Cook County Quarantine: Evanston, Skokie, excluded from suburban emergency guide issued for travelers from states with increasing COVID-19 rates

CHICAGO (WLS) – Suburban Cook County has issued an emergency travel guide reflecting orders in Chicago and other states to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Cook County Department of Public Health announced Friday that travelers entering or returning to suburban Cook County from states reporting cases of increasing coronavirus are to be quarantined for two weeks. It applies to Cook County suburbs, but excludes Evanston or Skokie.

RELATED: 2 New States Added to City Travel Quarantine Order for State Travelers with Increasing COVID-19 Fares

Health officials said the guide will remain in effect until further notice.

The guide applies to Cook County commuters and residents returning from the following states:

– Alabama
– Arkansas
– Arizona
– California
– Florida
– Georgia
– Idaho

– Louisiana
– Mississippi
– North Carolina
– Nevada
– South Carolina
– Tennessee
– Texas
– Utah
– Iowa

– Oklahoma

The guide applies to states with more than 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents per day, over a 7-day moving average, health officials said.

Similar to the Chicago order, there are exceptions for essential workers and other circumstances.

The full list of states, exception information, and more details are available at www.cookcountypublichealth.org.

“Our positivity rates are pretty low, but that can change, as we’ve seen in neighboring states,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, co-director and senior medical officer for the Cook County Department of Public Health. “Prevention is the best medicine. We ask everyone to avoid traveling to the most affected areas. If you have to travel, quarantine for 14 days to protect others and help us stop the spread of COVID-19.”

RELATED: Emergency Travel Order Goes into Effect for Travelers from States with High COVID-19 Infections

Chicago issued a mandatory travel quarantine order earlier this month. The city said people who violate the order are subject to fines of $ 100 – $ 500 per day, up to $ 7,000.

Unlike Chicago, the Cook County guidance is a recommendation and will not apply. Travelers will not be subject to fines, the county said.

Both Chicago and Cook County health officials will update the list of affected states every Tuesday afternoon on their respective websites.