The "quarantine desk" on the upper concourse of Buffalo Niagara International Airport seemed quiet a few days ago, signaling that afternoon planes were arriving from states such as Massachusetts, Michigan or Pennsylvania.

Those places appear on New York's list of states with acceptable levels of Covid-19 infection, and arrivals are free to leave the airport and continue their travels.

But it's a different story when aircraft disgorge passengers from North Carolina, Florida or 32 other states and territories, where the virus tests at positive rates of more than 10%. That's when arrivals are required to register with the state Department of Health personnel staffing the desk and receive instructions on how to quarantine themselves for the next two weeks.

"Compliance with the travel advisory has been very good," Health spokesman Jeffrey W. Hammond said of the statewide response. "As of Sept. 28, more than 826,000 travel forms have been received either in-person or online."

The program serves as a key component of the joint response by New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to intercept potential carriers of the coronavirus upon arrival in the Northeast. Airlines have committed to ensure every passenger is notified through pre-flight emails, as well as pre-flight and in-flight announcements before they land in New York.

At Buffalo Airport, arriving passengers are asked to complete the survey online prior to arrival, or check in at the upper concourse desk near the elevators.

It's all part of New York's enforcement of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's June 24 executive order, which requires travelers from states with significant rates of Covid-19 transmission to quarantine for 14-days from the time of their last contact.

Requirements include:

• The individual must stay in separate quarters with a separate bathroom facility, and not leave the quarantine room.

• Food must be delivered to the person’s quarters, where face masks must be stored for anyone showing symptoms.

• Garbage must be bagged and left outside for routine pick up.

• Nearby medical facilities must be notified if the individual experiences more than mild symptoms and may require medical assistance.

Hammond of the Health Department would not consent to an interview. But he said in an email that the program has successfully helped to maintain a low positive test rate in the state following the early spring epidemic when the coronavirus first arrived in New York City. That stems from the checkpoints the state has established at all its airports, staffed by about 100 Health Department personnel, in addition to State Police and Port Authority police in the New York City facilities.

State officials say anyone completing the form receives a phone call, text message or random checks, with those unable to be reached subject to enforcement, including in-person checks.

Even travelers entering the state via automobile are required to fill out the Covid-19 questionnaire available online, though state officials did not address how it would be enforced. Still, the executive order provides for a civil penalty of up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 15 days for violations.

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