COVID-19 travel advisories updated for Pennsylvania, as cases surge

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Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 quarantine list for out-of-state travelers has grown a bit larger over the past few weeks.

Two states — Georgia and Louisiana — were removed from the travel advisory, meaning travelers coming from there will no longer be subject to a 14-day self-quarantine upon arrival in Pennsylvania.

Ten states — Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming — have been added to the quarantine list, pushing the total to 25 states.

The recommendation for travelers coming into Pennsylvania marks a notable shift in which states are being flagged nationwide for the most alarming increases of coronavirus cases.

Earlier in the pandemic, Pennsylvania touted comparatively low hospitalization rates and was pointing the finger at other states where the virus was raging.

What states are on the travel advisory?

The states that have been placed in this category are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

The list of states is fluid though and will be updated regularly, according to the governor’s office.

Essential workers — including truckers and others in transportation — are exempt.

How are the travel restrictions in Pennsylvania being enforced?

Travelers are advised to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days upon entering the state. If they get tested while in Pennsylvania, they should self-quarantine until the results come in. If positive, they should self-isolate for 10 days.

In Pennsylvania, Wolf said travelers will be expected to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days upon entering the state.

If they are caught violating that quarantine — say a police officer pulls them over for an infraction and sees they have an out-of-state license — then a judge could issue a mandatory quarantine order under certain circumstances, Wolf said during a press briefing

What determines which states are on the list of travel restrictions?

The quarantine recommendation applies to travelers from any state with a high rate of COVID-19.

There are two ways a state can make the list, both of which are measured on a rolling seven-day average:

• Having 10% of COVID-19 diagnostic tests come back positive
• Having at least 10 daily positive tests for every 100,000 residents

Wolf said states could be added and removed from the order as their COVID-19 rates rise or fall.