Massachusetts' new travel restrictions force Mayflower II to cancel trip to Newport

A day after Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Barker announced he was removing Rhode Island from the Commonwealth's low-risk list, the Mayflower II's visit to Newport was canceled.

The replica of the Pilgrim's ship was scheduled to leave New Bedford's State Pier Thursday morning and head to Newport's Fort Adams State Park.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Tuesday the Ocean State was removed from the lower-risk state list due to increases in the state's positive test rate and cases per 100,000.

Travelers from Rhode Island must fill out a travel form and quarantine for 14 days unless they can provide a negative coronavirus test result administered up to 72 hours prior to arriving in Massachusetts.

A spokesperson for the Plimoth Plantation said they "decided out of an abundance of caution to keep Mayflower in New Bedford, where we moved the ship for greater protection from Tropical Storm Isaias, until Saturday."

The ship will make its way to Massachusetts Maritime Academy this weekend.

The Mayflower II had $11.2 million worth of renovations ahead of 400th anniversary celebrations marking the original's voyage from England.

It has been a major tourist attraction and educational tool since it arrived in Plymouth as a gift from England in 1957.