The US State Department is updating its “Do Not Travel” advisories to be more in line with the Centers of Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notices and that’s not encouraging news. Now, around 80 percent of countries worldwide are listed at “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” due to the COVID-19 situation around the world. This update encompasses around 164 countries, compared to the 34 countries that previously made the “Do Not Travel” list, Reuters reports.
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The US Will Soon Have 80% of the World’s Countries on the “Do Not Travel” List
In a media note, the State Department said, “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.”
Although vaccines are becoming more readily available around the US, with over half of US adults receiving at least one dose, most countries are experiencing slower rollouts and remain high-risk.
“In light of those risks,” the State Department said, “the Department of State strongly recommends U.S. citizens reconsider all travel abroad […] Our Advisories also take into account logistical factors, including in-country testing availability and current travel restrictions for U.S. citizens.”
The US State Department will update this guidance on a rolling basis as the global situation evolves. It’s important to note that this is not a travel ban. If a Level 4 country is open to US travelers, you can still go there — the State Department is simply advising against it. 