As more people are vaccinated and the COVID-19 epidemic is more subdued, US public health authorities are issuing new travel advice to more than 120 countries.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its international travel guidance on Monday to provide country-specific advice to both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.
This update includes moving 33 countries, including Iceland, Israel and Singapore, to the lowest risk category.
The CDC’s COVID-19 Revised Travel Health Notice Guidelines aim to “better distinguish between countries with severe outbreaks” from those where COVID-19 is “persistent but controlled”.
The CDC threat level is determined by the number of COVID-19 cases in a particular country. The CDC recommends vaccination at each level, but the guidance depends on the severity of the pandemic in each country.
The lowest risk level 1 countries have a low incidence of COVID-19 (less than 50 new cases in the last 28 days per 100,000 people) or a low number of cases (the last 28 days in a populous country) Less than 50 cases) 100,000 or less).
The CDC also looks at whether cases remain diminished, increased, or stable over 28 days as a primary criterion in determining levels. Testing the data is a secondary factor in determining the risk level.
Countries on the lowest risk list
The Caribbean is gaining momentum as a low-risk region.
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Saint Barthelemy and Turks and Caicos Islands are all new additions to the lowest risk CDC category. Belize in Central America, located along the Caribbean Sea, has also been added.
These destinations have joined Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Sint Eustatius Islands and the Cayman Islands, which were already in the lowest risk category.
According to CNN’s list of international destinations open to Americans, some of these destinations are still subject to testing and quarantine requirements. New considerations have been given to vaccinated travelers, but full vaccination does not necessarily mean that they are exempt from other safety measures.
Europe, which is beginning to be open to international travelers this summer, is very sparsely represented on the Level 1 list. The autonomous Isle of Man, located in Malta’s small island nations of the Irish Sea, Albania, Iceland and Greenland, belongs to the lowest risk category.
French Polynesia, Morocco and Singapore are one of the most popular tourist destinations in other regions designated as Low Risk Level 1.
CDC Recommendations at Each Level
The CDC recommends avoiding travel to the most threatening Level 4 countries, with more than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 28 days. Other Level 4 countries include countries such as Brazil, India and Iraq.
In Level 3 countries, including Mexico, Russia and Iran, the CDC recommends banning unnecessary travel for unvaccinated people. These countries currently report 100 to 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
At Level 2, unvaccinated travelers at high risk of serious illness due to COVID-19 are advised to avoid visits. These countries, such as Finland, Cambodia and Kenya, currently report 50-99 cases per 100,000 cases.
Level 1 countries are considered the lowest risk destinations, with less than 50 COVID-19 cases reported per 100,000 people in the last 28 days, but the CDC has decided to vaccinate before travel. Recommended.
