Eight More States Added to Self-Quarantine List
Travelers from eight more states will now be required to self-quarantine for 14 days after traveling or returning to Connecticut, New York, or New Jersey.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced July 1 the addition of California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Tennessee to the list of impacted states.
The three Northeast states issued a travel advisory June 26 requiring self-quarantine for travelers from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
States with positive COVID-19 test rates greater than 10 per 100,000 or with a positivity rate of 10% or higher over a seven-day rolling average are added to the list, which is updated regularly.
Workers traveling from impacted states to Connecticut who work in critical infrastructure as designated by the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are exempted from the quarantine advisory.
Testing Option
The Lamont administration issued updated guidance July 2 allowing travelers from impacted states to enter Connecticut if they have a negative viral test (not an antibody test) for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to travel.
Also exempted are state, local, and federal officials and employees traveling in official capacities on government business.
The quarantine is voluntary although Lamont has said he will consider enforcement measures if needed.
Coronavirus hospitalizations in Connecticut declined from a high of nearly 2,000 in April to 101 on July 2, while numerous states are experiencing a major surge in cases.
Returning Employees
Employers should revise their COVID-19 inquiries of returning employees, visitors, and vendors, says Chip Reid of Safety Priority, a Cromwell-based risk management consulting firm.
Reid said employers should specifically ask whether the person who intends to be on the premises has:
- Traveled in the last two weeks
- Traveled to any of the 16 affected states
- Quarantined for 14 days on return
If the person traveled to affected states but did not quarantine for 14 days, employers can deny access based on the travel advisory, Reid said.
CBIA HR Counsel Mark Soycher advises that employers can consider allowing access to individuals who had a negative COVID test since returning from travel.
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