Saratoga County Holiday Travel Guidelines

Below is 2020 holiday travel guidance issued by Saratoga County Public Health Services:

As the holiday travel season approaches, we would like to remind families about the New York State travel advisory and how it can impact your child’s ability to attend school. According to the governor, non-essential travel is strongly discouraged, but if you must travel, the following guidelines apply. The guidelines are subject to change; any changes to policy will be communicated as soon as we are made aware of them.

Scenario One

Your family travels to a state not bordering New York State

(states other than Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont)

  • The New York State Department of Health requires anyone traveling out of the state with plans to return to NYS to complete a Traveler Health Form. It does not matter how your family travels (airplane, car, bus, train
    etc.). This form, along with details about the travel advisory, can be found online.
  • Failure to comply with the travel advisory could
    result in a mandatory quarantine order and a fine of up to $10,000.
  • If you wish to avoid a mandatory 14-day quarantine, you must show two negative COVID-19 tests, one dated one to three days prior to entering New York, and one four days after returning to New York.
  • Upon results of the second negative test, you will be allowed to resume normal activities. Your child will not be allowed to attend classes until/unless both tests come back negative. Proof of negative tests must be provided to school nurse before returning to school.
  • If you do not get testing done, those who travel are expected to quarantine at home for 14 days. This means your child will not be allowed to attend in person classes for the entire quarantine period.
  • If a family does not complete the Traveler Health Form, but it is discovered your child traveled to a non-bordering state, you will be contacted by the school and asked to pick up your child from school as soon as
    possible. Your child will be removed from their class and isolated until you arrive and pick him/her up. Your contact information will also be shared with the Saratoga County Public Health Services. Someone will
    then contact you and go over the travel quarantine requirements including the date of completion.
  • Upon completion, you will be provided with a return to school/work letter stating your child has completed the required quarantine.

Scenario Two

Your family hosts guests from another state not bordering New York State
  • Your guests should have completed the NYS Traveler Health Form before traveling.
  • If your guests do not get a COVID-19 test one to three days prior to entering New York, they will need to quarantine for two weeks or the duration
    of their stay, whichever is shorter.
  • If your guests get a negative COVID-19 test one to three days prior to leaving the state, and another negative COVID-19 test four days after entering the state, they are eligible for release from quarantine.
  • Once travelers complete the health form, they will receive a call from representatives of Saratoga County Public Health Services and instructed to check their temperatures, monitor symptoms, and respond to
    follow up daily for the length of their quarantine.
  • Your guests should minimize interactions with family during their stay. They should wear a mask at all times when interacting with family and strive to maintain a 6-foot distance from others. Your guests should also have a separate bathroom and bedroom to use whenever possible. Guests should not go shopping or leave the residence they are staying at for the duration of their stay or quarantine, whichever is shorter. Extra time should
    be spent cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces (door knobs, faucets, handrails etc.).
  • Your child will be allowed to attend in-person and virtual classes, but monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms is a must. If one of your guests becomes ill and gets tested for COVID-19 the results of the test could change your child’s ability to attend in-person classes.
  • If your guest receives a positive COVID-19 test your child will be required to quarantine for 14 days regardless of a negative COVID-19 test for your child.
  • Also, all other family members exposed to the sick guest will be required
    to quarantine for 14 days regardless of a negative COVID-19 test.
  • At the end of your quarantine, you will be provided with a return to school/work letter stating your child has completed the required quarantine.

Scenario Three

You/your child/your guests travel within New York State/bordering states
  • The New York State travel advisory does not apply to travel within New York State or those states that share a border with New York (Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont). However, bringing together family from different parts of the region presents challenges. It is important to monitor different parts of the region for potential COVID-19 hotspots before traveling or having guests travel to you. Please ask guests not to come if they are feeling ill or are traveling from a COVID-19 hotspot.
  • Require guests to monitor themselves daily for COVID-19 symptoms. If symptoms begin, have your guests isolate themselves until they leave or get tested for COVID-19. This also applies to your family as well if you travel in the region to visit during the holidays.
  • If your guest receives a positive COVID-19 test your child will be required to quarantine for 14 days regardless of a negative COVID-19 test for your child.
  • Also, all other family members exposed to the sick guest will be required
    to quarantine for 14 days regardless of a negative COVID-19 test. In this event, a representative of Saratoga County Public Health Services will contact you and go over the quarantine requirements, including the date of
    completion.
  • Upon completion of your quarantine, you will be provided with a return to school/work letter stating your child has completed the required quarantine.