Travelers from another states or territories of the United States will no longer be required to quarantine after entering the state of New York effective as of Thursday, April 1, 2021, according to this official press release from Andrew M. Cuomo, who is the current governor of New York — a mandatory quarantine still remains in effect for travelers who arrive from anywhere else in the world — but if you are one of those travelers who has been wanting to visit the city of New York and plan to drive a vehicle, get ready to pay more in tolls next month as well.
New York to Drop Domestic Quarantine Requirement — And Increase Tolls
The Department of Health of the State of New York still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution. All travelers are still required to complete the official Traveler Health Form; and individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread — such as wearing masks or cloth coverings for the nose and mouth, distancing at least six feet away from the nearest person; and avoiding crowds or gatherings of people.
Regardless of quarantine status, all individuals who are either exposed to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus or returning from travel must:
- Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14
- Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions through Day 14 — including proper hygiene for hands and the use of masks and cloth coverings for the nose and mouth — even if fully vaccinated
- Must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop; and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.
Meanwhile, the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York voted on Thursday, February 18, 2021 to adopt a new toll schedule which will be implemented after midnight on Sunday, April 11, 2021 — which includes a new Mid-Tier toll rate that is more expensive than the E-ZPass toll rate that is charged to customers of the E-ZPass New York Customer Service Center when their tag is properly mounted, but lower than the full toll charged to customers without a E-ZPass Tag or account by the New York Customer Service Center.
The new rates for passenger vehicles — with the new more expensive toll rates for other vehicles as well — are as follows:
| Crossing | E-ZPass New York Customer Service Center | Mid-Tier New York Customer Service Center | Tolls by Mail and E-ZPass Not Issued by New York Customer Service Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triborough Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge; and Queens Midtown Tunnel and Brooklyn Battery Tunnel | $6.55 — increased $0.43 or almost 7.03 percent from $6.12 | $8.36 | $10.17 — increased $0.43 or slightly greater than 7.05 percent from $9.50 |
| Henry Hudson Bridge | $3.00 — increased $0.20 or slightly greater than 7.14 percent from $2.80 | $4.62 | $7.50 — increased $0.50 or slightly greater than 7.14 percent from $7.00 |
| Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge | $2.45 — increased $0.16 or almost 6.99 percent from $2.29 | $3.77 | $5.09 — increased $0.34 or almost 7.16 percent from $4.75 |
If you have not used the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge recently, know that vehicles once again pay tolls in both directions instead of only the westbound direction from Brooklyn — and the tolls are solely electronic.
Summary
So let me get this straight: even if fully vaccinated, visitors to New York must continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions for two weeks — and pay higher tolls at several bridges in the process?
Hm. Perhaps now may arguably be the worst time of the pandemic of 2019 Novel Coronavirus instead of back in July of 2020.
Way to go, New York — both city and state…
…and meanwhile, links to other articles at The Gate which pertain to the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic — which are listed in chronological order from the latest and most recent article first in all of the sections — are found in this article, which was posted on the one-year anniversary of the pandemic.
Articles at The Gate pertaining to the topic of electronic tolls — to which I am mostly opposed — include:
- Is This a Good Way to Pay For Electronic Tolls?
- Why Governments are Hypocritical in Forcing Businesses to Accept Cash
- This is How Visitors in Rental Cars Should Pay Electronic Tolls
- Hertz Sued by San Francisco Over Fees For Electronic Tolls
- Are Fees Out of Control for Electronic Tolls Using Rental Cars?
- The Pain of Electronic Tolls is Felt by More and More FlyerTalk Members
- Electronic Tolls in South Africa: Economic Apartheid?
- Are Rental Car Companies Taking an Electronic Toll On You — Literally?
- $17,000 Fine For $36 in Unpaid Electronic Tolls?
- Electronic Tolls and Rental Car Companies: Outrageous Gouging?
- Not Paying a Toll Can Take a Toll — On You
All photographs ©2015 and ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
