CPS follows CDPH guidelines for domestic travel and CDC guidelines for international travel.
Domestic Travel
Before travel
Unvaccinated individuals traveling to a high-risk (“orange”) state should get tested 1-3 days prior to departure.
While traveling
ALL individuals regardless of vaccination status should wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
In Chicago, wear a mask in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.
Avoid crowds as much as you can and wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.
After travel
Unvaccinated individuals returning from a high-risk (“orange”) state should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 5 days.
- If you test negative or do not get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 5 days; you can leave your house after 5 days and should continue to wear a mask around others for 5 more days. Students who have a mask exemption must stay home for the full 10 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 10 days, whether you get tested or not.
Fully vaccinated persons (returning travelers who live or work in Chicago, or visitors to Chicago) who have traveled domestically are not required to quarantine if they are:
- asymptomatic; and
- Fully vaccinated (i.e., are ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a two-dose COVID- 19 vaccine series or ≥2 weeks following receipt of 1 dose of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine).
Fully vaccinated travelers must monitor their health for 10 days after travel and if they experience symptoms potentially consistent with COVID-19, they must self-isolate until clinical evaluation and COVID testing.
International Travel
Check the CDC website for what to do before you travel internationally.
If you are fully vaccinated and returning from international travel, get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel & self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms. Stay home if symptomatic and awaiting results.
If you are not fully vaccinated, get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND self-quarantine at home for a full 5 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 5 days.
A Household Member Has Traveled Either Internationally Or Domestically
The person who has traveled must observe the above guidance, but those who did not travel do not.
Example: If a parent traveled the parent needs to follow the CDPH travel order but the child who did not travel does not need to quarantine.
Unvaccinated children traveling with fully vaccinated people are not exempt from the travel advisory and must follow pre-arrival testing/quarantine requirements. Given the delay for approval of vaccination for children under 5, however, at this time we are exempting children under 5 years old from the City’s Travel Advisory, as long as the adults they are traveling with are vaccinated.
Exceptions for personal travel will be permitted for travel for parental shared custody. Students are not exempt from testing or quarantine requirements.
Members of the CPS community should self-report a positive COVID-19 test result to cps.edu/covidresults. Parents and guardians can report on behalf of their children. The CPS Contact Tracing Team does not act on secondhand reports, speculation, assumptions, or rumors.
Report COVID-19 Test Results
Members of the CPS community should self-report a positive COVID-19 test result at the link below. Parents and guardians can report on behalf of their children. The CPS Contact Tracing Team does not act on secondhand reports, speculation, assumptions, or rumors.