Chicago Mayor issues emergency travel warning for those coming from states with coronavirus surges

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) announced Thursday that the city is issuing an emergency travel order directing all residents and travelers entering Chicago from states experiencing an increase in coronavirus cases to the quarantined for 14 days in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

The order, issued by Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, will take effect next Monday. As of Thursday, the states included in the order were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

A state will be designated under the order “if it has a case rate greater than 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 resident inhabitants, per day.” The rate will be determined “on a 7-day moving average,” depending on the order.

The included states will be reviewed every Tuesday, starting July 14.

Residents or visitors who violate the order are subject to fines ranging from $ 100 to $ 500 per day, up to $ 7,000.

Chicago entered phase four of its reopening plan last week, with museums and zoos, showrooms, summer camps, and more openings with additional safety precautions. Indoor seating is also allowed in bars and restaurants.

Several other states have implemented travel orders during the current crisis. Governor of New York Andrew CuomoAndrew Cuomo New York City delays plan to restart indoor dining, citing outbreaks of coronavirus across the country. Watch live: Governor Cuomo holds a press conference. (D) expanded the state’s mandatory quarantine on Tuesday. The order now includes travelers from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

Coronavirus cases have increased in some states in recent weeks, with Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California all reporting record levels of COVID-19 conformed cases. Florida recorded 10,109 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the highest single-day increase for the state.