skip to main content

Massachusetts

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 14, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in Massachusetts, we recommend that you visit the state's COVID-19 Updates and Information website, COVID-19 State of Emergency resources or MassTrac's list of bills related to the COVID-19 pandemic

resource search icon

Description of Program and Relief

Mandatory 14-Day Quarantine for Travelers Arriving in Massachusetts

In an effort to protect against new sources of COVID-19 transmission, the Governor has issued COVID-19 Order No. 45, a mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement for travelers arriving in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Effective at 12:01 am on August 1, 2020, all persons including residents and non-residents of Massachusetts, students, and other visitors who have been outside of the Commonwealth for any period of time must immediately upon arrival quarantine for 14-days unless exempted as follows:

An official list of COVID-19 lower-risk States will be published by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health on the Massachusetts COVID-19 response website (available here).

  • Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test: any person who has received a negative test result for COVID-19 from a test taken within 72 hours of entering the Commonwealth, and can produce proof of the negative test result on request;. or

  • Persons in Transit: any person passing through Massachusetts, as reasonably required, in transit to another State or jurisdiction; or

  • Persons Commuting for Work or School: any person who resides within Massachusetts and regularly commutes to work or school outside of the Commonwealth or any person who resides outside of Massachusetts and regularly commutes to work or school within the Commonwealth. This exception applies only to travel between the person's residence and place of work or school; or

  • Patients Receiving Medical Treatment: any patient who must travel to Massachusetts to seek or receive specialized medical care from a physician located in the Commonwealth; or

  • Military Personnel: any person traveling to Massachusetts at the order or directive of a Federal or State military authority; or

  • Persons Performing Critical Infrastructure Services: any person who enters Massachusetts to perform a critical infrastructure function as listed here. However, this exception only applies when a person is actively engaged in performing the critical function. For the first 14-days after arrival, a person must comply with the quarantine requirement unless some other exemption applies.

A person arriving in Massachusetts and not exempt from the quarantine requirement must immediately quarantine, but will be released from the quarantine requirement if that person obtains a negative COVID-19 test result administered after their arrival in the Commonwealth. And the person must have proof of the negative test result.

The Massachusetts Travel Form (available here) acknowledging a person’s obligation and to certify the means in which a person will comply with the 14-day quarantine requirement while in the Commonwealth, must be completed and submitted upon or prior to arrival by:

  • All individuals who are obligated to comply with the 14-day quarantine requirement; and

  • All individuals who have proof of a negative test result for COVID-19 test as permitted by this Order.

Failure to submit a completed Massachusetts Travel Form or comply with the quarantine requirement, may result in a civil fine up to $500 per violation. Also, each day of failure to quarantine as required and other instances of non-compliance, may be treated as a separate violation which may result in a separate $500 civil fine.

A person required to quarantine is permitted to leave Massachusetts prior to the expiration of the mandatory 14-day period, provided the person complies with Department of Public Health’s rules for departure available here.

An official list of COVID-19 lower-risk States will be published by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health on the Massachusetts COVID-19 response website (available here). The Commissioner will add or remove States on the lower-risk States list to reflect changes in the COVID-19 risk profiles of each State based on available health data metrics.

The Commonwealth strongly discourages Massachusetts residents from traveling to States not included on the list of COVID-19 lower-risk States and to international destinations. Employers are also strongly discouraged from requiring or allowing business-related travel to destinations not included on the COVID-19 lower-risk State list or international travel. In addition, employers must make measures to ensure employees comply with all State-issued rules concerning out of State travel for employer-paid or employer-reimbursed travel.

Government or Lead Agency

Office of the Governor

Department of Public Health

Dates Available

Effective at 12:01 am on August 1, 2020 and shall remain in effect until rescinded or until the state of emergency is ended, whichever occurs first.

Contact for More Information

Not applicable

List of Additional Information

The Order is available here.

For additional details from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is available here and here.


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

© 2024 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Privacy Policy