As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic continues to spread in the US, each state's governor's office is handling the situation differently, especially as it pertains to events and destinations of interest to travelers. This is a fluid situation and this article will be updated periodically with more information. For more, please visit the home page or health department web page of each individual state.
Alabama – Eliminating gatherings of 50 or more, or any gathering that cannot maintain a consistent 6ft distance between participants. Retail business, including restaurants, patronage must be 50 percent of the normally allowable capacity.
Alaska – Recommends in-person events of 50 or more be cancelled for next 8 weeks.
American Samoa – Border requirements and restrictions are now strengthened at all ports of entry. Travelers from 33 countries are required to spend at least two weeks in self-quarantine. Visit samoagovt.ws for more details.
Arizona – Recommends in-person events of 50 or more be cancelled for the next 8 weeks. This recommendation does not apply to the day-to-day operation of organizations such as businesses.
Arkansas – Little Rock mayor has implemented a city-wide curfew from midnight to 5am.
California – Bay Area residents are officially being urged not to leave their homes, but to ‘shelter in place.’ No events with more than 250 people, statewide. Disneyland is closed. Los Angeles has limited restaurants to takeout and delivery, closed gyms and entertainment sites, and has asked for houses of worship to voluntarily close.
Colorado – Recommends in-person events of 50 or more be cancelled for next 8 weeks. People who have recently visited or live in four mountain counties (Eagle, Summit, Pitkin, Gunnison) should minimize their contact with other people. Denver will close on-site eating at bars and restaurants for 8 weeks.
Connecticut – Along with New York and New Jersey, Connecticut is implementing uniform standards to limit crowd capacity to 50 people. Restaurants and bars will be required to move to take-out and delivery only. Movie theaters, fitness centers, etc are closed. Commercial casinos are closed, and tribal partners are strongly urged to close their casinos as well.
Delaware – More information to come.
Florida – Disney parks are closed, and Central Florida hotels will close later this week. Other closures include Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, Aquatica, Discovery Cove, Universal Orlando Resort, Legoland, Kennedy Space Center, Bok Tower Gardens, Medieval Times, Crayola Experience. The state is referring questions to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
Georgia – Many entertainment and tourism locations in Atlanta have shut down temporarily for at least two weeks, including the Georgia Aquarium, Fox Theatre, High Museum of Art, Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Six Flags over Georgia, Stone Mountain Park and the World of Coca-Cola.
Guam – Anyone on United Airlines flight from Manila on 2 March should self-quarantine.
Hawaii – Governor has urged people to avoid crowds, stay home if they’re sick and work remotely. State is still reviewing the CDC’s recommendations to avoid groups of 50 or more. Senior programs at parks have been suspended.
Idaho – The governor will host a tele-townhall on Tuesday, March 17 from 12-1pm Mountain time. For now, the state suggests you live your life as you would normally and rely on your best judgement as to risk. Events of 50 or more are recommended to cancel, but not required.
Illinois – Dine-in service at restaurants and bars has been canceled. Staff has been doubled at US Customs and Border Protection at O’Hare airport – the nation’s largest – and the situation is continuing to be monitored. Most Chicago-area events have been cancelled. Navy Pier, all casinos, the Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo and other tourist destinations are closed as well.
Indiana – Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people. Indianapolis restaurants, bars, gyms and other venues are set to close by Tuesday morning. Bars and restaurants can offer food via carryout, delivery and drive-thru. Gatherings of more than 50 are prohibited.
Iowa – More information to come.
Kansas – Large gatherings at the statehouse are banned and visitors are limited to people who have business before the legislature. Kansas City’s mayor has suspended all events, and gatherings of 50 or more. The KC streetcar is limiting passengers to 50 per vehicle.
Kentucky – The Kentucky Derby has been delayed until September. Bars and restaurants are closed to in-person service, although drive-thru and delivery is expected to remain open. The governor asks people to continue to support local businesses and their employees, however. The State Capitol is closing to nonessential personnel and has urged telecommuting.
Louisiana – The governor has limited gatherings to fewer than 50 people, closing casinos, bars and movie theaters and limiting restaurants to delivery, take out and drive-through orders only. Most public spaces in New Orleans have been shuttered.
Maine – The governor has encouraged gatherings of more than 50 people be canceled or postponed. The city of Portland is mandating curfews for bars, restaurants and other establishments where groups gather. Takeout and delivery of food is still permitted for restaurants. The Portland Museum of Art and Maine Children's Museum are closed.
Maryland – Maryland and the District have suspended on-site bar and restaurant service as of Monday evening and shut down movie theaters and gyms. Restaurants may still offer food for carryout and delivery, but customers may not dine in.
Massachusetts – New regulations issued by the governor include reduced MBTA service and a ban on dining on-site at bars and restaurants. Gatherings of more than 25 people are banned.
Michigan – Governor has closed dine-in options for restaurants, bars, theaters, casinos and fitness centers. This does not restrict a place of business from offering food and beverage using delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, or drive-up service. Restaurants may allow five people inside at a time to pick up orders, so long as they stay 6ft apart from each other.
Minnesota – A number of restaurants in the Twin Cities are closing or becoming takeout-only this week. Running Aces is suspending all casino, simulcast, hotel and dining operations.
Mississippi – Several events and services in the Jackson metro area have been canceled and major attractions closed as concerns about the coronavirus increased.
Missouri – St. Louis events and attractions have been closed, including the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, Six Flags St. Louis, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the Fox Theater. Chaifetz Arena is cancelling all events through April. The governor announced social gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited, and all bars and restaurants are closed to inside dining.
Montana – Cities such as Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte and Helena have begun shutting down bars and restaurants. Takeout and delivery are still allowed. There are no immediate plans for a statewide closure of bars and restaurants. Ski areas around the state are closing, or suspending operations.
Nebraska – Public gatherings will be limited to 10 people or fewer, including restaurants, bars, and fitness centers but not grocery stores, shopping malls, the airport or private businesses. Several tourism destinations are closed, including the Strategic Air & Space Museum, Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, and Lauritzen Gardens.
Nevada – On the Las Vegas strip, all 13 MGM resorts, the Wynn and Encore, and the Cosmopolitan have been closed. The governor has asked local governments to keep public gatherings to 50 percent of their capacity or less.
New Hampshire – All large gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned, and restaurants have been ordered to end on-site dining. Local bus and transit lines are disinfecting more frequently.
New Jersey – Along with New York and Connecticut, New Jersey is implementing uniform standards to limit crowd capacity to 50 people. Restaurants and bars will be required to move to take-out and delivery only. Movie theaters, gyms, fitness centers, etc are closed. Commercial casinos are closed, tribal partners strongly urged to close their casinos as well.
New Mexico – All restaurants, bars, breweries, eateries and other food establishments are required to operate at no greater than 50 per cent of maximum occupancy. Occupied tables and booths must be separated by at least six feet. Gatherings of 100 or more are prohibited, with exemptions for shelters, groceries, correction facilities and hospitals. All casinos and racing facilities are closed.
New York – Along with Connecticut and New Jersey, is implementing uniform standards to limit crowd capacity to 50 people. Restaurants and bars will be required to move to take-out and delivery only. Movie theaters, fitness centers, etc are closed. Commercial casinos are closed, tribal partners strongly urged to close their casinos as well. Broadway theaters are closed.
North Carolina – All bars and restaurants have been ordered closed to dine-in customers by the governor. Tourism destinations such as the NC Zoo are closed until further notice.
North Dakota – State capitol tours have been suspended and the governor’s prayer breakfast postponed, as well as the state spelling bee. Some park district facilities are closed. More information to come.
Northern Mariana Islands – As of March 17, the Northern Mariana Islands remain without a confirmed case. The governor has asked residents who were recently off-island for work or travel to self-quarantine themselves for at least 14 days, and the commonwealth is stepping up surveillance measures at airports.
Ohio – Voting in the presidential primaries has been extended into the summer. Fitness centers, bowling alleys, public rec centers, movie theaters, indoor water parks, and trampoline parks are closed. Grocery stores and banks remain open. Gatherings of more than 50 are prohibited.
Oklahoma – Casinos around the state are closing. More information coming later.
Oregon – Restaurants and bars are now take-out or delivery only. Events and gatherings of more than 25 people are banned, but not workplaces, hospitals, grocery stores, or pharmacies. The governor also urged citizens to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
Pennsylvania – Has moved to shut down all nonessential businesses, although the closures are not mandated.
Puerto Rico – Has some of the most extreme measures in the nation. A curfew from 9pm to 5am is in effect as well as a partial shutdown of businesses, including theaters, museums, bars, malls, gyms, and jewelry stores. Supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations and banks will remain open.
Rhode Island – All dine-in restaurants, bars and cafes are closed and all gatherings are limited to 25 people. The Providence Place mall will close indefinitely.
South Carolina – Restaurants are closed to dine-in patrons, but can continue to offer takeout and delivery services. Assemblies of more than 100 are prohibited, but state health officials discourage crowds and urge safe distancing.
South Dakota – More information coming soon.
Tennessee – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival has been postponed until the Fall, although the CMA Fest has not announced any changes yet. Knoxville restaurants are closing temporarily, but emphasizing delivery or takeout. Nashville and Memphis bars and restaurants are closing. But Tennessee state parks remain open and free of charge.
Texas – The state has left its coronavirus response up to individual local administrations. Dallas and Austin is shuttering bars, entertainment venues, and in-house restaurant service. Austin’s South By Southwest festival was one of the first major events nationwide to be canceled.
Utah – The governor has declared a state of emergency. The Health Department of Summit County, which includes popular Park City, issued an order to shut down businesses “where people tend to gather.” This includes restaurants, bars, fitness and entertainment facilities. The order will last 30 days. As of March 17, Utah’s five national parks are still open, but with restricted access to visitors centers and other changes.
U.S. Virgin Islands – A state of emergency has been declared for the islands, and no permits for mass gatherings will be issued for the foreseeable future.
Vermont – The governor’s office has limited gatherings to 50.
Virginia – The state has canceled state conferences and large events for the next 30 days.
Washington – The site of the United States’ largest outbreak, Washington has imposed a temporary order to shut down restaurants, bars, as well as recreational and entertainment facilities due to the coronavirus. Gatherings of over 50 people are also prohibited. Major museums in the Seattle area, such as Seattle Art Museum, Museum of Pop Culture and the Chihuly Garden and Glass, are closed through the remainder of March.
West Virginia – The governor has requested that all citizens of West Virginia postpone any non-essential travel. As of March 16, there are no known cases of COVID-19.
Wisconsin – The governor’s office has declared a public emergency and has banned gatherings of over 50 people. Major resorts in popular areas such as the Wisconsin Dells have closed.
Wyoming – More information to come.
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