Mayor Lori Lightfoot answers a reporter's question during a news conference in Chicago on April 20, 2020.
Neighboring Iowa is among four states, along with the nation’s capital city, that will become subject to additional coronavirus mitigations under this week’s update of Chicago’s emergency travel order, the city’s public health department announced Tuesday.
Starting Friday, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and Washington, D.C., will move up from the city’s “yellow” tier to the “orange” one, according to a Chicago Department of Public Health news release. Travelers coming from the latter tier, which will include 24 states and Washington, must quarantine for 10 days or test negative for coronavirus no more than 72 hours before arriving. People can avoid either requirement if they have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks earlier.
Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Montana, North Carolina and South Carolina will move down to the yellow tier that will include 25 states as well as Puerto Rico, according to CDPH. Those states and territory are not subject to additional restrictions.
The orange category includes states or territories that have a seven-day rolling average above 15 daily cases per 100,000 residents, while yellow states are under that threshold.
Coronavirus-related deaths worldwide crossed 3 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, as the latest global resurgence of COVID-19 infections is challenging vaccination efforts across the globe. Soraya Ali reports.
The travel order is updated every two weeks and goes into effect Friday at midnight. Essential workers traveling for their job are exempt, as are people traveling for medical or care-taking reasons. People passing through the orange states for less than 24 hours also are exempt unless their final destination is that state.
The travel order was implemented over the Fourth of July weekend, but officials have said the list is meant to educate residents and have not strictly enforced it.
Tuesday’s news release also noted that the city’s own case rate has increased over the past few weeks and people should avoid “nonessential travel” regardless of whether their destination is on the travel order’s orange tier.
PHOTOS: Vaccine distribution in Illinois
Alden Estates of Northmoor, Chicago
Linda Fitzgerald, a resident of Alden Estates of Northmoor, right, receives a COVID-19 vaccination from pharmacy lead Anneliese Szutenbach at the nursing home on Jan. 8 in Chicago.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. makes a fist after Dr. Kiran Chekka, right, of Roseland Community Hospital injected him with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the parking lot of Roseland Community Hospital on Jan. 8.
Alden Estates of Northmoor, Chicago
Robin Meier, a resident at Alden Estates of Northmoor, receives a COVID-19 vaccination from pharmacy lead Anneliese Szutenbach at the nursing home on Jan. 8 in Chicago.
Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care, North Riverside
Staff member Pam Domdey helps a senior Dino Franceschina keep warm as he waits to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care nursing home in North Riverside on Jan. 12.
Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care, North Riverside
A COVID-19 vaccine is prepped for a senior citizen at Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care nursing home in North Riverside on Jan. 12.
Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care, North Riverside
Dino Franceschina receives a COVID-19 vaccine at Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care in North Riverside on Jan. 12.
Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care, North Riverside
Betty Hermanek winces as she receives her COVID-19 vaccine at the Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care in North Riverside, Tuesday, Jan. 12.
Luther Oaks, Bloomington
Decatur Walgreens pharmacist Kim Crawford mixes the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine before it is injected into the arms of Luther Oaks staff and residents, Friday, Jan. 15.
Luther Oaks, Bloomington
Bhaumik Thakkar, the pharmacy manager from the Decatur Walgreens on Friday gives Myrtle Armstrong, 102, who lives at Luther Oaks in Bloomington, the COVID-19 vaccine. Armstrong is among the first long-care residents in McLean County to receive the vaccine. Luther Oaks Executive Director Douglas Rutter was able to procure doses for 218 residents, staff and family caregivers through the federal vaccination program.
Luther Oaks, Bloomington
Decatur Walgreens pharmacist Kim Crawford, left, and Bhaumik Thakkar, pharmacy manager, mix the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine before injecting it into the arms of Luther Oaks staff and residents, Friday, Jan. 15.
Drive-through vaccination clinic, Decatur
Leanna Cossman of the Macon County Health Department gives the Moderna coronavirus vaccine to Elisa Houston during the Drive-Through COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on Dec. 30 at the Decatur Airport.
