COVID-19 Travel Policies Archives

• A state is designated Yellow if it has a case rate lower than 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, per day, over a 7-day rolling average.
• A state is designated Orange if it has a case rate of 15 or more new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, per day, over a 7-day rolling average.

Given the volatility of the daily data reports and the disruption that adding a neighboring state to the travel ordinance causes, neighboring states will be reviewed by the City of Chicago on a case by case basis.

To be in alignment with new CDC guidance, those who are fully vaccinated and have not had symptoms are exempt from the orange tier quarantine / pre-arrival test requirement.

Fully vaccinated is defined as being at least two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or at least two weeks after receipt of one dose of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated travelers must monitor their health for 14 days after travel and if they experience symptoms potentially consistent with COVID-19, they must self-isolate until clinical evaluation and COVID testing. They also must continue to adhere to all recommended protective measures including wearing a mask (and using job-specific personal protective equipment), maintaining physical distance, practicing hand hygiene, and avoiding crowds.

Unvaccinated children travelling with fully vaccinated people are not exempt from the travel order and must follow pre-arrival testing/quarantine requirements.

There are no travel restrictions within Illinois. However, non-essential travel to the areas of high incidence is discouraged. Areas of high incidence are determined by IDPH and can be found here. If essential travel is needed to these areas, follow the prevention techniques such as using a face covering, frequent hand washing/sanitization, and maintaining social distancing. If you feel sick, you should refrain from all travel and stay at home, unless seeking medical treatment.

The Order does not apply to any individual passing through designated states for less than 24 hours in the course of travel.

If your final destination is a state on the orange list, then you must follow the Order, even if you are in that state for less than 24 hours. The Order does not apply if you are traveling through an orange state and are in the state for less than 24 hours.

Effective January 26, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days​. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or proof of recovery for all passengers two years of age and over prior to boarding. ​Airlines must deny boarding of passengers who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery. Please see CDC’s FAQ for answers to questions about the new requirement for proof of negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving in the United States.

Effective January 26, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days​. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or proof of recovery for all passengers two years of age and over prior to boarding. ​Airlines must deny boarding of passengers who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery. Please see CDC’s FAQ for answers to questions about the new requirement for proof of negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving in the United States.

Effective January 26, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days​. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or proof of recovery for all passengers two years of age and over prior to boarding. ​Airlines must deny boarding of passengers who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery. Please see CDC’s FAQ for answers to questions about the new requirement for proof of negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving in the United States.

Once the state is moved to the Yellow list (which would be announced on a Tuesday) you can end your quarantine, effective immediately. Additionally, there are no longer any testing requirements for those arriving in Chicago from that state, effective immediately. All individuals are still expected to follow the latest public health guidance for Chicago while in the city.

If a state moves from the Yellow list to the Orange list (which would be announced on a Tuesday) that state will officially be added to the Order effective Friday, 12:01AM of that week. If you arrive in Chicago before that date/time, you have no quarantine or testing requirements. If you arrive after that date/time, you must either quarantine for 10-days or receive a negative test result no longer than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or be fully vaccinated is defined as being at least two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or at least two weeks after receipt of one dose of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

If you were in an Orange list state, unless you are traveling through, you must follow the Order, even if you spent time in a yellow state for a period after being in the designated state and before arriving in Chicago.

Travelers coming to Chicago for non-essential business and residents returning to Chicago from an orange state must adhere to the Order, subject to the limited exemptions outlined in the ‘Exemptions’.

Yes, all travelers arriving on or after the effective date of January 15, 2021, are required to follow the Order, subject to the limited exemptions.

If you are traveling from an Orange list state and choose to not do a pre-arrival test, you must quarantine for a period of 10 days or the duration of your presence in Chicago, whichever is shorter. Or, you must be fully vaccinated, defined as being at least two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or at least two weeks after receipt of one dose of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

No. Household members who did not travel from an orange state are not required to quarantine or receive a negative COVID-19 test.

All travelers returning to Chicago from the designated states must follow the Order unless deemed an essential worker and subject to the limited exemptions.

Yes, the Order applies to all travel unless outlined in the exemptions.

If you are in an Orange state for fewer than 72 hours, you still must take a test within 72 hours of returning to Chicago, complete a 10-day quarantine upon your return, or be fully vaccinated as defined as being at least two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or at least two weeks after receipt of one dose of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. The test cannot be taken in Chicago prior to your travel. If you arrive in Chicago and are still waiting for the test result, you must quarantine until you receive it.

The Order does not apply to individuals picking up or dropping off at Chicago airports, Chicago train station, or traveling directly to a suburban municipality or otherwise out of the city limits. However, all individuals are expected to follow the latest public health guidance for Chicago while in the city, including in the airport terminals and railroad stations. This includes the mandate that individuals over the age of 2 wear masks or face coverings at all times.

Turnaround time for COVID-19 test results varies across the country. Research testing turnaround timelines prior to travel. If you arrive in Chicago and are still waiting for results, you must quarantine until you receive your results.

If you are traveling from an Orange list state and receive a pre-arrival negative test result no longer than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago, you do not need to quarantine.

If you test negative for COVID-19, you most likely DO NOT currently have an active COVID-19 infection and no longer need to quarantine. However, you must continue to wear a mask when in public settings and practice social distancing. You should keep monitoring symptoms and follow CDPH guidance on steps to protect yourself and others.

If you are traveling to or from an orange list state, your pre-arrival test must be a diagnostic test. An antibody test does not qualify.

If you are in an orange state for fewer than 72 hours, you still must take a test within 72 hours of returning or complete a 10-day quarantine upon your return. The test cannot be taken in Chicago prior to your travel. If you arrive in Chicago and are still waiting for the test result, you must quarantine until you receive it.

For purposes of the Order and this FAQ, “essential workers” are not subject to the mandatory self-quarantine if their travel is for work purposes under the following circumstances:

(a) if a non-resident of Chicago, is traveling from a designated state to Chicago for the primary purpose of carrying out their primary work in Chicago, and who needs to be physically present in Chicago in order to carry out that primary work, with identification issued by their employer, or

(b) if a resident of Chicago, is returning from a designated state, and was in the designated state for the primary purpose of carrying out their primary work in that state, and who needed to be physically present in that state in order to carry out that primary work, with identification issued by their employer.

An essential worker whose travel is for non-work purposes is subject to the Order and is not covered by this exception.

An “essential worker” is a person who works in critical infrastructure as designated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Essential worker” includes any state, local, and federal officials and employees traveling in their official capacities on government business, including military service.

Essential workers traveling for work purposes are subject to the following requirements:

• Essential workers should avoid any non-essential interactions until the quarantine period has ended. They must limit their activities to work-related activities and functions that directly support their work-related activities and avoid public spaces as much as possible.
• Essential workers should monitor temperature and signs of symptoms, wear a face covering when in public, maintain social distance, and clean and disinfect workspaces.
• Essential workers are required, to the extent possible, to avoid extended periods in public, contact with strangers, and large congregate settings.

Exceptions to the Order for personal travel will be permitted for travel for medical care and parental shared custody. The Commissioner of Health may additionally grant an exemption based upon an organization’s or business’ testing and other control policies or in extraordinary circumstances, which warrant an exception from mandatory quarantine, subject to the terms and conditions applied to essential workers or terms and conditions otherwise imposed by the Commissioner in the interest of public health.

Students who commute regularly  for school from designated states are exempted from the Order, but should follow the same guidance as essential workers traveling for work purposes:

• Avoid any non-essential interactions. Limit activities to school-related activities and functions and avoid public spaces as much as possible.
• Monitor temperature and signs of symptoms, wear a face covering when in public, maintain social distance, and clean and disinfect school spaces.
• Avoid extended periods in public, contact with strangers, and large congregate settings.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days, you are exempt from the Travel Order as long as you have completed your 10-day isolation (from start of symptoms and/or positive test), have a documented positive test, and remain asymptomatic during your travel.

Individuals who live in an orange list state but regularly commute to Chicago for work can continue to do so, but should monitor their temperature and signs of symptoms, wear a face covering when in public, maintain social distancing and clean and disinfect workspaces. If commuting individuals (including essential workers) have travel to an orange list state for personal travel, they must follow the Order. If an essential worker commuter travels to a high-risk state for work, they are exempt from the Order, but should monitor their temperature and signs of symptoms, wear a face covering when in public, maintain social distancing and clean and disinfect workspaces.

To be in alignment with new CDC guidance, those who are fully vaccinated and have not had symptoms are exempt from the orange tier quarantine / pre-arrival test requirement. Fully vaccinated is defined as being at least two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or at least two weeks after receipt of one dose of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated travelers must monitor their health for 14 days after travel and if they experience symptoms potentially consistent with COVID-19, they must self-isolate until clinical evaluation and COVID testing. They also must continue to adhere to all recommended protective measures including wearing a mask (and using job-specific personal protective equipment), maintaining physical distance, practicing hand hygiene, and avoiding crowds.

Unvaccinated children travelling with fully vaccinated people are not exempt from the travel order and must follow pre-arrival testing/quarantine requirements.