Connecticut updated its travel advisory list Tuesday, removing neighboring Rhode Island from the list of travel-restricted places.
In total, Connecticut on Tuesday removed four states — Alaska, New Mexico, Ohio and Rhode Island — from the list, but added Hawaii, South Dakota and the Virgin Islands. There are now 32 states and two territories on the list.
Under the advisory, which was crafted with New Jersey and New York, travelers are required to fill out a travel form upon arriving in Connecticut from any of the listed hotspot areas. After arriving in Connecticut, travelers are then required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Last week, Connecticut broke into new territory by adding neighboring Rhode Island to the advisory list. That state had seen a spike in coronavirus cases, but its numbers have come back down in recent days.
The newly updated advisory list comes one day after the state issued its first coronavirus-related fines. On Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced that two people had been issued $1,000 fines for violating the rules of the travel advisory.
The state’s chief operating officer, Josh Geballe, said Monday that there are other ongoing investigations into possible violations.
“This is for real. We need people to follow these rules,” Geballe said. “If not, there will be consequences.”
Lamont first implemented the travel advisory in on June 25, through an executive order. But at the end of July, Lamont gave teeth to the advisory by issuing a second executive order that allows the state Department of Public Health to fine people who violate the advisory.
Monday’s fines came about two and a half weeks after that second executive order.
Connecticut’s travel advisory list has grown from eight states in mid-June to as many as 34 in recent weeks. States are added when they record an average of 10 daily new coronavirus cases for every 100,000 residents or a positivity rate of 10% or higher over a seven-day period.
The travel advisory applies to anyone who visits Connecticut for more than 24 hours, after spending more than 24 hours in a hotspot.
However, the advisory exempts critical infrastructure employees who are traveling on business. The advisory also allows certain travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test in lieu of self-quarantining, but that exception only applies to people who truly cannot self-quarantine, such as those visiting Connecticut for a funeral or end-of-life visit with a loved one.
The full travel advisory list can be found on the state’s website. The travel health form can be found on the state Department of Public Health’s website.
Emily Brindley can be reached at ebrindley@courant.com.
