Governors of Washington, Oregon, California issue COVID-19 travel advisory

OLYMPIA, Wash.-- On Friday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued a travel advisory for residents of the Evergreen State, asking residents to avoid non-essential travel over the next few weeks in an effort to reduce the rate of spread for the coronavirus.

The Governor recommends that anyone who travels outside of the the state quarantine for 14 days after returning home.

Inslee joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown in encouraging visitors entering their states or returning home from travel outside these states to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. 

“COVID-19 cases have doubled in Washington over the past two weeks. This puts our state in as dangerous a position today as we were in March,” Inslee said. “Limiting and reducing travel is one way to reduce further spread of the disease. I am happy to partner with California and Oregon in this effort to help protect lives up and down the West Coast.”

“COVID-19 does not stop at state lines. As hospitals across the West are stretched to capacity, we must take steps to ensure travelers are not bringing this disease home with them,” said Brown. “If you do not need to travel, you shouldn’t. This will be hard, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. But the best way to keep your family safe is to stay close to home.”

In addition to urging individuals arriving from other states or countries to self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival, the travel advisories include recommendations that individuals avoid interacting with anyone outside of their immediate household.

The advisories define essential travel as travel for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security.