Questions and Answers

Just wondered if anyone has travelled to the US from Europe since the travel ban went into effect and knows what the 14 day quarantine looks like? I’ll be travelling to the east coast next week, and not really sure what to expect in terms of how the quarantine is implemented. E.g. are you allowed to go out for groceries and walks and stuff or are you required to stay home for anything not urgent/medical related?

I think that’s going to depend on the state/region. By and large I don’t think there are restrictions on those arriving from Europe though I just ran across this article about traveling between states:
[URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/10/travel/state-travel-restrictions.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimestravel[/URL]

The Department of Homeland Security has restrictions on all travellers who’ve traveled in China, Europe, Iran and Brazil within the prior 14 days. So this would apply regardless of and perhaps in addition to any state specific restrictions. They haven’t yet formally removed those restrictions for any of those countries.

[URL]https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/05/27/department-homeland-security-adds-brazil-list-countries-covid-19-travel-restrictions[/URL]

[USER=6559]@Adi89[/USER] Are you a US citizen? (if not, at this point EU passport holders cannot enter the US).
If you are a US passport holder, then:
There seems to be at least two separate regulations/recommendations (federal and state) regarding returning to the US from international travel.
1. CDC’s RECOMMENDATION: “After arriving to the United States from one of these countries [see list in the document], CDC [U][I]recommends[/I][/U] that travelers stay home and monitor their health for 14 days ([URL]https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html[/URL]). This to me indicates that it is [U]only a recommendation[/U], not an order.
2. On the other hand, states like Massachusetts just introduced a compulsory 14 day quarantine for everyone returning from a foreign country (and the majority of US states): [URL]https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order[/URL]. That, the way I read it is an order and enforceable.
So whilst you would be ok with regards to the federal “recommendation”, you would be stuck because of the state regulation.

Thanks [USER=1592]@Daniel B[/USER], I’m British but live in the US.

I actually just checked with an immigration lawyer to be certain and it seems the wording of the Federal guidelines as mandated by DHS is that returning Americans who have travelled in Schengen, UKI, China, Brazil etc. within the preceding 14 days MUST self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the US. Individual State requirements are in addition to, not in replacement of, the Federal requirements.

MA State allows people to test out of the quarantine if you can produce a negative COVID test result, but the federal requirements don’t have any such test-out option, so I think it’s the Federal requirement that gets me stuck!

[QUOTE=”Adi89, post: 70280, member: 6559″]Thanks [USER=1592]@Daniel B[/USER], I’m British but live in the US.

I actually just checked with an immigration lawyer to be certain and it seems the wording of the Federal guidelines as mandated by DHS is that returning Americans who have travelled in Schengen, UKI, China, Brazil etc. within the preceding 14 days MUST self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the US. Individual State requirements are in addition to, not in replacement of, the Federal requirements.

MA State allows people to test out of the quarantine if you can produce a negative COVID test result, but the federal requirements don’t have any such test-out option, so I think it’s the Federal requirement that gets me stuck![/QUOTE]

Can you provide me (us, readers) with a link to such a rule? I cannot find it.

[QUOTE=”Daniel B, post: 70281, member: 1592″]Can you provide me (us, readers) with a link to such a rule? I cannot find it.[/QUOTE]

Sure!

This is the earlier notice published regarding travellers returning from China, Iran and Europe. The quarantine instruction does use the term “must”. This remains in effect.

[URL]https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/17/fact-sheet-dhs-notice-arrival-restrictions-china-iran-and-certain-countries-europe[/URL]

This is the May update where Brazil is added to the list.

[URL]https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/05/27/department-homeland-security-adds-brazil-list-countries-covid-19-travel-restrictions[/URL]

[QUOTE=”Adi89, post: 70282, member: 6559″]Sure!

This is the earlier notice published regarding travellers returning from China, Iran and Europe. The quarantine instruction does use the term “must”. This remains in effect.

[URL]https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/17/fact-sheet-dhs-notice-arrival-restrictions-china-iran-and-certain-countries-europe[/URL]

This is the May update where Brazil is added to the list.

[URL]https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/05/27/department-homeland-security-adds-brazil-list-countries-covid-19-travel-restrictions[/URL][/QUOTE]
Hmm, interesting.
I would love to hear the experiences of US passport holders who have recently returned from let’s say the EU. Were they given notifications about these requirements, and most importantly, were they checked upon during that 14 day self-quarantine period (and by who)?

[QUOTE=”Daniel B, post: 70283, member: 1592″]Hmm, interesting.
I would love to hear the experiences of US passport holders who have recently returned from let’s say the EU. Were they given notifications about these requirements, and most importantly, were they checked upon during that 14 day self-quarantine period (and by who)?[/QUOTE]

I recall reading that very few people are contacted by any officials to ensure compliance. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t still the law! Anyway I’m travelling on Wednesday so will find out soon enough!

[QUOTE=”Adi89, post: 70284, member: 6559″]I recall reading that very few people are contacted by any officials to ensure compliance. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t still the law! Anyway I’m travelling on Wednesday so will find out soon enough![/QUOTE]
Please DO report back on your experience! I am very interested to hear that.
We have an Iceland trip coming up in less then 2 weeks’ time. Just 3 days ago Iceland introduced a second testing requirement if one opts for not the 14 day quarantine there, but the testing on arrival. It should be done 4-5 days after the first test. Unfortunately more and more restrictions are introduced.

[QUOTE=”Adi89, post: 70284, member: 6559″]I recall reading that very few people are contacted by any officials to ensure compliance. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t still the law! Anyway I’m travelling on Wednesday so will find out soon enough![/QUOTE]
So, how did it go? 🙂

[QUOTE=”Daniel B, post: 70319, member: 1592″]So, how did it go? :)[/QUOTE]

Flight was cool actually, totally empty. The biz class cabin had maybe 8 people on an A350-1000 and there weren’t more than 60 people on the whole plane.

You have to complete a fairly basic health declaration if you’re arriving from the travel ban countries (China, Iran, Schengen, UKI and Brazil) and you’re met on the other side by EMTs who do a temperature check. They give you a pamphlet (the same one that is available on the CDC website) and instruct you to go home and quarantine unless you’re one of the “exempt” people (key and essential workers etc). From there it’s just the usual customs and immigration procedure. I asked the EMTs about quarantine, and specifically whether you can test out of quarantine if your state rules permit it. At first they had no idea what I was talking about, but they checked and said regardless of state test-out options, the travel ban on China, Iran, Europe etc.) requires all returning Americans to quarantine for those 14 days. So no way out of that one!

So now I stay home for 12 more days.. lol

[QUOTE=”Adi89, post: 70320, member: 6559″]Flight was cool actually, totally empty. The biz class cabin had maybe 8 people on an A350-1000 and there weren’t more than 60 people on the whole plane.

You have to complete a fairly basic health declaration if you’re arriving from the travel ban countries (China, Iran, Schengen, UKI and Brazil) and you’re met on the other side by EMTs who do a temperature check. They give you a pamphlet (the same one that is available on the CDC website) and instruct you to go home and quarantine unless you’re one of the “exempt” people (key and essential workers etc). From there it’s just the usual customs and immigration procedure. I asked the EMTs about quarantine, and specifically whether you can test out of quarantine if your state rules permit it. At first they had no idea what I was talking about, but they checked and said regardless of state test-out options, the travel ban on China, Iran, Europe etc.) requires all returning Americans to quarantine for those 14 days. So no way out of that one!

So now I stay home for 12 more days.. lol[/QUOTE]
Thank you – very useful info.
My job falls into the “essential worker” category, so I should be fine when returning.