly slowed the spread of COVID-19” through social distancing practices and he will no longer require travelers to fill out forms with the Texas Department of Public Service and self-quarantine for 14 days. DPS had required even road travelers to fill out papers at the Texas-Louisiana border to comply with Abbott’s previous order.
Violators could have been subject to either a $1,000 fine or 180 days in jail.
Abbott issued the travel restriction orders back in March when Louisiana and New Orleans had a deadly spike in conoravirus cases. But over the last two weeks, New Orleans has seen a decline in both new cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations, according to the Advocate. However, Louisiana still has a statewide stay-at-home order in place until May 15.
Louisiana continues to be one of the hardest hit states in the nation. More than 1,800 people have died from the virus in Louisiana — more than double the death toll in Texas.
While restrictions are lifted on Louisiana, Abbott is not ready to lift travel restrictions for travelers from other states including New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington and California. Abbott said air travelers from those states still must self-quarantine for 14 days. Travelers from Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and Miami are also ordered to continue to self-quarantine.