Risk levels of Covid-19 outbreaks across the U.S.–burgundy states show severe outbreaks, red states ... [+]
Travel restrictions have hardened across the U.S. over the past two weeks just as the demand for travel has increased. Christmas travel is expected to be much bigger than Thanksgiving, so whilst these restrictions are subject to change on a week-by-week basis, they provide a guide to restrictions in each state for the entire month.
Travel restrictions are still getting tighter across the U.S.
The patchwork of travel restrictions in place across the U.S. evolved over October and November as the virus tore across the country. In December, the key takeaways are:
- the number of states with travel restrictions has increased (from 18 to 22). California, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington State more recently implemented state-wide travel restrictions.
- 28 states still don’t have any travel restrictions in place, even with some of the highest infection rates in the country (for example, North Dakota).
- as rates of infection climbed across the U.S., so too has the number of states being placed onto “high risk” lists–in many cases, only visitors from Hawaii can now arrive into any state unimpeded.
- many states with travel restrictions already in place tightened their restrictions from November to December (such as moving from voluntary to mandatory quarantine and asking for proof of a negative PCR test).
- there is still no uniformity across the travel restrictions which are in place–some quarantines are voluntary, some mandatory. Some require negative Covid-19 tests as a way to be released from self-isolation, some ask for the full fourteen days, regardless.
- whilst some states did not enact out-of-state travel restrictions, they did introduce state-wide mandates to make mask wearing mandatory in public places (such as Alabama) and restrict public gatherings (such as in Michigan).
Higher numbers expected over the Christmas period
AAA estimated that 95% of Thanksgiving travel was done by car with 50 million people taking a trip.
U.S. airports saw the biggest increase over Thanksgiving than since March–more than 1.1 million flew on Sunday 29 November, according to the TSA.
To put it into perspective, the highest ever figure was the same Sunday in 2019 when 2,882,915 people were screened.
For the entire period, the TSA processed 9.5 million travelers and they expect the Christmas holidays to be even busier.
A Harris Poll survey conducted from Nov. 19 to Nov. 21. reported by Axios, claimed that 25%-30% of Americans said they were likely to ignore health officials' warnings about the risks of gathering with family for Thanksgiving–Americans might be inclined to feel the same way over Christmas.
Helane Becker, an airline analyst at Cowen investment bank, quoted in Condé Nast, said that “we expect Christmas travel to be better than Thanksgiving as Christmas travel plans are typically more resilient than those for Thanksgiving.”
Latecomers at Logan International Airport in Boston on Nov. 29, 2020.
28 U.S. states currently have no state-wide travel restrictions
The following states do not currently have any state-wide travel restrictions; Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana (although visitors to the seven Indian reservations should check), Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina (although the state suggests checking at local destinations), North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota (although roads through Native American reservations might be closed), Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
22 states currently have travel restrictions (up 4 from November)
These are Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington State and Wisconsin. (Washington D.C. also has travel restrictions).
Alaska–testing for everyone or 14-day quarantine for residents
All non-Alaskan residents must do one of three things:
- submit a travel declaration and self-isolation plan AND arrive with proof of a negative Covid-19 test;
- follow the work plan that your employer filed with the state; or
- buy a Covid-19 test upon arrival at a cost of $250 and quarantine until results come through.
Alaskan residents, upon returning from other states, can choose from the same three options but the Covid-19 test is free–or they can choose to not take the test and quarantine for 14 days.
The state advocates a second optional Covid-19 test for everyone, between 5-14 days after arrival. All travelers must practice social distancing for 5 days after arrival, even with a negative test result.
California–14-day quarantine in place
All arrivals into California should quarantine for 14 days and limit interactions to just their immediate household. People are also being encouraged to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel.
Connecticut–quarantine or negative tests for arrivals from 40 states
Travelers arriving into Connecticut must quarantine for 14 days except if arriving from Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.
The only way to avoid this quarantine is to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken in the past 72 hours. Written proof of the negative result must be emailed to the Commissioner of Public Health (DPH.COVID-Travel@ct.gov). There is a $500 fine for non-compliance.
Hawaii–all visitors must have a negative test or quarantine
From October 15, visitors arriving into Hawaii who are older than 5 years of age must land with an FDA-approved nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) taken no earlier than 72 hours before their flight. Failure to provide a negative test will mean that arrivals have to go into a 14-day quarantine. Inter-island travel requires quarantine or negative testing, unless heading to Honolulu.
Starting 2 December, travelers to Kauai County, regardless of the ability to produce a negative PCR test result, must go into quarantine for 14 days.
Idaho–asks for voluntary self-isolation
Travelers into Ada County (including Boise) in Idaho, are “encouraged” to quarantine for 14 days. It is not compulsory.
Illinois–now using a color-coded system for arrivals
In Illinois, travel is unrestricted. However, arrivals into Chicago are now categorised into three groups, red, orange and yellow, based on the infection rates in the home states. Anyone from a red state must quarantine for 14 days, which currently implicates arrivals from Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Anyone from an orange state must have a negative Covid-19 test result no more than 72 hours old or observe the quarantine–Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
Anyone arriving from a yellow state is not subject to any restrictions–Hawaii, Maine and Vermont.
A Santa Claus behind plexiglass in Los Angeles County, Nov. 30 as a stay-at-home order took effect
Kansas–some travelers must self-isolate
Kansas has some of the most specific travel requirements in the U.S., in that a mandatory 14-day quarantine is needed for anyone who has:
- taken a sea or river cruise since March 15;
- attended an out-of-state mass gathering of more than 500 people (where masks were not worn and it was impossible to keep further than 6 feet apart);
- visited North Dakota between 17 October and 17 November;
- been to South Dakota between 4 November and 17 November; and
- traveled to or from Belgium and Czechia.
Kentucky–quarantine for visitors from 14 states
Kentucky is asking that all people arriving from a state where Covid-19 infection rates are higher than 15% (as per John Hopkins University’s website) should undergo a 14-day quarantine.
The current list includes people arriving from Idaho, Iowa, South Dakota, Oregon, Kansas, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Mississippi, Utah, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Ohio.
Maine–only 2 states exempt from quarantine or testing
People arriving in Maine must enter a 14-day quarantine or sign to say they have had a negative Covid-19 test in the past 72 hours. Residents of two states are exempt from both conditions of entry: New Hampshire and Vermont. People in quarantine may leave hotels or campsites to do outdoor activity such as hiking.
Maine residents, who travel to states not on the exempt list, must also quarantine upon return for 14 days or until a negative test result can be proved.
Massachusetts–quarantine or negative tests from high-risk states
If passengers arrive into Massachusetts from a low-risk state, they do not need to fill in a travel form. Other visitors must do so and also quarantine for 14-days or produce a negative Covid-19 test taken in the last 72 hours. The fine for non-compliance is $500.
Vermont was taken off the list of low-risk states on 28 November, leaving Hawaii as the only low-risk state.
Minnesota–new quarantine to tie in with stay-at-home order
Until 18 December, Minnesota is under a four week stay-at-home order and any incoming residents and visitors are asked to quarantine for 14 days upon entry (or re-entry) with interactions limited to the immediate household.
New Hampshire–quarantine a requirement, excluding New England states
If entering New Hampshire from other than a New England state (Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island), travelers are asked to quarantine for 2 weeks, if staying “for an extended period of time”.
However, after seven days in quarantine, travelers can get a PCR test and if it’s negative, they can move about unimpeded.
New Jersey–advising against all non-essential travel
The state is currently advising against all non-essential interstate travel.
Visitors to New Jersey, who intend to stay for more than 24 hours, must quarantine for 14 days–even if they have a negative Covid-19 test–if they arrive from any state that is not New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Delaware. Travelers from other than these four states must complete an online survey.
New Mexico–quarantine and a negative test
In New Mexico, the state is asking that visitors self-quarantine for 14 days or the entire length of stay, if it is shorter than 2 weeks, even with a negative Covid-19 test.
Some states are exempt on a constantly updated list, which currently only includes Hawaii.
New York–two tests and a three-day quarantine
Anyone arriving from a state which does not border New York must quarantine for 14 days, but visitors can “test out” of quarantine if they arrive with a negative test taken three days before arrival and then quarantine for three days. They then take a second test on day four, after which, if they have a negative result Governor Andrew Cuomo announced, they are “free to go about their business.”
All visitors must fill out a Traveler Health Form and any visitor not complying with regulations, faces a fine of up to $10,000.
Ohio–quarantine for arrivals from 14 states
Ohio is restricting travel from states with a positive testing rate of 15% where arrivals must self-quarantine for 14 days–currently listed as Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and Wisconsin.
Oregon–quarantine and ‘freeze’ in place
Any arrivals into Oregon, including returning residents from out-of-state, must self-isolate for 14 days and limit interactions to immediate households.
The state is currently on a ‘freeze’ to limit the rise in infection rates.
Protesters at the Re-Open Oregon Rally on May 2, 2020 in Salem, Oregon, United States.
Pennsylvania–quarantine for everyone or a test
All travelers into Pennsylvania, above the age of 11, must quarantine for 14 days or provide proof of a negative coronavirus test in the 72 hours before entering the state. Failure to comply may result in a $300 fine.
Rhode Island–quarantine or negative Covid-19 tests
Rhode Island visitors must quarantine for 14 days if arriving from states which have a positive testing rate of 5% or more, or they can opt out if they have a negative Covid-19 test taken in the last 72 hours.
There are currently 43 states on the updated spreadsheet–Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. (Visitors from Puerto Rico must also quarantine).
Vermont–quarantine in place for everyone
The state has initiated a 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving or returning to Vermont. Visitors can end the quarantine after 7 days if they can show proof of a negative Covid-19 test.
Washington D.C.–quarantine for arrivals from 42 high-risk states
Anyone arriving into Washington D.C. from a high-risk state and visiting for more than 24 hours must get a negative Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours before their arrival. If the stay is longer than three days, another test must be done three to five days after arrival.
High-risk states are currently listed as Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota , Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Travelers from Maryland and Virginia are exempt.
Washington State–quarantine now in place
Residents are not encouraged to travel and anyone arriving and returning from out-of-state is asked to self-isolate for 2 weeks.
Wisconsin–out-of-state arrivals to stay at home as much as possible
All out-of-state arrivals into Wisconsin are asked to stay at home as much as possible for 14 days. Within the state, people are asked to not travel to other rental or private homes.
Traveling increases the risk of transmission of Covid-19, either getting it or spreading it and the CDC recommends that “as cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate holidays is to celebrate at home with the people you live with”.
