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Chicago institutes mandatory quarantine for some

July 03, 2020
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3 min read
Chicago August 2014. (Photo by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy)
Chicago institutes mandatory quarantine for some
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There's some major travel news coming out of Chicago late on July 2. In a tweet, Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an emergency travel order announcing the city would impose a mandatory 14-day quarantine beginning Monday July 6 for anyone arriving from 15 states that are seeing spikes in the coronavirus outbreak.

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Anyone who has spent more than 24 hours in the following states are impacted: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

Related: Another new record of coronavirus cases

Florida, as an example, reported more than 10,000 cases on July 2 alone.

(Image courtesy chicago.gov/coronavirus)

The rule doesn't apply to people transiting through Chicago or its airports.

Anyone found in violation of the new order will face fines of $100-$500 per day, up to $7,000. It is not yet clear how the order will be enforced, but New York state has asked police to check drivers with out-of-state license plates, perform random checks of visitors arriving by air, and has set up a hotline for residents to report offenders. New York is imposing fines of up to $10,000.

The city of Chicago says those coming from the most-impacted states must stay put -- in their home, hotel, or rental -- for 14 days before doing any outside activities.

The rule comes as the United States hits another daily record for COVID-19 cases, recording more than 50,000 cases in a single day.

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Related: State-by-state guide to reopening

Connecticut and New Jersey agreed to the quarantine rules at the same time as New York, but are relying on the honor system for enforcement.

As The Points Guy has been reporting, a strict 14-day quarantine in Hawaii is set to be lifted on August 1, but only for those who've had a PCR COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their arrival in Hawaii. You must take an FDA-approved PCR test from a certified laboratory before arrival, and no testing will be done at the airport. That's if you can find a testing site that will deliver results that quickly. As we recently reported, that's no easy task.

Related: 5 things to know about visiting Hawaii right now

Related: What it’s like to fly in the U.S. right now

Alaska visitors are required to self-quarantine for 14 days or to show proof of a negative test upon arrival in Alaska. Unlike Hawaii, they are offering testing on arrival. Visitors who are tested on arrival must quarantine until the test results are known. If they test positive they must isolate until they are well at their own expense.

And if you missed it, here’s our country-by-country guide to reopenings.

Additional resources for traveling during the coronavirus outbreak:

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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