Civil Liberties in the Age of COVID-19

Abstract

Can a state close its borders to, or impose mandatory quarantine on, travelers from states or cities that have a high community spread of COVID-19? On March 26, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo imposed various restrictions on travelers from New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo threatened to sue. On June 24, Governor Cuomo, along with New Jersey and Connecticut governors, imposed mandatory quarantine on travelers from eight states that had developed into “hot spots” for the virus. What kind of restrictions would be most effective in dampening the spread of the virus? Does the Constitution permit these restrictions on out of state citizens?

Keywords: civil liberties, quarantine, COVID-19