Coronavirus in USA: driving and travel restrictions

Freedom of movement within the United States has been subjected to new restrictions over the past few days with many states advising citizens to stay at home and not make any journeys that are not absolutely essential. Restrictions are also in place for all non-essential, cross-border travel between the United States, Canada and Mexico as from 21 March until further notice.

Under the terms of the US Constitution, the rights of citizens to leave one state to enter another is protected by law. However, with the coronavirus crisis escalating out of control, some states have brought in restrictions such as setting up border checkpoints and asking for documentation to prove that the journey is necessary – for example for business or commercial reasons. Some states will permit entry but on the condition that those entering undergo a mandatory two-week period of quarantine - Texas, Delaware, Florida and Rhode Island are four states that have implemented such measures.

Some states have passed shelter-in-state orders or something similar, which are basically lockdown procedures in which the public is urged to stay indoors and not venture outside.

To consult the restrictions in place for long-distance, interstate journeys, it is best to consult the help page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Below is the current situation, as of 12 April, state by state.

Alabama

Stay-at-home order except for essential activities.

Arizona

Stay-at-home order except for essential activities. Mandatory 14-day quarantine for most travellers arriving by air from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Arkansas

Driving restrictions: No shelter-in-place order issued but some areas have implemented curfews, limiting travel from 21:00-05:00 hours.

California

Stay-at-home order except for essential activities.

Colorado

Shelter-in-place order in effect for all but essential activities. The Rocky Mountain National Park is closed until further notice.

Connecticut

A shelter-in-place order is in effect for all but essential activities. Anyone entering Connecticut by any mode of transportation is urged to self-quarantine for 14 days. Leaving the state is strongly discouraged.

Delaware

A shelter-in-place order is in effect for all but essential activities. Anyone entering Delaware will be obliged to self-quarantine for 14 days. All vehicles with license plates from other states can be stopped by police and requested to provide travel information and documentation.

District of Columbia

A stay-at-home order for all but essential activities is in effect. Travel is permitted only for non-residents to return to their homes outside of Washington D.C.

Florida

All individuals entering Florida from the most severely affected states such as including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Louisiana will be required to self-quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days. Roadside checkpoints are in place.

Georgia

A shelter-in-place order is in effect for all but essential activities.

Idaho

A stay-at-home order is in effect for all but essential activities. Some counties have individual quarantine orders.

Illinois

A stay-at-home order is in effect for all but essential activities.

Indiana

A shelter-in-place order bans all but essential activities and travel but non-residents are allowed to return to their homes outside of the state.

Iowa

No restriction orders currently in place.

Kansas

A stay-at-home order is in effect for all but essential activities. A 14-day quarantine is required for those who recently visited Connecticut, Louisiana, Colorado, California, Florida, New York, Washington, Illinois and New Jersey.

Kentucky

Anyone entering the state must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Louisiana

A stay-at-home order has been implemented except for essential activities.

Maine

Anyone entering Maine, except for essential workers, must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Maryland

A stay-at-home order is in place except for essential activities. Maryland residents who travel outside of the state are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Massachusetts

Anyone entering Massachusetts must self-quarantine for 14 days unless they are essential workers.

Michigan

A stay-at-home order bans all but essential activities. People may enter or leave the state to go to their home residence on weekdays.

Minnesota

A stay-at-home order limits all but essential activities.

Mississippi

Residents are advise to avoid gatherings in groups of more than 10 and have been told to follow social distancing protocol.

Missouri

A stay-at-home order allows only for essential activities.

Montana

A stay-at-home order is in place. Anyone entering the state for non-work-related reasons must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Nebraska

Anyone entering the state from areas of high Covid-19 transmission must self-quarantine for 14 days. Public gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people.

Nevada

Anyone arriving in Nevada from another state will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days

New Hampshire

A stay-at-home order allows only for essential activities.

New Jersey

A stay-at-home order allows only for essential activities.

New Mexico

A stay-at-home order in place except for essential activities. All incoming travellers will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

New York

A stay-at-home order implemented except for essential activities.

North Carolina

A stay-at-home order implemented except for essential activities. Some counties have imposed curfews or entry restrictions.

North Dakota

Those entering North Dakota must self-quarantine from the day of arrival for 14 days. Some exceptions apply, such as key workers.

Ohio

A stay-at-home order implemented except for essential activities. Those entering Ohio will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days although certain exemptions apply.

Oklahoma

A stay-at-home order is in place only for those over 65 or with health issues. Incomers arriving from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Louisiana, California and Washington must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Oregon

A stay-at-home order except for essential activities.

Pennsylvania

A stay-at-home order except for essential activities.

Rhode Island

A stay-at-home order except for essential activities. Those entering Rhode Island by any mode of transportation from another state must self-quarantine for 14 days, unless they are a public health, public safety or health care worker. Rhode Island State Police and National Guard have checkpoints set up to ask drivers if they plan to stay or are passing through.

South Carolina

The state is under a stay-at-home order except for essential activities. Anyone entering South Carolina from an area with widespread coronavirus transmission (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of New Orleans) must self-isolate for 14 days.

South Dakota

Residents are advised to stay at home when possible, and not to congregate in groups larger than 10 people.

Tennessee

A stay-at-home order is implemented except for essential activities.

Texas

A stay-at-home order is implemented except for essential activities. Those arriving in Texas by car from Louisiana, California, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and Miami must self-quarantine for 14 days. Key workers and the military are exempt.

Utah

“Stay Safe, Stay Home” initiative is in place – which is not as strict as a stay-at-home-order. Those entering the state must disclose their travel plans and report any coronavirus symptoms.

Vermont

A stay-at-home order is implemented except for essential activities. Those entering Vermont for non-essential purpose ­­must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Virginia

A stay-at-home order except for essential activities.

Washington

A “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” initiative prohibits public gatherings while non-essential businesses must remain closed until further notice.

West Virginia

All non-essential travel must be avoided if possible. Those age 60 and older or with underlying health conditions should avoid public places.

Wisconsin

A stay-at-home order except for essential activities.

All non-essential travel, in or out of the state must be avoided if possible.

Wyoming

Travel through the state is permitted but non-residents who are in the state for reasons other than work must self-quarantine for 14 days.