Questions and Answers on the Santa Clara County Quarantine Order

Even the San Francisco 49ers are not exempt from their home county’s new quarantine order; banned from playing or training in Santa Clara County, they will not return home for at least three weeks.

The new order, which went into effect Monday, requires anyone – even residents returning home from travel – arriving at least 150 miles away, by any means of transport, to self-quarantine for 14 days. The county’s means of enforcing the quarantine are less clear, however.

What exactly does the order entail and how does it impact other California travel advisories? More importantly, what does this mean to you? Sit back, relax and read; you are about to have a lot of free time.

Quarantine… what does that mean?

On this point, the county is clear and strict: you must stay “in your home or other temporary accommodation” without any contact with anyone outside of “your own immediate travel party or household” for 14 days. after arriving in the county, according to the order.

This applies to anyone “traveling within Santa Clara County, whether by plane, car, train, or any other means, directly or indirectly from a point of origin located more than 150 miles from the borders. County.”

WHO born need to quarantine?

Fear not, Bay Area traveler, although non-essential travel is discouraged, you are still free to cross or visit anywhere in Santa Clara County without quarantining as long as you are in. ‘a radius of 150 miles. For example, it extends as far east as Sacramento but not as far as Lake Tahoe, and as far south as Big Sur, but certainly not Los Angeles.

In addition, workers in certain sectors of “critical infrastructure”, as noted here, as well as those performing “essential government function”, are exempt from the order.

Anything less than one night in the county also doesn’t require a quarantine period.

Are there any exceptions?

Only one: seek medical care. And, if you are venturing out of seclusion for this, it is advisable to avoid public transportation.

OK, but I need some food …

Well, no one can dine indoors at a Santa Clara County restaurant right now, so at least you’re not missing out on anything. Trips to the grocery store, or even for an outdoor bite to eat, are strictly prohibited for two weeks once you get inside county limits.

To help, the county is providing support services to anyone in isolation or quarantine. This can include help with buying groceries and other supplies, as well as lodging if there is nowhere else to isolate you. The support hotline is available at (408) 808-7770, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How do they apply the ordinance?

So far, travelers arriving at San Jose International Airport are receiving quarantine notices. Hotels, motels and other accommodation establishments are also required to inform guests of the new rules. But there is no enforcement mechanism outlined in the travel directive, and the county is taking fewer steps to trace new visitors than some of its counterparts.

In Los Angeles County, travelers are required to provide their contact information while acknowledging the local quarantine order, which is similar to that in Santa Clara County. Other states, such as New York and Hawaii, also have forms to fill out for any new arrivals, as well as penalties for refusing to do so or for breaking the quarantine.

What about those other travel advisories?

There is no statewide travel order, only a warning against non-essential travel. This states that anyone arriving in California from out of state, including returning residents, “should” be quarantined for 14 days, but it is not necessary to do so.

Some other venues allow travelers to test out of quarantine, but as of yet, that’s not an option in Santa Clara County.