CDC Adds Destinations to “High” Risk List for COVID-19

Video above: Summer travel tipsThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added four places to its list of “high” risk destinations for COVID-19, including a small and charming Caribbean nation.St. Kitts and Nevis, part of the Leeward Islands east of Puerto Rico, was placed in the Level 3 category on Monday. The destination is known for its beautiful, lush scenery and cultural experiences. In April, the CDC revised its rating system for assessing travelers’ COVID-19 risk. The risk category level 3 “high” is now the top level in terms of risk level. Level 2 is considered “moderate” risk and Level 1 is considered “low” risk. Level 4, previously the highest risk category, is now reserved only for special circumstances such as: B. extremely high number of cases, emergence of a new worrying variant or collapse of the health infrastructure. So far, no destinations have been classified at level 4 under the new system. The Stage 3: COVID-19 high category now applies to countries that had more than 100 cases per 100,000 population in the last 28 days. Here is the full list of Monday’s new arrivals at Level 3: • Guyana • Mongolia • Namibia • St Kitts and Nevis All were previously at Level 2. On June 6th there were approximately 115 targets at Level 3. Level 3 locations now make up nearly half of the approximately 235 sites monitored by the CDC. Level 3 Many other popular destinations are also on Level 3. Much of Europe has been stuck there for months as the summer travel season kicks off. As of June 6, the following popular European destinations were among those remaining at Tier 3: • France • Germany • Greece • Ireland • Italy • Netherlands • Portugal • Spain • United Kingdom. It’s not just European favorites that find themselves at Tier 3. A number of notable destinations around the world are among those in the high-risk category, including the following: • Brazil • Canada • Costa Rica • Malaysia • South Korea • Thailand The CDC advises you to find out about your COVID-19 vaccines beforehand Traveling to a Tier 3 destination. Being up-to-date means that you have not only received the full initial vaccinations, but also all booster vaccinations that you are eligible for. Tier 2 destinations, labeled Tier 2: COVID-19 Moderate, have reported 50 to 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 28 days. Only two spots were moved to this tier on Monday: • Guatemala • Zimbabwe Home to beautiful Lake Atitlán and Mayan ruins, Guatemala was at Tier 3 last week. The move was bad news for southern African safari destination Zimbabwe. It was at Tier 1. On June 6th, about 15 destinations were listed in Tier 2. You can view CDC risk levels for each global travel destination on the agency’s travel recommendations page. In its broader travel advice, the CDC has recommended avoiding all international travel until you are fully vaccinated. If you are concerned about a travel-specific health situation that is not related to COVID-19, check here. Stage 1 To move to “Stage 1 : COVID-19 low,” a target must be 49 or fewer new cases per 100,000 population over the past 28 days. Only two targets were added to the June 6 category: • Iran • Lebanon. Both Middle East countries were at Level 2 last week. Unknown Finally, there are destinations that the CDC has classified as an “unknown” risk due to a lack of information. Usually, but not always, these are small, remote places or places with ongoing wars or civil unrest. Libya was the only place included in this category on June 6th. The CDC advises against traveling to these locations precisely because the risks are unknown. Destinations in this category include Cambodia, the Canary Islands, Macau and Tanzania. A medical expert assesses the risk level as “a phase of the pandemic has entered where people have to make their own decisions based on their medical circumstances as well as their risk tolerance when it comes to contracting COVID-19,” said Wen, an emergency doctor and Professor of Health Policy and Management in the School of Public Health at George Washington University’s Milken Institute. According to Wen, there are other factors to consider besides transfer rates. Third, what are you planning to do when you get there,” she said. “Planning to visit many attractions and go to indoor bars? You plan to lie on the beach all day and not interact with anyone. That is very different. Those are very different levels of risk.” Vaccination is the most important safety factor for travel because unvaccinated travelers are more likely to get sick and transmit COVID-19 to others, Wen said. And it’s also important to consider what you would do if you tested positive while away from home. Where will you stay and how easy will it be to get a test to return home?

Video above: Summer travel tips

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added four places to its list of “high” risk destinations for COVID-19, including a small and charming Caribbean nation.

Saint Kitts and Nevis, part of the Leeward Islands east of Puerto Rico, was placed in the Level 3 category on Monday. The destination is known for its beautiful, lush scenery and cultural experiences.

In April, the CDC revised its rating system to assess the risk of COVID-19 for travelers.

The risk category level 3 “high” is now the top level in terms of risk level. Level 2 is considered “moderate” risk and Level 1 is considered “low” risk.

Level 4, previously the highest risk category, is now reserved only for special circumstances such as: B. extremely high case numbers, the emergence of a new variant of concern or the collapse of the health infrastructure. No targets have been placed at level 4 under the new system.

The Stage 3: COVID-19 high category now applies to countries that had more than 100 cases per 100,000 population in the last 28 days.

Here’s the full list of Monday’s newcomers to Level 3:

• Guyana
• Mongolia
• Namibia
• Saint Kitts and Nevis

All were previously at level 2.

As of June 6, there were about 115 Level 3 targets. Level 3 locations now account for nearly half of the approximately 235 locations monitored by the CDC.

level 3

Many other popular travel destinations are also on Level 3.

A large part of Europe has been staying there for months at the beginning of the summer travel season. As of June 6, the following popular European destinations were among those remaining at Tier 3:

• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Portugal
• Spain
• United Kingdom

Not only European favorites can be found on Level 3. Numerous well-known travel destinations worldwide are among the high-risk destinations, including the following:

• Brazil
• Canada
• Costa Rica
• Malaysia
• South Korea
• Thailand

The CDC advises keeping up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before traveling to a Tier 3 destination. Being up-to-date means that you have not only received the full initial vaccinations, but also all the booster vaccinations that you are entitled to.

level 2

Destinations labeled “Level 2: COVID-19 Moderate” reported 50 to 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 28 days. Only two places were moved to this level on Monday:

• Guatemala
• Zimbabwe

Guatemala, home to beautiful Lake Atitlán and Mayan ruins, was at Level 3 last week. The move was bad news for southern Africa’s safari destination Zimbabwe. It was level 1.

On June 6th, about 15 targets were listed in Tier 2.

You can view CDC risk levels for each global travel destination on the agency’s travel recommendations page.

In its broader travel advice, the CDC has recommended avoiding all international travel until you are fully vaccinated.

If you are concerned about a travel-specific health situation not related to COVID-19, check here.

level 1

To be in Level 1: COVID-19 Low, a destination must have had 49 or fewer new cases per 100,000 population in the last 28 days. Only two destinations were included in the category on June 6th:

• Iran
• Lebanon

Both Middle East nations were at Level 2 last week.

unknown

Finally, there are targets that the CDC has classified as “unknown” risky due to a lack of information. Usually, but not always, these are small, remote places or places with ongoing wars or civil unrest.

Libya was the only place added to this category on June 6th.

The CDC advises against traveling to these locations precisely because the risks are unknown. Destinations in this category are Cambodia, the Canary Islands, Macau and Tanzania.

A medical expert weighs the risk levels

According to CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen, transfer rates are just “a guide” to travelers’ personal risk calculations.

We have entered “a phase of the pandemic where people must make their own decisions based on their medical circumstances as well as their risk tolerance when it comes to contracting COVID-19,” said Wen, the emergency room physician and professor is in health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

According to Wen, there are other factors to consider in addition to transfer rates.

“Another is what precautions are needed and followed at the place, and the third is what you want to do once you’re there,” she said.

“Planning to visit many attractions and go to indoor bars? This is very different than going somewhere where you lie on the beach all day and don’t want to interact with anyone. This is very different. Those are very different levels of risk.”

Vaccination is the most important safety factor for travel because unvaccinated travelers are more likely to get sick and spread COVID-19 to others, Wen said.

And it’s also important to consider what you would do if you tested positive while away from home. Where will you stay and how easy will it be to get a test to return home?