8/1/20 – Coronavirus Update from Board of Health

On July 24, 2020, the Governor issued COVID-19 Order No. 45 adopting a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving in Massachusetts. Effective August 1, 2020, all visitors entering Massachusetts (including returning residents) who do not meet an exemption are required to:

  1. Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to or upon arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health; and,
  2. Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.

Failure to comply may result in a $500 fine per day. Exemptions include visitors from a lower risk state, transitory travel, persons commuting for work or school, patients seeking medical treatment, military personnel, and workers providing critical infrastructure services. More information, including the current list of lower-risk states, can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order.

What is the Community Tracing Collaborative’s (CTC) role in the Travel Order?
SMS Campaign during Quarantine: In support of the Travel Order, the CTC has enabled a Travel Quarantine SMS Campaign to remind visitors via text message about the Travel Order requirement to quarantine for 14 days. Visitors who complete the Massachusetts Travel Form and who indicate they 1) do not have a negative test result within 72-hours prior to their arrival and 2) are not part of an exempt group, will receive daily reminder messages during their 14-day quarantine or—if their trip is less than 14 days—until their trip ends.