Amid the national uproar Wednesday, a newly issued California Travel Advisory received little attention.
The guidelines are set out by the California Department of Public Health and seek to further restrict residents’ movements. What’s more, it includes the idea that ‘non-essential travelers from other states or countries are strongly discouraged from entering California.
“In the midst of the current COVID-19 boom,” the text reads, “it is imperative that California take the necessary steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 and contain new sources of infection.”
The advice is called a ‘recommendation’ and replaces the previous, less stringent order issued in November.
It has three main points:
1. Except in connection with essential travel, Californians should avoid traveling to any part of the state more than 120 miles from their place of residence.
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2. Non-essential travelers from other states or countries are strongly discouraged from entering California.
All persons returning to California from other states or states must self-guarantee ten days after arrival, except those who undertake essential travel.
The health officer order is a supplement to the state’s Stay-at-Home Order issued in late November, which implements a direct evening clock and requires masks in all activities where individuals will have contact with or non-domestic members.
The new guideline in California came when the state reported an almost record number of daily deaths, at 583. These are just two deaths below the overall high of 585 that the state suffered on December 31st. It came when the country in general recorded its worst pandemic. mortality rate ever, at 3,856.
More broadly Thursday, California recorded 35,385 new cases and the highest level of hospitalizations since the outbreak began last January.
The new measures are likely to have something to do with the expected avalanche infections during travel and gatherings during the holiday season. In remarks made to NPR on Thursday, dr. Anthony Fauci warned of a new boom.
‘We saw [surges] follows most events that require travel and … people have, you understand, understandable in a social environment. We therefore believe that things will get worse when we arrive in January, ”said Fauci.