Truckers exempt from CDC’s three state domestic travel advisory for Coronavirus

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that truckers are not required to follow a domestic travel advisory intended to slow the spread of Coronavirus from states that are outbreak hotspots.

On March 28, the CDC issued a domestic travel advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The advisory directs residents of those three states to avoid any non-essential travel for a 14 day period.

The CDC pointed out that the travel advisory does not apply to truckers: “This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply.  These employees of critical infrastructure, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforceexternal icon) have a special responsibility to maintain normal work schedule.”

All three states are already under “stay at home” orders due to Coronavirus.

The CDC says that their agency “does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the United States” but points out that “cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been reported in many states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease.”

The CDC has issued a list of “Things To Consider Before Travel” during the pandemic. You can view the list below.

• Is COVID-19 spreading in the area where you’re going?
  If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be more likely to get infected if you travel there than if you stay home. If you have questions about your destination, you should check your destination’s local health department website for more information.
• Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?
  Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like coronavirus may increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation. This may include settings such as conferences, public events (like concerts and sporting events), religious gatherings, public spaces (like movie theatres and shopping malls), and public transportation (like buses, metro, trains).
• Are you or your travel companion(s) more likely to get severe illness if you get COVID-19?
  People at higher risk for severe disease are older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes). CDC recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications avoid all cruise travel and nonessential air travel.
• Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you are told to stay home for 14 days for self-monitoring or if you get sick with COVID-19?
  If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness.
• Do you live with someone who is older or has a serious, chronic medical condition?
  If you get sick with COVID-19 upon your return from travel, your household contacts may be at risk of infection. Household contacts who are older adults or persons of any age with severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• Is COVID-19 spreading where I live when I return from travel?
  Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition These people are at higher risk of getting very sick. If your symptoms are mild or you don’t have a fever, you may not realize you are infectious.