From the Pennsylvania Department of Health:
The Secretary of Health has issued an order requiring anyone who visits from another state to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to entering the commonwealth.
If someone cannot get a test or chooses not to, they must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvanians visiting other states are required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to their return to the commonwealth, or to quarantine for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania. This does NOT apply to people who commute to and from another state for work or medical treatment.
This order takes effect at 12:01 am on Friday, November 20, 2020.
- How does this affect regular custody exchanges occurring across state lines?
- Parents should carry on as normal for custody exchanges. The FAQs on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website state that “quarantine is not required for individuals who travel routinely for work or other critical purposes, such as medical appointments or to comply with a court order such as custody exchanges.”
- How does this affect holiday custody?
- It is not clear if parents traveling for holidays and/or their children are subject to the requirement for testing and quarantine. Parents who wish to take their children out-of-state for Thanksgiving or parents who oppose the other parent’s travel plans should discuss the situation with their ex and try to reach agreement. If agreement cannot be reached, call counsel.
