State Mandates Restricting Travel to Other States - What Do You Think?

Nurses COVID

Updated:   Published

Specializes in PICU.

What are some of your thoughts on state mandates restricting travel to and from other states or requiring a quarantine.

I think states do have the right to govern their states as they deem to be the best for the state. I want to think it is about safety and the health and wellbeing of others,  however, at one point is it too much. For example, if I want to travel to state A with my family, not go out to bars, etc, same patterns as if I am at home, what is the difference what state I am in. It seems some states have restrictions and others do not, and it doesn't appear that travel is the main cause for COVID spread.

I realize we are only 6/7 months into this pandemic and things change all the time, just feeling a little down and frustrated about travel restrictions and wanting to just have a break besides my own area. 

1 Votes
Specializes in school nurse.

I think requiring quarantine upon return from a "hot zone" is okay, restricting travel is not. My state has the quarantine policy in effect.

What states are restricting travel?

4 Votes

100% agree with the principle.

We travel self contained in a camper.  I live in a low incidence state.  If I drive to a high incident state to paddle my kayak on the ocean, I quarantine.  IF I go into church in my own state standing sholder to shoulder with no mask, singing loudly for hours, I am all set.
 

But- how do you regulate common sense? How do you account for advanced training and management of virus transmission.

5 Votes
Specializes in CMSRN.

I can't imagine being able to successfully restrict travel state to state.  I can see employers not allowing employees to work or inability to seek certain services until after quarantine but that is about it .    How would states be able to enforce it?  

1 Votes
On 10/20/2020 at 11:38 PM, StrwbryblndRN said:

I can't imagine being able to successfully restrict travel state to state.  I can see employers not allowing employees to work or inability to seek certain services until after quarantine but that is about it .    How would states be able to enforce it?  

I live in FL and I think this is the whole NY, NJ, Connecticut agreement to restrict states with I think it was 10% and above current positivity rate back when southern states started to see an increase in the early Summer. 

So, had a family member dying in NY (end stage renal failure) and this whole quarantine threat apron arrival caused my husband to not be with his mom in her last moments or attend her funeral.

A couple months later he had to travel for work to NY-there was a half *** attempt to have people traveling from an area with higher numbers register with someone with a clipboard when getting off the plane but it was in no way enforced. He did not, his co worker did, and they both had essential worker travel letters. His co worker got calls everyday to check on his whereabouts and his wife (back at home) got calls asking her about his whereabouts-why??? Not sure what she had to do with it but if that’s what they feel will help I don’t see it being very effective. 

So, as far as enforcing it-even air travel they didn’t really have a plan and unless they stop every single car on the interstate I don’t see how they could. Plus, being in a higher positivity state does not necessarily make you more likely to have COVID19. My husband is in healthcare too, works on OR equipment, and wears an N95 mask at work and whenever out in public has gloves, hand sanitizer, washes his hands, and stays out of restaurants, gyms, and bars. I work from home and out child is in virtual school. Our groceries and anything else is bought online and delivered. I don’t think any of us are an increased “risk” to have in another state....now the jerk with no mask at the bar every night for hours maybe.....but that’s possible anywhere at this point.

Problem is this whole COVID19 thing has turned political and the government thinks that if they just lock us up it will all go away-rather than deal with the issue that we were ill prepared for that we knew for decades would be a possibility-a pandemic- well-we have one- so let’s deal with it rather than pointing our fingers at who could of done something different. It doesn’t change anything. Plus, if you look at the states as an overall classification that’s just idiotic- some counties have hardly any cases and some...well, the numbers look bad-but I have to wonder how many in those numbers are from the beginning and who is actually still actively infected?
 

7 Votes
Specializes in PICU.

Nursespeedy:

I think what you had stated is so true... One could live in a state with a high percentage of cases but practice social distancing and mask-wearing and do other safety measures but be restricted on travel and quarantine upon return, or you could live in a state with low percentages but yet go out to bars, not wear a mask, and yet be welcome to travel and not quarantined.

I find the travel restrictions and quarantining a bit of overreach if mask-wearing and avoiding large crowds and bars is the best way to decrease spread. --- Just feeling the need to vent a little.

2 Votes
On 10/20/2020 at 8:25 AM, RNNPICU said:

What are some of your thoughts on state mandates restricting travel to and from other states or requiring a quarrentine.

I think states do have the right to govern their states as they deem to be the best for the state. I want to think it is about safety and the health and wellbeing of others,  however, at one point is it too much. For example, if I want to travel to state A with my family, not go out to bars, etc, same patterns as if I am at home, what is the difference what state I am in. It seems some states have restrictions and others do not, and it doesn't appear that travel is the main cause for COVID spread.

I realize we are only 6/7 months into this pandemic and things change all the time, just feeling a little down and frustrated about travel restrictions and wanting to just have a break besides my own area. 

Umm... If it will help the craziness of another huge wave (which in my personal opinion is inevitable anyway) , why not try it? 

If less "travel" will save a life, just one. I would be happy. 

We are living in a PANDEMIC.

I can only speak for myself. Ban me all travel, I don't care. I want this stopped/eradicated. I have seen with my own eyes what Covid does to people, and some of my patients are not the same post Covid (many had strokes, exacerbations of dementia). 

I really don't understand your reasoning of feelings. But to each their own! Cheers. 

5 Votes
Specializes in Cardiac, NICU, CM.

Each person has his or her own free will to travel or not. It is tough placing my love for travel on the back burner. However, I choose to stay in my state because I wish to keep myself, my family, my loved ones and my patients safe. I honestly cringe when I see and hear colleagues, friends and patients travel for leisure to other states — including hot states — without taking proper precautions. The governors have had to execute these policies to protect their states. Sadly, there are so many people who think of themselves and not care about others’ health and safety. This COVID-19 pandemic is real. Thanks.

4 Votes

 

On 10/20/2020 at 7:25 AM, RNNPICU said:

What are some of your thoughts on state mandates restricting travel to and from other states or requiring a quarantine.

I think states do have the right to govern their states as they deem to be the best for the state. I want to think it is about safety and the health and wellbeing of others,  however, at one point is it too much. For example, if I want to travel to state A with my family, not go out to bars, etc, same patterns as if I am at home, what is the difference what state I am in. It seems some states have restrictions and others do not, and it doesn't appear that travel is the main cause for COVID spread.

I realize we are only 6/7 months into this pandemic and things change all the time, just feeling a little down and frustrated about travel restrictions and wanting to just have a break besides my own area. 

Impractical

0 Votes
On 10/23/2020 at 3:49 AM, NewRN'16 said:

If less "travel" will save a life, just one. I would be happy. 

We are living in a PANDEMIC.

I agree with your sentiment, but not with your logic.

there are all kinds of things we could ban in this country that would save thousands of lives, yet we choose not to either for convenience or fear of government over reach.  How many lives would be saved by banning driving till age 18?  Or 20? But, that would be hugely inconvenient, and we, as a society have decided that that convenience is worth thousands of lives.  The same could be said with banning cigarettes, alcohol, soda.......

We need to take a logic and science based approach.  Banning travel from state to state seems meaningless when states allow gatherings of hundreds or thousands with minimal or no safety measures for political rallies.

I think a balanced, thought out approach is in order now.

 

5 Votes
4 hours ago, hherrn said:

I agree with your sentiment, but not with your logic.

there are all kinds of things we could ban in this country that would save thousands of lives, yet we choose not to either for convenience or fear of government over reach.  How many lives would be saved by banning driving till age 18?  Or 20? But, that would be hugely inconvenient, and we, as a society have decided that that convenience is worth thousands of lives.  The same could be said with banning cigarettes, alcohol, soda.......

We need to take a logic and science based approach.  Banning travel from state to state seems meaningless when states allow gatherings of hundreds or thousands with minimal or no safety measures for political rallies.

I think a balanced, thought out approach is in order now.

 

I'm sorry but I don't understand your logic either. 

If travel is allowed, hotels and attractions/restaurants will become incubators. There is no such thing as hospital grade cleaning in a hotel setting. 

I live in FL and if we would close the borders to everyone not residing in our state, I bet we could avoid a major catastrophe. 

Yes , you can't ban reckless behavior, but you can at least try to prevent adjacent uncesesary one. 

Just my c2. 

1 Votes

Just FYI: how I grew up:

No food, barely ate anything. Forced labor. (not to be graphic, but cloth metarial for my periods. 

No electricity. My dad and my uncle risking their lives to listen to Voice Of America on a small transitor radio...

Can we just start to learn and appreciate what we have , and actually give up entertainment In order to save people's lives???

 

Can we?

 

5 Votes
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