Quarantine helps prevent the spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling sick or exhibiting symptoms.  People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.  

​Travel Quarantine is a term defined as the separation and restriction of movement of individuals who traveled outside of the commonwealth to see if they become sick or while they are awaiting the results of a SARS-CoV2(COVID-19) test. The length of a travel quarantine can vary, based on the number of days until the employee receives test results, develops symptoms, or has quarantined for the number of days recommended by the CDC following exposure to COVID-19. 

COVID-19 case counts in ALL states are increasing significantly. This causes an increased risk of spreading COVID-19 when residents travel outside the state or visitors travel into the state.  Because of this increased risk nationwide, a negative test result or travel quarantine for all travel from out of state is now required.  

Travel to outside of Pennsylvania occurs any time a person crosses into another state via air travel, public transit, personal vehicle, ride shares or taxis, and interacts with individuals in the other state. 

There is an exception in the order for individuals traveling through Pennsylvania in transit to another destination, provided that the time spent in Pennsylvania is only the amount of time necessary to complete the transit, make use of travel services, such as highway rest stop, or make necessary travel connections.  Travelers who are returning to Pennsylvania after spending less than 24 hours outside of state are also exempt. However, the CDC advises that making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and surfaces.  While the order does not require persons to test or travel quarantine if they are traveling through the state, traveling into the state for purpose of making connections for additional travel, or those who spent less than 24 hours outside the state, this does not mean a person should not consider obtaining a test or travel quarantining under these circumstances. 

​You must follow the guidance below if you engage in travel that is covered by the order and cannot obtain a negative COVID-19 test within the necessary timeframe to avoid the requirement to travel quarantine for 10 days upon your return:

Employees who tested for COVID-19 prior to their return to Pennsylvania or during the 10-day travel quarantine period, but who do not have their actual test results upon arrival, are required to travel quarantine until their test results are obtained.  If their test results come back negative prior to the expiration of 10 days, the employee need not complete the full travel quarantine period.  Acceptable proof of a negative COVID-19 test which was conducted prior to an individual’s return to Pennsylvania or during the 10-day travel quarantine period must be provided to support any physical return to a worksite in lieu of a complete 10-day travel quarantine.

Maybe. The order applies to all commonwealth employees but healthcare workers under certain circumstances may be able to return to the workplace prior to the expiration of their 10-day travel quarantine period. As such, if you were unable to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result 72 hours prior to returning to Pennsylvania or during the 10-day travel quarantine period, you are required to travel quarantine for 10 days upon entry into Pennsylvania.  Contact your supervisor to determine your travel quarantine status. Refer to the question below for information on leave options.

No. In all cases of travel covered by the order, the COVID-19 may be taken after the employee's return to Pennsylvania during the 10-day travel quarantine period in order to avoid the requirement to complete a full 10-day travel quarantine.  Acceptable proof of a negative COVID-19 test which was conducted prior to an employee's return to Pennsylvania or within the 10-day travel quarantine period must be provided to support any physical return to a worksite in lieu of a complete 10-day travel quarantine. 

Employees who tested for COVID-19 prior to their return to Pennsylvania, but who do not have their actual test results upon arrival, are required to travel quarantine until their test results are obtained.  If their test results come back negative prior to the expiration of 10 days, the employee need not complete the full travel quarantine period.  

The order applies whether you have symptoms or not.​  As such, if you have traveled outside of Pennsylvania any time after 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2020, you are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result 72 hours prior to returning or during the 10-day travel quarantine period, or quarantine for 10 days, even if you remain asymptomatic, upon return.  Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should consult with their health provider as soon as possible.

The order only applies to persons who are traveling or have traveled.  If a spouse, family member, or other household member has returned to Pennsylvania from another state, the non-traveling household members are not required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result or be subject to a travel quarantine.  However, if the individual who traveled is awaiting test results and develops any signs or symptoms or has a positive test result, their close contacts, including household members, should quarantine.

If you are equipped and authorized to telework, you will be required to work during any travel quarantine period, rendering the use of leave unnecessary (unless you are unable to telework due to illness or other valid reason). If you are unable to telework, you may use COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave (ES), if available, or your own paid or unpaid leave to cover any necessary period of travel quarantine.  As such, you should keep track of your available leave balances and take the necessary steps to avoid travel quarantine situations that require you to use your own leave. 

• Contact your FMLA Specialist at ra-spfabsence@pa.gov or 717.346.4667 for more information regarding the use of ES leave for this reason.  
• Contact your supervisory staff or agency HR office with questions regarding the use of your own paid leave or other leave without pay options.   
  

​The DOH has indicated that travel quarantine is not required for individuals who travel routinely for work or “other critical purposes. Please discuss the matter with your supervisor as soon as possible.  Your agency HR staff can work with the Office of Administration to evaluate unique and compelling situations where an employee may have had to travel outside of Pennsylvania for reasons beyond their own control on a case-by-case basis. 

No.  Military personnel travelling to Pennsylvania by order or directive of a state or federal military authority, including commonwealth employees on military leave who are required to travel outside of Pennsylvania for the same reasons, are exempt from the order.  However, some state agencies have separate rules in place which require employees to quarantine for a period of time prior to physically returning to the workplace from military leave.  As such, employees on approved military leave should contact their supervisory chain-of-command and/or their agency HR office to determine if they are subject to such requirements prior to the expiration of their leave of absence.

No.  Employees who tested for COVID-19 prior to their return to Pennsylvania or during their travel quarantine period, but who do not have their actual test results upon arrival, are required to travel quarantine until their test results are obtained.  If their test results come back negative prior to the expiration of 10 days, the employee need not complete the full travel quarantine period.  Acceptable proof of a negative COVID-19 test must be provided to support any physical return to a worksite in lieu of a complete 10-day travel quarantine. (Updated 12/16/20)

​The test must be a diagnostic SARS-CoV2 test authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).