With the Fourth of July right around the corner, many Bay Staters are understandably itching to get out of the house. But if you’re planning on leaving the state to explore other corners of New England, be sure that you’re aware of the pandemic-related travel restrictions wherever you’re headed.
On Tuesday, Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther returned to Boston Public Radio, where he talked about pandemic policies for interstate travel in the Northeast, and what they mean for your plans during the Summer of Covid.
"Things change everyday, so it’s kinda hard to keep track,” he said, "but there’s a few states that I’m sure you know are… slightly more difficult for people from Massachusetts to travel to — which is Maine and Vermont.”
In Maine, Muther explained that current restrictions require a recent negative COVID-19 test result for travelers into the state, or a mandated 14 day quarantine somewhere that isn’t a hotel or an Airbnb.
“It essentially limited [only] people from Maine, or with a second house in Maine, for going up there,” he said. “It’s so confusing right now.”
For those who don’t comply, he explained that Maine law currently allows for a $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail. "But again, if you’re a business that depends on tourists, are you really going to be blowing the whistle on someone who comes from Massachusetts?”
"Although if it was you, Jim, I would blow the whistle,” he joked. "But for other folks, not necessarily.”
Muther recommended that anyone planning on traveling out of state do some research and be aware of the laws and guidelines, regardless of whether they're ultimately going to ignore them.
"I think a lot of states, their tourism websites break it down. The other thing is, you could just go to the website for the state specifically. A lot of them will have Covid warnings for travelers, and if you’re able to navigate through that it’s relatively easy.
“A lot of people, when you’re thinking vacation, or you might have had a place booked and you think well it’s New England, so it’s safe and I can go where I want here. But it’s not necessarily true,” he said.
