Pa.’s Health Department has issued an updated COVID-19 travel order

An order issued by state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine last week requiring out-of-state travelers to quarantine for 14 days or provide proof of a negative test has been amended. 

On Thursday, the Department of Health issued a statement saying that, while, the quarantine or negative test requirement was still in place, it had been amended to clarify that:

• The order to quarantine or provide a negative COVID test applies to those age 11 and older; 
• Includes that Pennsylvanians returning home from out-of-state must comply with the order; 
• Pennsylvanians leaving the state for less than 24 hours or those complying with court orders or custody agreements are exempt from the testing and quarantine requirements. 

Individuals are permitted to enter the commonwealth if they are waiting for the results of a COVID test, but must quarantine until a negative result is received, even if they are asymptomatic, according to the statement released Wednesday. 

“This update keeps in place the need for people visiting and returning to Pennsylvania to have a negative test or quarantine for 14 days upon arrival,” Levine said in a statement. “We still recommend that Pennsylvanians do not travel, and the stay at home advisory I issued earlier this week remains in effect. I know that it is hard not to travel during this holiday season, but it is the right thing to do to protect one another from this devastating virus.”

In addition to the travel order, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Ann Dunn announced last week that Pennsylvania state parks would implement a similar rule, only permitting overnight stays to visitors with proof of a negative COVID test.

DCNR sends out-of-state park visitors without a negative COVID test packing