Florida coronavirus: Governor mandates self-quarantine for travelers coming from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

Washington CNN — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order mandating a 14-day self-quarantine or isolation period for travelers coming to Florida from airports in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. “I hereby direct all persons whose point of departure originates from outside the State of Florida in an area with substantial community spread, to include the New York Tri-State Area, and entering the State of Florida through airports to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into the State of Florida or the duration of the person’s presence in the State of Florida, whichever is shorter,” the executive order says. LISTEN: The Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction Podcast Explaining the move at a press conference Monday, DeSantis, a Republican, said, “Today there’s over 190 direct flights from the New York City area to the state of Florida, and I would reckon, given the outbreak there, that every single flight has somebody on it who’s positive for Covid-19,” DeSantis, a Republican, said at a press conference Monday explaining the order. The governor “doesn’t want to be responsible if anything goes wrong,” said a top Republican operative in the state, adding that DeSantis “is just kind of a step or two behind everyone.