Massachusetts quietly lifts travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers

Massachusetts lifts restrictions for vaccinated travelers

Massachusetts quietly lifted its COVID-19 requirements for most of those traveling to the state as long as they were fully vaccinated more than 14 days before the trip and do not show any COVID-19-related symptoms.

This change was made on Monday before being initially reported on by WCVB-TV on Wednesday.

Documentation showing that two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been administered and when must be readily available to show officials if asked.

Many of those who have not been vaccinated more than two weeks ago still need to meet the regular guidelines. These include taking a COVID-19 test less than 72 hours prior to arriving in the state and bringing documentation of an associated negative result or quarantining for 10 days; that period can be decreased and ended following a negative test result from a test taken in Massachusetts.

These individuals should also complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to crossing the state border.

Some exceptions to these requirements exist. These include regularly crossing state lines to attend school or go to work, briefly transiting the state en route to elsewhere or having spent time in “lower-risk states.” Currently, those states are Hawaii, Missouri, Oregon and Washington while people traveling from Puerto Rico also do not need to be vaccinated, take a test or quarantine.

These regulations apply to permanent residents of Massachusetts as well as tourists visiting the state.

Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in a fine of $500 per day although it is not believed that any fines have been issued as of yet.

Travelers flying into Massachusetts from abroad should also ensure that they meet federal guidelines. These include, with the exception of those not yet 2 years of age, providing a negative COVID-19 test result associated with one that had been taken within three days of travel. This regulation supersedes Massachusetts’, meaning that being vaccinated will not remove this testing requirement.

Meanwhile, those looking to depart Massachusetts for Maine have seen those restrictions lighten recently as well.

Last Friday, Maine started allowing travelers from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut to not need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or quarantine. Those arriving in Maine from the remaining New England states of New Hampshire and Vermont had already not needed to meet those requirements. Maine is also expected to significantly expand this number of states on May 1.