Confused about Wisconsin being added to Chicago's 14-day quarantine order? Here's what to know.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Monday that Wisconsin will be the next state to join the 18 already listed on the city's emergency travel order.

First enacted on July 6, the order requires those traveling or returning to Chicago from the listed states — all of which are experiencing surges in new COVID-19 cases — to quarantine themselves for 14 days upon their arrival in the city, with some exceptions.

So what does this mean for you? Here is what Wisconsinites need to know, according to the FAQ on the city's travel order web page.

Does this mean I can't go to Chicago?

No, the order will not stop you from going to Chicago altogether — it just limits what you're able to do once you get there.

When does the order go into effect?

Chicago officially updates its list of states every Tuesday, and the changes to the list go into effect on Friday at 12:01 a.m.

If I'm traveling to Chicago, what do I have to do once I get there? What am I not allowed to do?

For purposes of the order, quarantining means that you must stay at "a single designated home or dwelling for 14 days before doing any activities outside of the home or dwelling," according to the FAQ on the City of Chicago's website. While you are there, you should monitor yourself for symptoms and distance yourself from others in the dwelling as much as possible.

You are not allowed to be in public or otherwise leave the place you are staying unless you are seeking medical care or a COVID-19 test. This includes leaving the dwelling for food or other necessary supplies — you'll need to arrange for these to be delivered to wherever you are staying. 

If you are staying in the same dwelling as people who have not recently traveled, you should stay in a separate bedroom from them, and use a different bathroom if possible.

If you begin to experience COVID-19 symptoms, you're allowed to leave for testing, but you need to wear a face covering and avoid using public transportation. Even if your test comes back negative, you still have to complete the 14-day quarantine.

What if I am planning to visit Chicago for less than 14 days?

If you're planning to stay in Chicago for less than two weeks, you are expected to follow the self-quarantine guidelines for the entire duration of your stay.

Does the order apply to me if I live in Wisconsin and work in Chicago?

No. If you normally commute to Chicago or are traveling there for essential work, you are exempt from the city's mandatory self-quarantine if you need to be physically present in Chicago for you to carry out your work.

Commuters and essential workers must limit their activities to things that are work-related and avoid public places and large gatherings as much as possible. They should also monitor their temperatures, wear masks, disinfect work spaces and practice social distancing.

The order does apply to any workers traveling for purposes unrelated to their job.

Are there other exceptions?

The city allows exceptions for travel related to medical care and parental shared custody. According to the city's FAQ, Chicago's health commissioner can also grant exemptions to organizations or businesses based on their "testing and other control policies" or "in extraordinary circumstances." Those exceptions are subject to the same terms and conditions for essential workers or other terms at the discretion of the commissioner.

Professional sports teams are also exempt from the restrictions, the mayor's office told the Chicago Tribune.

Why was Wisconsin added to the order?

Chicago's order adds a state to the list if that state exceeds 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents per day over a seven-day rolling average. Wisconsin meets this standard. As of Monday, Wisconsin's seven-day rolling average is around 15.7 new cases per day per 100,000 state residents.

What if I've been in Wisconsin recently, but I spend time in a state that's not on the list before going to Chicago?

You must quarantine for 14 days from the last time you were in Wisconsin, even if it's not the last state you were in.

For example, if you flew from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania and stayed in Pennsylvania — which is not a designated state — for 10 days before flying to Chicago, you would need to self-quarantine for four days upon your arrival in Chicago.

The order does not apply to you if you traveled through Wisconsin and you were there for less than 24 hours.

Does the order also apply to Chicago residents who travel to Wisconsin and then return home? 

Yes. Anyone who travels to Wisconsin — even if it's for less than 24 hours — is subject to the 14-day quarantine, unless they are deemed an essential worker and in Wisconsin for work purposes.

An essential worker is defined as someone who works in one of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors as designated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, such as health care, financial services, agriculture and information technology. It also includes military members and other local, state and federal government employees and officials traveling on official government business.

Does the order apply to me if I am flying through a Chicago airport?

The order doesn't apply if you have a layover at a Chicago airport, or if you're flying into a Chicago airport and then immediately traveling outside the city limits. It also does not apply if you're going to Chicago for the sole purpose of using one of their airports, a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Public Health said in an email.

Does the order apply to me if I'm just driving through Chicago to get to another destination? Can I get pulled over for having a Wisconsin license plate?

No. The quarantine does not apply to you if you're just passing through town on the way to another destination, according to the public health department, and there are no plans to pull people over.

What if I'm planning to visit the Chicago area, but not the city itself?

The order applies only to those arriving in the city of Chicago while they are in the city.

How is the order being enforced? What happens if someone violates it?

According to the City of Chicago's website, people who violate the order are subject to fines of $100 to $500 per day, up to $7,000.

As of Monday, no one has incurred a fine for noncompliance with the order, Lightfoot said at a news conference. Still, the purpose of the order isn't to "fine people into compliance," she said, but rather to "raise people's consciousness" about risk factors that cause virus transmission — something the city has done through its weekly announcements and reminders to travelers at airports and train stations.

The city will be issuing warning letters to people who may be in violation of the order, according to a statement from the public health department on Wednesday. Anyone who is confirmed to have violated the order could be fined.

"First and foremost, though, we are relying on the public to adhere to the order and, similar to public health guidance on masking and social distancing, to help protect the progress we’ve made in Chicago over the past few months."

When will the travel order be lifted?

The travel order will apply until further notice from the city.

Contact Asha Prihar at aprihar@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @AshaPrihar.