THE US State Department has announced it will issue Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warnings to 80% of countries over Covid risk.
In an official statement, the agency stated the Covid-19 pandemic “continues to pose unprecedented risks to travelers” and urged citizens to reconsider international traveling.
“This update will result in a significant increase in the number of countries at Level 4: Do Not Travel, to approximately 80% of countries worldwide,” the statement reads.
“This does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country, but rather reflects an adjustment in the State Department’s Travel Advisory system to rely more on CDC’s existing epidemiological assessments,” it continued.
The State Department has already listed 34 countries as “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” on it’s webpage such as Haiti, Russia, Montenegro, Argentina, Brazil, Mozambique, Kenya and Kosovo.
The majority of the countries are listed with a “Level 3 – Reconsider Travel” warning.
According to the statement, the travel advisories will begin being updated this week in order to be in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) travel health notices.
The statement also states the advisories “take into account logistical factors, including in-country testing availability and current travel restrictions for U.S. citizens.”
At the moment only Macau, New Zealand and Taiwan are listed under “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.”
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its travel guidance stating fully vaccinated people could travel within the US and abroad.
CDC recommended that travelers can travel at low risk to themselves as long as they continue to take COVID-19 precautions such as wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, socially distancing, and washing hands frequently.
“We continue to encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as it’s their turn, so we can begin to safely take steps back to our everyday lives.
“Vaccines can help us return to the things we love about life, so we encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
