San Francisco Officially Lifts 10-Day Travel Quarantine
San Francisco Lifts Local 10-Day Quarantine Order But Urges Against Non-Essential Travel
Those who travel out of state or more than 120 miles from home still advised to quarantine for 10 days
Beginning February 23, 2021, San Franciscans who engage in non-essential travel outside the Bay Area region will no longer be required to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival home. The health order was implemented in mid-December in response to a surge in cases from Thanksgiving travel. The lift comes at a time when the City has shown continued progress in managing the virus. The City is recording a seven-day average of 89 cases per day, which is down 76 percent from a high of a seven-day average of 374 cases per day at the peak of the most recent surge.
However, the City continues to strongly recommend that people follow the existing State travel advisory, which advises against non-essential travel anywhere outside of the state or 120 miles away from home. “Non-essential” travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
Destinations beyond the 120-mile radius might include Tahoe, Big Sur or Mount Shasta. Additionally, under the State travel advisory, people arriving in or returning to California from other states or countries should self-quarantine for 10 days after arrival. For a definition of essential travel, refer to the City’s Stay Safer at Home Order.
Travel—especially the use of shared, enclosed vehicles in air, bus, or rail travel—can increase a person’s chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. People arriving in California from other states or Californians returning from outside the state could potentially introduce new sources of infection, including new strains of the virus. Travel between different regions in California could also exacerbate community spread. Postponing travel and staying close to home is still a key practice to protect oneself and others from COVID-19.
While San Francisco is lifting the travel quarantine, individual organizations such as schools or workplaces may require individuals to complete any travel quarantines already underway.
JUST IN: San Francisco is lifting its mandatory 10-day travel quarantine amid dropping coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. Public health officials say people should still avoid non-essential trips outside the Bay Area.https://t.co/ZpDI9mg0NQ
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) February 23, 2021