San Diego City Wire

A recent COVID-19 travel advisory issued by the California Department of Public Health asks state residents to stay within 120 miles of their residence.

The advisory was issued Jan. 6 and supersedes the previous one issued Nov. 13, 2020. The new advisory states, "except in connection with essential travel, Californians should avoid non-essential travel to any part of California more than 120 miles from one's place of residence, or to other states or countries. Avoiding travel reduces the risk of virus transmission, including by reducing the risk that new sources of infection and, potentially, new virus strains will be introduced to California."

California, even with the most restrictive lockdowns, continues to see its coronavirus infection rate surge.

"As of Jan. 11, California has 2,710,801 confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in 29,965 deaths. The number of COVID-related deaths increased by 0.9 percent from the prior day total of 29,701," the state's website reported.

The new advisory indicates that cases are increasing in other states and countries. In addition, those from other states and countries could potentially introduce new infections to Californians.

"The incidence of COVID-19 is increasing in many states and countries, even as California continues to grapple with its own surge of COVID-19 cases," the advisory said. "Persons arriving in California from other states or Californians returning from other states or countries could introduce new sources of infection [potentially including new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus] to California. Intrastate travel, likewise, threatens to exacerbate community spread within California—particularly because travel itself (especially the use of shared conveyances in air, bus or rail travel) can increase a person's chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19."

Amid the current COVID-19 surge, state health officials say it is imperative that California take steps necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19 and contain new sources of infection. The state has issued the following recommendations, which supersede the travel advisory issued Nov. 13, 2020, and shall apply prospectively from Jan. 6, 2021.

Aside from the 120-mile travel radius recommendation for Californians, the advisory also said non-essential travelers from other states and countries "are strongly discouraged from entering from California, and should adhere to the quarantine procedures."

Those procedures recommend self-quarantining for 10 days after arriving in the state.