Chicago's travel order has been updated to include 46 states and Puerto Rico, Chicago's top health official announced Tuesday.
The emergency travel order requiring a 14-day quarantine for travelers from certain locations, issued in an effort to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, was updated ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Last week, the city changed the way it reports states being added to its travel order, categorizing states in a color-coded map to determine which requirements are in effect for travelers, from the original requirement of a 14-day quarantine to a negative test result depending on the severity of the state's outbreak.
As of Tuesday's update 11 states were categorized as "red" states, meaning travelers must quarantine for 14 days when coming to Chicago.
Only three states are listed as "yellow," meaning they do not require a quarantine: Maine, Hawaii and Vermont.
Here's a look at the guidelines:
Yellow: States with a rolling 7-day average less than 15 cases/day/100k residents.
- No quarantine or pre-arrival test required. Maintain strict masking, social distancing and avoidance of in-person gatherings
Orange: States have a rolling 7-day average between 15 cases/day/100k residents and the Chicago rolling 7-day average (currently 60)
- 14-day quarantine OR pre-arrival negative test no more than 72 hours before arrival in Chicago with strict masking, social distancing and avoidance of in-person gatherings
Red: States have a higher 7-day rolling average of positive cases/day/100k Chicago residents.
- 14-day quarantine
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said that no matter a state's color under the order, she would not recommend any unnecessary travel.
Local
"The bottom line, you should not be traveling," she said Tuesday. "Right now COVID is surging across the entire United States and you risk bringing COVID with you."
The city said it hopes to simply educate travelers about the order, but those found in violation could be subject to fines of between $100 and $500 per day, up to $7,000.
"The quarantine and pre-arrival testing requirements apply to people even if they have no COVID-19 symptoms," the city's health department said in a release.
Exceptions can be made for travel for medical care, parental shared custody and business travel for essential workers. It also does not apply to an individual passing through states for less than 24 hours over the course of travel, including layovers at airport or people driving through a particular state. Daily commuters to and from neighboring states are also exempt.
Chicago's travel order, which began on July 6, was being evaluated every Tuesday, with any additions taking effect the following Friday.
Health officials in both the city and across the state have been discouraging unnecessary travel as the pandemic enters a "second surge."
"Let's be clear, travel will increase your chances of contracting and spreading COVID-19," Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said.
Ezike said that travel might be necessary at times, but those who do travel, should take necessary precautions.
"Consider how you're going to travel or your mode of transportation," she said. "Obviously, when you fly, there are security lines as you go through the airport terminals. Think about a flight with layovers where it may be cheaper, but obviously that will pose more risks than a direct flight. Traveling by bus or train versus taking your own vehicle- obviously taking your own vehicle if that's an option would be safer. Traveling by bus or train, you might not be able to maintain 6 feet of distance and sometimes that will be for extended periods of time during the journey. If you are driving your own personal car, think about planning out how you will do the stops for gas for food for bathroom breaks, think about hand sanitizer and washing your hands frequently."
