Self Quarantining When Entering Some States
By Kareng
@kareng (80243)
United States
March 31, 2020 5:15pm CST
What do you guys think of the self-quarantining that some states are putting into affect when you go over the border and come into their state?
I am referring to the news I heard yesterday that Texas and Florida have imposed on incoming traffic crossing the state line and entering their state. They will have a point check and a form for passengers to fill out. They are required to do a 14 day self quarantine before proceeding. They have to state where they intend to stay during this time. They will face a heavy fine if caught leaving quarantine stop early or no quarantine.
I see pro's and con's.
Pros: It is needed to stop this virus. It has to start somewhere. We all need to get serious about not taking chances in getting this and that means STAY AT HOME.
Cons: This stops the movement of trucks bringing supplies to the stores. We need food and some think they need more toilet paper, right @porwest ?
This will also cause massive traffic jams, as well as giving drivers a good case of road rage.
This also brings me to the question of, "Can this be enforced?" I would guess that no, not 100%. But if just one is caught, it will make an example to all the others that are not quarantining. It will also be very expensive if caught.
What are your thoughts on all of this?
© Karen Gros, All Rights Reserved
Photo credit: Pixabay
9 people like this
8 responses
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
31 Mar 20
Our friends just came back to their home in Tawas, from their winter cottage in Texas. They are required to self-quarantine for two weeks. We are all doing the exact same thing, so what's the big deal? The state of Michigan is in lockdown, required to stay at home until April 27.
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
1 Apr 20
Just about everyone is on lockdown but you can still go to the doctor, pharmacy, grocery store. CBS News reported that this includes trucks. Supplies and food coming in delayed 14 days. That's not cool with things in such short supply right now. It IS a big deal. Anything being shipped from the west will go through Texas coming to Louisiana, which is one of the hardest hit states, if not the hardest per capita.
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
1 Apr 20
@kobesbuddy Exactly. However, according to the link JJ gave us from Texas, commercial traffic is exempt. There will still be a problem with traffic jams at the border though.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
1 Apr 20
@kareng The delay of these shipping trucks is unnecessary. They have a time schedule to meet, it's their bread and butter.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135744)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Apr 20
I think delivery trucks would be exempt. But the rest would still be hard to police.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr 20
We have this here pretty much. Supply trucks are exempt as are a few other categories. Police (and military in some other states) are making spot checks through door-knocking to make sure people are where they say they are. I think it is a bit easier to enforce this in our country.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Apr 20
Why would anyone be traveling at this point? No reason to and visiting family is no excuse. It sucks and I hate it but that's the way it is.
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
1 Apr 20
I agree. I actually heard one of the newscasters today (local) say that the check point at the TX/LA border was going to be a pain in the rear when she goes to visit her parents in TX. I guess they don't think of themselves as the "public?"
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
1 Apr 20
As other states follow suit, it is not good news for the states that are having the highest number of virus cases. Louisiana is one of the areas. The line of cars at the state line was miles and miles long yesterday. How are supplies supposed to get here from the west? Texas is a big state to drive around.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222302)
• United States
1 Apr 20
It reeks of a police state to me. I don't see how it can be legal. I agree with all your Pros and your Cons; but is Big Brother starting to take over our freedoms?
@porwest (112876)
• United States
3 Apr 20
Not sure how enforceable this is, really. And I had not heard the story, so this is news to me. It seems to me that some of this may be considered unconstitutional. However, I do think people need to be aware of what is going on, and do their part as American citizens to adhere to certain precautionary measures through this.
I have no idea how this would be enforced. I also don't know if something like this would be logistically feasible considering you'd have to, at the very least, have access to many hotel rooms. And there is also the logistical nightmare for the hotels as well considering they'd have to ramp up their own protocols for sanitizing etc. There is also the consideration of the economic impact on the individuals forced to quarantine.
They would have to pay for 14 days of hotels. They have to have the time off to be able to do this. And what was the purpose for their visit, and the timeline of their visit? Does this now get extended?
I think the best thing for people to do, in any situation, is to simply avoid travel and avoid being out unnecessarily until we have some idea that this thing is more under control. My summarized thoughts on this are that I think across the board, this would be a difficult thing to do for both sides involved.
And yes. What of the truck drivers? This would be impossible on all levels, both logistically and economically.
