DC to require those traveling from hot spots to quarantine for 14 days

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on Friday announced that all visitors arriving in the District on nonessential business from hotspot areas will now need to quarantine for 14 days, as the country continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The restriction goes into effect Monday and affects D.C. residents who are traveling to places that are a hotspot for the virus as well as non-D.C. residents traveling from such an area.

A full list of hotspots will be released on Monday when the order takes effect, though Bowser said that neighboring states Virginia and Maryland will be exempt from the measure.

“We know, unfortunately, there are states that are seeing significant spikes in new cases,” Bowser said during a press conference. “We know there are places where people are not being as cautious or making the sacrifices we are making here in Washington, D.C.”

College students coming back to a D.C. campus will also have to quarantine for 14 days if they are traveling from a hotspot.

The travel advisory comes after Bowser on Wednesday made it mandatory for everyone over the age of 3 in D.C. to wear a mask while outside in public. Those who violate the mandate could be fined up to $1,000.

It’s unclear how exactly the quarantine will be enforced. When asked about this, Bowser replied “people should … monitor their activities and do what is right for their neighbors and the District.”

The District reported 78 new COVID-19 cases on Friday and no deaths, but Bowser in the press conference signaled that parts of the phase 2 reopening strategy could be parsed back, as the city’s community transmission rate is trending upward.