The state has reported more than 6,800 new cases in the last week.
After several weeks with no states on its Travel Advisory list, the Chicago Department of Public Health has added Missouri and Arkansas back amid an increase in COVID-19 cases. Recent increases pushed the two states back past the mark of 15 cases per day, per 100,000 residents, according to CDPH officials.
Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 1,476 new positive COVID-19 cases and 15 virus related deaths. Hospitalizations increased by 41 to a total of 606.
Any unvaccinated people traveling from Missouri or Arkansas are advised to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or quarantine for a 10-day period upon arrival.
In response to the changing dynamics of COVID-19 transmission across the United States, and to support Chicago’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the city issued a travel order in July 2020, applicable to anyone coming into the city of Chicago from designated states with a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19. Anyone traveling from a state on the orange list was directed to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or quarantine for a 10-day period.
On June 1, 2021, for the first time since July 2020, no states were at the 15 cases per 100,000 residents threshold for the orange tier. With three consecutive periods of no states in the orange tier, the order transitioned to an advisory, effective June 29.
Travel restrictions can be reinstated at any time if CDPH sees a surge in cases anywhere. Travelers must still abide by all masking requirements on planes, buses, and trains, as well as in transportation hubs such as airports and stations.