States requiring travelers to quarantine
Julia Thompson, Jayme Deerwester and David Oliver
States are slowly beginning to open back up, but that doesn’t mean travelers are free to come and go as they please amid the coronavirus pandemic.
USA TODAY has an update on the states that discouraged interstate travel by requiring or recommending that visitors and residents returning from other states quarantine for 14 days.
Some counties or municipalities have issued similar advice to travelers, so anyone looking to go on a road trip or take a summer vacation should check government websites.
Alaska
Travelers arriving at state airports are required to go straight to their quarantine location from the airport and remain there for 14 days, or for the duration of their stay if it’s shorter. The state’s mandate was extended until June 2.
On Friday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy updated restrictions for in-state travel: Travel on the road system or marine highway system is permitted, but travel off those systems remains prohibited except in the case of “critical personal needs” or “conduct of essential services/critical infrastructure.”
Arkansas
A state Department of Health directive that took effect May 14 requires 14 days of self-quarantine for travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Orleans and all international locations.
Connecticut
The state urges any person coming in by any mode of transportation to selfquarantine for 14 days.
Delaware
In late March, Gov. John Carney ordered all out-of-state travelers to selfquarantine for 14 days, except those passing through the state. The requirement does not apply to public safety, health care workers or anyone providing assistance to an essential business or emergency service related to COVID-19.
Florida
Everyone traveling from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Louisiana must self-isolate or self-quarantine for 14 days, or for however long they will remain in the state if it’s shorter, per executive orders . Neither order applies to airline employees nor people “performing military, emergency or health responses.”
Hawaii
Gov. David Ige’s emergency proclamation mandates all visitors and residents arriving at airports in the state to self-quarantine for 14 days. A supplementary proclamation requires all residents and visitors traveling between any of the islands to do the same.
Travelers will be required to complete a Department of Agriculture Plants and Animals Declaration Form and present it to checkpoint staff. The travelers must then go straight to the “designated quarantine location” that they identify on the form and remain there for 14 days or the length of their stay if it is shorter.
Idaho
As of May 16, people entering the state from areas with substantial community spread are urged to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to a new “Stay Healthy“order. Nonessential travel should be limited or avoided.
Kansas
The state requires a 14-day quarantine for Kansans returning from these states, as of May 12: h New York (on or after March 15) h Illinois, New Jersey (on or after March 23) h Connecticut (on or after April 6) h Massachusetts, Rhode Island (on or after April 30)
h Maryland (on or after May 12)
Maine
An executive order requires travelers to the state to self-quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their state of residency.
Massachusetts
All travelers are instructed to selfquarantine for 14 days, and visitors are urged not to come if they have symptoms. Health care, public safety, transportation and designated essential workers are exempt.
Montana
For residents and nonresidents, nonwork-related travelers need to selfquarantine for 14 days or for however long they will be there. The quarantine requirement will be lifted June 1, according to state officials.
Nebraska
Nebraskans and travelers from international destinations should self-quarantine and monitor themselves for 14 days or for the duration of their visit if it’s less than that. The recommendation excludes health care workers, commuters and certain other groups..
Nevada
Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a travel advisory urging all residents and visitors to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving or returning. The advisory does not apply to health care, public safety, transportation and food supply essential employees.
New Mexico
In an update May 13 on the state’s reopening plan, the Department of Health said the 14-day quarantine order remains in place for out-of-state airport arrivals. Vacation rentals are off-limits to out-of-state residents.
Oklahoma
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order requires people on flights from the New York tri-state area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut), Washington state, California or Louisiana to quarantine for 14 days. Airline personnel, military, health care and emergency workers are exempt.
Rhode Island
Although Gov. Gina M. Raimondo lifted the state’s stay-at-home-order as of May 9.A 14-day self-quarantine is still required for any person traveling in from any other state by any means of transportation.
South Carolina
Travelers returning from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread are asked to stay home for 14 days from the date of departure.
Utah
Gov. Gary Herbert said most of the state moved to “yellow,” or low-risk, May 16, but a recommendation to limit out-of-state travel and quarantine 14 days upon return from high-risk areas remains in place.
Vermont
On May 15, Gov. Phil Scott extended Vermont’s coronavirus state of emergency until June 15. Travelers to the state must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Virginia
The state Department of Health recommends a 14-day self-quarantine for those traveling internationally, on a cruise ship or river boat, or to a U.S. area where COVID-19 circulates widely in the community.
Wisconsin
The Department of Health Services recomm ends residents who have traveled within the USA to “limit your exposure to others outside of your home as much as possible for 14 days following your return.”
Contributing: Curtis Tate, Bill Keveney, Hannah Yasharoff, Nicquel Terry Ellis, Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY; Jon Campbell, New York State Team – USA TODAY Network; Reno Gazette Journal; The Associated Press