Is the pandemic over yet?

Obviously, the answer is no.  While Connecticut’s numbers have diminished significantly, other states are continuing to spike.

Thus, yesterday, Governor Lamont issued new Executive Order No. 7BBB mandating that visitors from certain states with high numbers of cases to self-quarantine.  My colleague Jarad Lucan and I have a full update on this order (including the implications for paid sick leave) posting on my firm’s blog here today.

The order states that a “travel advisory” is to be issued that states that “[a]ll travelers entering Connecticut from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10% test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average, shall self-quarantine for a period of 14 days.”

It became effective this morning on June 25, 2020 (Thursday).

For employers, managing vacation times will be a challenge as will implementing paid sick leave provisions.  But employers should also be mindful of any business travel that is set up for the next few weeks; it is possible (probable?) that such travel should be cancelled. Otherwise, employer risk having those employees who travel to those hotspots unavailable for two weeks upon their return.

The Executive Order leaves open the possibility that employees of essential employers may have some exceptions, and it is possible that other exceptions may be established by the Commissioner of Public Health in the upcoming days.

Employers should further watch for updates to the list of “hot spot” states because that list is expected to change over time.

As of Wednesday, June 24, the list of states from which travelers will be self-quarantined include: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington.