The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed seven states from its weekly COVID-19 Travel AdvisoryAlabama, California, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Oregonand announced that it is updating the advisory to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 community levels.
Beginning Friday, March 25, the advisory will be adjusted to follow the new CDC guidance, which designates counties nationwide as high-, medium- or low-risk. Currently, the entire state of Illinois is considered low-risk.
The CDC's COVID-19 community levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium or high and are determined by looking at COVID-19 hospital beds being used by COVID-19 patients, new COVID-19 hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.
Moving forward, Chicago's travel advisory will be updated every Friday to align with the release of the updated CDC COVID-19 community-level data.
ALL travelers should check the map to know whether the areas they are traveling to are low, medium or high risk for COVID-19.
If areas are low-risk (green), no additional action must be taken. Continue to follow standard guidance related to travel.
If the areas are medium-risk (yellow), people should consider wearing a mask in indoor public places.
If the areas are high-risk (orange), people should wear masks in indoor public places. Travelers who are 5 or older who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines are advised to avoid travel to high-risk (orange) counties. Unvaccinated Chicagoans 5 or older who travel to high-risk (orange) counties, upon returning to Chicago, are advised to follow CDC guidance by staying home and quarantining for five days after travel. They should also take a COVID test three to five days after returning; if it is positive, stay home and follow CDC guidance.
Getting vaccinated continues to be the best protection of severe outcomes from COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.