De Blasio says New Yorkers should avoid holiday travel: ‘It’s sad. It’s very sad’

Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) is urging New Yorkers to avoid traveling for the holidays amid an increase in COVID-19 cases, saying it’s a “very sad” development.

The mayor announced the travel advisory during a press briefing at City Hall on Tuesday, according to reports.

“I have to urge all New Yorkers: Do not travel out of state for the holidays,” said de Blasio. “Do not travel to a state with a high infection rate. Do not travel to a country with a high infection rate.”

He added that residents should get COVID-19 tests if they do travel and reminded them that there is a mandatory 14-day quarantine after returning from most parts of the nation.

“You could be putting your family and yourself in danger and bringing the disease back here,” said de Blasio. “Everyone is going to make their own decision, I know there are painful choices. I get it. But my recommendation is to avoid travel this holiday season. Stay safe, to keep us all safe.”

De Blasio also said his family would not be traveling for the holidays.

“It’s sad. It’s very sad,” he said. “This may be the one year in our life we have to change our patterns, just take a deep breath and know that next year will be better.”

The mayor called on the federal government to mandate that domestic and international passengers show proof of negative COVID-19 tests before boarding a flight to New York and pushed for travelers to be tested immediately upon their arrival in the state.

The daily COVID-19 positivity rate is up 2.5 percent in New York City and is up 1.7 percent in its seven-day rolling average, WABC noted.