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New Travel Advisory Urges Californians To Stay Within 120 Miles Of Home

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Public officials have a message for all Californians – stay home.

The California Department of Public Health issued an updated travel advisory Wednesday, urging residents to avoid non-essential travel that would take them more than 120 miles from home. The advisory also urges Californians to not travel to other states or countries.

Travel Increases Ahead Of Christmas Holiday
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: Travelers wait in line to check in for a flight at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) amid a COVID-19 surge in Southern California on December 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. TSA agents screened over 1 million people for three consecutive days last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the beginning of the traditional holiday travel season, for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

"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. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19," the advisory said.

Visitors from other states and countries were also "strongly discouraged from entering California." Anyone visiting California was advised to self-quarantine for 10 days.

The advisory comes just a few days after the holiday travel period ended. Millions of travelers took to the skies or hit the road to visit family for Christmas or New Year's gatherings, and public health officials are bracing for a post-holiday surge of COVID-19 infections, even as many hospitals are beyond capacity with current patients.

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