California and six other states were added to New York's quarantine list on Tuesday morning, making a total of 16 states or 48 percent of the U.S. population in the quarantine list.

Apart from California getting added, Tennessee, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nevada also became part of the quarantine list.

This is on top of the original list of eight states in the joint travel advisory issues last week. According to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the eight additional states now meet New York's metrics for the travel advisory.

Quarantine applies to states with high COVID-19 infection

All three states observe the same metrics: If someone comes from a state with at least 10 positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents or a state with 10 percent testing rate for the virus on a seven-day rolling period, they must observe the quarantine order, reported USA Today.

States can be added to or removed from the list if these numbers change.

Out-of-state travelers could lead to an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, fatalities, and cases, Cuomo warned.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy added that people in the three states had gone "through hell and back" and did want more virus infections.

New York is requiring travelers from states with high COVID-19 infection rates to self-quarantine for 14 days as it awaits a decision on the reopening of indoor dining establishments in New York City. New Jersey and Connecticut are also requiring the quarantine.

Travelers don't need to quarantine themselves if they are only passing through for a short time, like flight layovers. Essential workers are also exempt from this, as New York offers different precautions they should observe instead of a full quarantine.

Recent estimates in New York City alone show about 2.5 million, or 29% of the city population, are Latinos, said American Sociological Association.

Complying to health protocol

In a report from Associate Press, Cuomo said he is worried about the lack of compliance to wear masks and observe social distancing in New York. He noted reports that said dining in air-conditioned indoor areas could lead to an increase in COVID-19.

Cuomo said New York is going to send police, health monitors, and State Liquor Authority monitors to look all throughout the city and find out if New Yorkers are complying.

"I've said to the local governments in New York, also on Long Island, [that] we have an issue. They have to enforce the compliance," Cuomo said, "I don't want to be a hard-edge, but it's the law."

California Governor Gavin Newsom said Friday he respected the decision of the other governors. It was clear that California met the criteria set for the quarantine list.

A fine amounting to $1,000 comes with breaking the quarantine, and it could go up to $5,000 for repeated violation, reported BBC last week.

The original list included the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North and South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.

According to the New York Department of Health, about 900 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 13 individuals who tested for the virus died Monday in hospitals and nursing homes.

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