Washington, DC Enacts New Quarantine Restrictions
Washington, DC has enacted new quarantine restrictions. As of 10/23, travelers arriving from 39 states are required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. The new measure applies only for non-essential travel to the nation’s capital. Those traveling on business or for essential activities are exempt, but are required to self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms.
States on the Quarantine List
By now, we’re getting used to the usual suspects that show up on lists like this. Sun Belt states are well represented, along with Arizona and California. All have seen big spikes in the rate of Covid-19 cases. Washington, DC’s quarantine restrictions currently apply to these states, but the list will be updated every two weeks. Next update: September 7th.
UPDATE: List is current through 11/2/2020, when the DC government will publish an update.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The list will include states with an average daily rate of 10 or more cases on a 7-day rolling average, but Maryland and Virginia — i.e., the DC suburbs — are exempt. (Small pet peeve: Why can’t governments throughout the world come up with a uniform standard of case measurement? I’ve been sticking with the New York Times, which uses a 7-day rolling average of total cases for the week. In Europe, they like to use the 14-day case rate… smh).
DC Residents Must Quarantine
The new rules apply to DC residents who travel for non-essential activity. Residents who take their vacation in a high-risk state would need to spend 14 days in quarantine when they arrive home. (I guess you could try and get out of it by arguing that time away is essential. But you could also take that time in a state that’s not high risk).
Wear A Mask
If you go to DC, you will need to wear a mask. Earlier this month, Washington mayor Muriel Bowser enacted one of the country’s strictest mask ordinances. The order requires people to wear face coverings at nearly all times while outdoors, “when they are likely to come into contact with another person, such as being within six feet of another person for more than a fleeting time.” Violators face a $1000 fine.
DC’s Troubling Increase in Cases
Washington, DC has enacted its quarantine restrictions in response to an increase of COVID-19 in the District. The city’s own rate of COVID-19 is now above the limit it has set for states not named Maryland and Virginia. Those two states are above the limit, as well, but exempt from quarantine.
DC’s Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt blames much of the increase on District residents taking vacations in Florida, Texas and at Atlantic Ocean beaches. Those vacation spots would now (mostly) be off the table.
Final Thoughts
DC is just the latest jurisdiction to enact quarantine restrictions — new rules that currently apply to 27 states. These measures represent another de facto ban on travel. For tourists, at least, the nation’s capital is off limits unless they have the time and money to wait out a quarantine.
Ironically, the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have added DC to their quarantine lists, as well, due to the city’s increase in Covid-19 cases. District residents are now required to quarantine upon arrival in those states. It’s a confusing mess, but our guide to the places Americans can visit will help you sort things out.
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Header Photo: Jefferson Memorial (Shutterstock)