South Loop Families,
As we Spring Break begins, we want to ensure our families are aware of the new protocols and individual responsibilities regarding the Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) emergency travel order. With safety in mind and in keeping with public health guidance, we strongly discourage non-essential travel at this stage of the pandemic.
If you must travel and return home between April 1st -4th, please obtain a second covid test a few days after returning to ensure you didn’t receive a false negative covid test results.
Please review the guidance carefully and be aware of the city’s requirement to quarantine should you decide to travel out of state. While parents and other adults may be vaccinated, children are not vaccinated and thus should follow all quarantine recommendations per the travel order. Also, please maintain strict masking and social distancing if you travel or gather during spring break.
Domestic Travel
In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the City is issuing an emergency travel order applicable to anyone coming into Chicago from states designated as orange. Anyone traveling from an orange state must obtain a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or quarantine for 10 calendar days. Students under 18 are also required to quarantine unless an adult they traveled with tested negative for COVID-19 per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a reminder, CDPH issued an updated order on February 23, designating several nearby states, including Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, as yellow; non-essential travel to a yellow state is discouraged but does not require post-travel testing or quarantine.
This order applies to residents and out-of-state visitors except those listed in the Exceptions section of the order, and those who are asymptomatic and have completed their vaccinations (Two doses of Moderna/Pfizer or one dose of Johnson and Johnson) for two weeks or more prior to returning to Chicago.
This week, the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID 19. While we are encouraged by progress we are collectively making, we are not relaxing protocols in our buildings. All CPS facilities and South Loop School School will maintain the same health and safety protocols including required face coverings, daily temperature checks, health screening, social distancing, and good hand hygiene. You can review the new CDC guidance here.
International Travel
Please follow our collective responsibility agreement for a continued successful Hybrid Learning. All international travelers including adults and children must follow CDC guidance. If someone on your staff traveled to a moderate, high, or very high risk location, they must stay home for 7-10 calendar days after travel. Testing does not eliminate all risk, but when paired with a quarantine period and precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at travelers’ destinations. Get tested (either via PCR or antigen) 3-5 days after travel AND self-quarantine at home for a full 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative after traveling abroad, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
Students Now Included in Chicago’s Emergency Travel Order
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is now including children under the age of 18 in the City of Chicago’s emergency travel order. Any student or adult who travels out of state must either obtain a negative COVID test 72 hours before returning to Chicago or quarantine for 10 calendar days upon their return. Adults who have been fully vaccinated do not need to abide by this 10-day quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic. For more information on travel restrictions, click here.
Please follow our collective responsibility agreement for a continued successful Hybrid Learning
SOUTH LOOP STRONG-LION PRIDE