The Chicago Department of Public Health has updated the Emergency Travel Order to provide clearer guidance to those traveling to and from the city as it works to stem the further spread of the virus. Starting January 15, the travel order will be divided into two levels instead of three: orange states and territories above 15 cases per day, per 100,000, and yellow states and territories below 15 cases per day, per 100,000.  The travel order criteria have been revised to combine the “red” and “orange” categories, so all formerly “red” states have been moved to “orange” tier restrictions, regardless of how their case rate has changed or how it relates to Chicago’s case rate. Previously, the red states were those with a higher daily case rate per 100,000 than Chicago. The guidance for each tier is:

• Yellow: States with a rolling 7-day average less than 15 cases/day/100k residents.

• No quarantine or pre-arrival test required. Maintain strict masking, social distancing and avoidance of in-person gatherings

• Orange: States have a rolling 7-day average above 15 cases/day/100k residents

• 10-day quarantine OR pre-arrival negative test no more than 72 hours before arrival in Chicago with strict masking, social distancing and avoidance of in-person gatherings

Hawaii is the lone yellow state and all 49 other states are in the orange category, as are Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.  Chicago’s quarantine list is updated every other Tuesday and goes into effect the following Friday at 12:01 a.m. For more information, visit chicago.gov/coronavirus