Chicago quarantine: Kansas added to city's travel order for states with surging COVID-19 rates, Wisconsin could be next
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The state of Kansas has been added to Chicago's mandatory travel quarantine order, officials announced Tuesday.
Travelers from Kansas will have to quarantine for two weeks upon traveling to Chicago. The quarantine for Kansas will take effect on Friday.
During a press conference Tuesday Dr. Allison Awardy said that Wisconsin could be added to the list as soon as next week.
"I want you to know that Wisconsin is being very close to being on this list, they could be added as soon as next week," Arwady said. "When I talk to folks in Wisconsin, whether it's the state epidemiologist, whether that's people on just an anecdotal level, we know people are not wearing masks there at the level they are here in Chicago."
Seventeen states are already covered by the order. They are:
-Alabama
-Arkansas
-Arizona
-California
-Florida
-Georgia
-Idaho
-Iowa
-Louisiana
-Mississippi
-North Carolina
-Nevada
-Oklahoma
-South Carolina
-Tennessee
-Texas
-Utah
Chicago health officials plan to reassess the list each week and add or remove states depending on the latest data. The emergency travel order took effect on July 6 for travelers from the following states:
Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Tuesday Wisconsin is close to be included on the list.
Chicago leaders announced the original order before the start of the 4th of July holiday.
"These are states that are seeing new cases of COVID at the rate we were seeing here in Chicago and Illinois back when we were under our stay-at-home order," said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady.
There are exceptions to the order, including essential work and medical travel.
WATCH: Chicago's top doctor discusses potential travel order
According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, the states designated in the travel order have a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19. A state will be designated if it has a case rate greater than 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 resident population, per day, over a 7-day rolling average.
Essential workers who must travel to Chicago must provide a certified note from their employer so that it can be reviewed by the health department and Chicago police. Essential workers will be subject to requirements that include limiting their activities to work-related activities and avoiding public spaces as much as possible.
Non-essential business travelers are also required to comply. Exceptions to the order for personal travel will be permitted for medical care and parental shared custody.
The order will remain in effect until further notice. The city said that individuals found in violation of the quarantine order are subject to fines of $100 - $500 per day, up to $7,000.
You can read the full emergency travel order and find frequently asked questions about the order on the Chicago Department of Public Health website.
