(CNN) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday added three European destinations – from the frigid northern climates to the sun-soaked south – to the category of highest risk for travel.
In its weekly update on its Covid-19 travel advice, the CDC advises against travel to the following countries and classifies them as “Level 4: Covid-19 Very High”:
• Malta
• Moldova
• Sweden
CDC places the destination at Level 4 when there are more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents registered in the last 28 days.
The island nation of Malta, a favorite in the Mediterranean, was also at 3 last week.
Out of sight for most tourists, the Eastern European country of Moldova was formerly in the “Unknown” category. CDC puts destinations in that category when CDC doesn’t have enough reliable data to make an assessment.
Europe’s Continuity of Disasters
In another worrisome sign for Europe’s Covid-19 situation, the CDC has moved no destinations on that continent to a lower level in the past week.
Other big travel names still at CDC Level 4 include:
• France
• Germany
• Greek
• Irish
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Spain
• UK
In fact, the UK has been at Level 4 since 19 July.
However, Europe is not the only continent with popular tourist attractions above Level 4. Among others also considered to be at “very high” risk to tourism are:
• Belize
• Jordan
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Turkey
Additional level 3
An overview of the Obelisco de Buenos Aires in Argentina’s largest city.
Image of Ricardo Ceppi / Getty
Category Level 3 – which applies to destinations with between 100 and 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 28 days – had two additions on Tuesday:
• Argentina
• Brunei
Argentina, a South American travel-loving company that has taken a very cautious approach to allowing foreign visitors during most of the pandemic, was previously Level 2.
The move is good news for the tiny caliphate of Brunei, which is already Level 4.
Level 2, Level 1 and the Unknowns
Destinations carrying the “Level 2: Moderate Covid-19” designation have seen 50 to 99 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days. That level saw three additions on Tuesday:
• Cuba
• Gabon
• Guatemala
Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean, used to be Level 3. Gabon, on Africa’s Atlantic Coast along the equator, and Guatemala, in Central America. was also at Level 3,
In the “Level 1: Low-19” category of destinations, less than 50 new cases per 100,000 residents have been recorded in the past 28 days. It sees only one addition – the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe off the coast of Gabon.
Finally, there are destinations, as cited above, for which the CDC is at risk of “unknown” because of lack of information. Usually, these are small, secluded places. On Tuesday, CDC added three locations to this category:
• French Polynesia
• New Caledonia
• Suriname
The CDC even warns fully vaccinated travelers about venturing to destinations that don’t have reliable statistics on the current situation of Covid-19.
“Completely vaccinated travelers are less likely to contract and spread Covid-19,” the agency said. However, international travel carries additional risks and even travelers who have been vaccinated Adequate precautions may also increase the risk of contracting and possibly spreading some variants of Covid-19.”
Another tumultuous week
All of these CDC level changes are happening against a pandemic news stream affecting travel around the world:
