The city joins New York and other states that require such action from visitors from high virus infection states….
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) announced Thursday that the city is issuing an emergency travel order directing all residents and travelers entering Chicago from states experiencing an uptick in coronavirus cases to quarantine for 14 days in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
The order, issued by Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, is set to go into effect next Monday. As of Thursday, the states included in the order were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
A state will be designated under the order “if it has a case rate greater than 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 resident population, per day.” The rate will be determined “over a 7-day rolling average,” according to the order.
The states included will be reviewed every Tuesday, beginning July 14.
Residents or visitors who violate the order are subject to fines ranging from $100 to $500 per day, up to $7,000.
Chicago entered phase four of its reopening plan on last week, with museums and zoos, performance venues, summer camps and more opening with additional safety precautions. Indoor seating at bars and restaurants is also permitted.
Several other states have implemented travel orders during the ongoing crisis. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) expanded the state’s mandatory quarantine on Tuesday. The order now includes travelers from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah….