Travel Information

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Posted 5/26/21

Effective Monday, March 22 2021, the MA Travel Order was replaced with a Travel Advisory and lower-risk states are no longer in effect.

Effective May 29, 2021, MPS will no longer require notification of travel plans or documentation of testing on return home. Please continue to check the Massachusetts Travel Advisory for state recommendations when planning travel.

The Commonwealth has made great progress to slow the spread of COVID-19 and re-open the economy, and all visitors and returning residents have a responsibility to help keep transmission levels as low as possible.

Guidelines from COVID-19 Travel Advisory

As of Monday, March 22, all visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival. Travelers in the following categories are exempt from this quarantine advisory:

• Travelers who have received a negative COVID-19 result on a test administered not more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts. Travelers may also test out of the quarantine advisory after arrival in Massachusetts, as long as they quarantine until receiving a negative test result.

• Anyone who is entering Massachusetts for fewer than 24 hours

• Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after being out of the State for fewer than 24 hours

• Workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) during required commuting to or from work and while at work.

• Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms.

All travelers are encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel.

End of updated Travel Information posted 5/26/21

Effective Monday, March 22, the MA Travel Order will be replaced with a Travel Advisory which will be enforced in MPS.

After consultation with Mansfield’s COVID-19 Task Force, our board of health will require staff and students of MPS to produce documentation of post-travel testing to comply with guidelines from the Massachusetts Travel Advisory as stated below. Testing is required for all destinations. There are no longer specific high risk areas of travel. MPS will also follow these additional modifications:

• We will continue to accept parent/guardian post-travel tests from an unvaccinated parent/guardian for students less than ten years of age. If all parents/guardians who have traveled with the students under ten years are vaccinated, the students need to have their own COVID-19 test before returning to school.

• Mansfield Public Schools will accept FDA EUA-approved molecular SARS-CoV2 tests including the PCR and Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test, and rapid antigen tests for return from travel.

If your student is out of school while waiting for post-travel test results or are in a post travel-quarantine, please contact your school nurses who can initiate instructional delivery from classroom teachers.

Guidance is changing quickly but we need to adhere to standards that will provide the best protection for our entire school community. We understand the challenges associated with testing and we appreciate your compliance with the travel guidance. Consideration will be given to changing travel requirements for MPS as vaccination rates increase and our quarantine numbers stabilize.

Guidelines from COVID-19 Travel Advisory

Effective March 22, 2021, all visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts are advised to follow the Commonwealth’s new travel advisory as detailed below. The Commonwealth has made great progress to slow the spread of COVID-19 and gradually re-open the economy, and all visitors and returning residents have a responsibility to help us keep transmission levels as low as possible.

As of Monday, March 22, all visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival. Travelers in the following categories are exempt from this quarantine:

• Travelers who have received a negative COVID-19 result on a test administered not more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts. Travelers may also test out of the quarantine advisory after arrival in Massachusetts, as long as they quarantine until receiving a negative test result.

• Anyone who is entering Massachusetts for fewer than 24 hours

• Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after being out of the State for fewer than 24 hours

• Workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) during required commuting to or from work and while at work.

• Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms.

• All travelers are encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel HERE.

All returning residents, unless they have been out of state for less than 24 hours, must follow the advisory or fit the description of the exemptions in the list.

Additionally, for students 10 years and younger:

Students returning from vacation are expected to comply with current Massachusetts travel orders. Children 10 years and younger can either quarantine for 10 days or use a test result from a parent/guardian to return to school. Test results must be from an unvaccinated parent/guardian. If both parents/guardians are vaccinated, the student must be tested regardless of age. Results of a student or parents' PCR test needs to be submitted to the school nurse for return to school.

THIS is where you can find a COVID test. Input your zip code and search for local listings.

(updated 3/31/21 9:00 AM)