CLEVELAND — There are 14 states, including Ohio, that have been added to the Ohio Department of Health’s COVID-19 travel advisory map. Neighboring Pennsylvania with a positive testing rate of 40% is one of the states on the list released Wednesday.
The advisory is intended for both leisure and business travel, one that the department of health wants Ohioans and out-of-state travelers to follow.
Based on a 7-day rolling average of positivity rates of 15% or higher as of Dec. 30, the affected states are:
- Idaho: 59%
- Alabama: 41%
- South Dakota: 40.4%
- Pennsylvania: 40.3%
- Iowa: 36.2%
- Kansas: 29%
- Tennessee: 22%
- Arkansas: 21.3%
- Utah:20%
- Oklahoma: 18%
- Texas: 16%
- Ohio: 16%
- Kentucky: 16%
- Missouri: 15%
The ODH said due to the recent holidays, some states like Oregon, Wyoming and Mississippi are reporting anomalies in their data.
Positivity information for the travel advisory is updated once a week on Wednesdays, using data from that Tuesday.
“Please carefully consider if travel is necessary in this moment of widespread transmission across most of the country,” the department wrote.
If you have to self-quarantine, these are the following precautions you should take according to the ODH:
- If you live in a home with other people who did not travel with you, stay in a separate room. If this is not possible, wear a face mask when you are in the same room and stay at least six feet away from others.
- Remain at home and avoid all in-person activities. This includes work, grocery stores and pharmacies, public events, and public places.
- Do not leave home except to seek medical care. If you need to see a provider for reasons other than a medical emergency, please call in advance and discuss the care you need.
- In the event of a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. Indicate that you are in home quarantine for novel coronavirus exposure. Keep a face mask on until you are asked by a health care provider to remove it
- Do not have visitors in your home.
- Do not use public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares.
