BOSTON — UPDATE: Effective 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming have been added to the list of lower-risk states, according to Mass.gov.
Governor Charlie Baker announced a travel order requiring all visitors to Massachusetts and residents returning from out of state to get a negative coronavirus test or quarantine for 14 days.
The order went into effect on Aug. 1.
“Every traveler coming to Massachusetts, no matter where they’re from, has a responsibility to help keep COVID-19 out of the Commonwealth,” Baker said.
“I feel like it’s kind of frustrating because I’m so young and this is like the best time when I can get the time off I can go everywhere, flights are really cheap but I get it, it’s a little frustrating but I’m not angry about it,” said Samya DeAndre of Brockton.
According to Mass.gov, states are included on the lower-risk list based on meeting two criteria: average daily cases per 100K below six and positive test rate below 5%, both measured as a 7-day rolling average.
This order does not apply to travelers coming from a state that has been designated as a “lower risk COVID-19 state.”
On Aug. 29. Colorado, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia were added to the list of lower-risk states. Also on the list are Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.
The list originally included Rhode Island and Hawaii, but rising infection rates prompted their removal.
If you are traveling from a state not listed above, you must fill out the “Massachusetts Travel Form” or text “MATraveler” to 888-777.
“Traveler exemptions include people passing through the state, people commuting across state lines for work, people traveling to Massachusetts for medical treatment, people complying with military orders, or people traveling to work in federally designated critical infrastructure sectors (essential services). "
When asked why the state was ramping up travel restrictions now, the governor said it has to do with the amount of interstate travel in the past two months, along with international travel and the significant increase in positive test rates and test rates per capita in other states.
“I think it’s a good idea because of the way coronavirus is spreading again,” said Armondos Sardinas of Ipswitch.
Baker said enforcement will be handled by local boards of health.
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