PRESS RELEASE FROM GOVERNOR NEWSOM: California, Oregon & Washington Issue Travel Advisories
NOVEMBER 13, 2020 - In light of rising cases, West Coast states issue travel advisories recommending 14-day quarantines for inter-state and international travel; ask residents to stay local
As COVID-19 cases continue to increase across the country, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued travel advisories today urging visitors entering their states or returning home from travel outside these states to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. The travel advisories urge against non-essential out-of-state travel, ask people to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country and encourage residents to stay local. (See the advisories: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx)
“California just surpassed a sobering threshold – one million COVID-19 cases – with no signs of the virus slowing down,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “Increased cases are adding pressure on our hospital systems and threatening the lives of seniors, essential workers and vulnerable Californians. Travel increases the risk of spreading COVID-19, and we must all collectively increase our efforts at this time to keep the virus at bay and save lives.”
In addition to urging individuals arriving from other states or countries to self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival, the states’ travel advisories recommend individuals limit their interactions to their immediate household. The advisories define essential travel as travel for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care and safety and security.
“COVID-19 does not stop at state lines. As hospitals across the West are stretched to capacity, we must take steps to ensure travelers are not bringing this disease home with them,” said Oregon Governor Kate Brown. “If you do not need to travel, you shouldn’t. This will be hard, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. But the best way to keep your family safe is to stay close to home.”
“COVID cases have doubled in Washington over the past two weeks. This puts our state in as dangerous a position today as we were in March,” said Washington Governor Jay Inslee. “Limiting and reducing travel is one way to reduce the further spread of the disease. I am happy to partner with California and Oregon in this effort to help protect lives up and down the West Coast.”
To learn more about the risk that travel itself poses for COVID-19 exposure, please visit the CDC page on travel risks: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html..
HOLIDAY COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDANCE FROM LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
On November 9, 2020, the LA County Department of Public Health released guidance on COVID-safe and permitted ways to celebrate and travel while minimizing the risk of exposure and helping slow the spread of the coronavirus, as families start to plan for the holiday season. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health would like to share information on how to take part in the holiday season in a manner that reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19. See the complete guidance.
Permitted
- Purchasing trees from holiday tree lots is permitted as long as the holiday tree lot complies with required retail protocol and no amusement park, gathering, or festival type activities occur at the holiday tree lot.
- Online parties/contests
Permitted drive by events and car parades that comply with public health guidance for vehicle-based parades (drive by events with appropriate physical distancing). Drive through events where people remain in their vehicles and drive through an area with holiday displays. Drive in events where people can receive a treat bag of commercially packaged
non-perishable treats. Drive in events where individuals drop off or pick up toys or other donations.
Holiday movie nights at drive-in theaters (must comply with the public health drive-in movie theater
guidance).
Live performances or concerts done at drive-in theaters (must comply with the public health drive-in
movie theater protocol).
Holiday themed meals at outdoor restaurants (must comply with the restaurant protocol).
Not Permitted
- Gatherings and events are not currently allowed under the Health Officer Order.
- Carnivals, amusement parks or festivals.
- Department store Santa/holiday displays or photo opportunities that do not allow everyone to
maintain 6 feet of physical distance from non-household members at all times.
Not Recommended
- Door-to-door activities, such as caroling, are not recommended because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors and ensure that everyone answering or coming to the door is appropriately masked to prevent disease spread.