On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released travel advisory updates for several countries. The most notable change is two European countries, Romania and Sweden. Both countries, previously classified as a Level 3- High Risk with the rest of the European Union, are now at a Level 2- Moderate. Just as noteworthy, both Botswana and Cape Verde, two countries in Africa, moved to Level 3- High Risk.
Previously in April, following the end of the mask mandate on airlines, the CDC removed Level 4: Do Not Travel Level leaving only three levels in their latest updates.
Level 3- "High" Risk Updates
According to the CDC, Level 3: “high” risk applies to travel destinations that have had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.
This week, Botswana and Cape Verde have joined France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, and Thailand in Level 3.
Level 2: "Moderate" Risk Updates
Level 2: “Moderate” Risk is reserved for countries that have reported just 50 to 100 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.
Amongst Romania and Sweden, four other countries were updated to Level 2 — Bolivia, Kenya, Morroco, and Ethiopia. For Romania and Sweden, this is a positive move. Two small countries among the rest of the European nations remain at Level 3. However, for Bolivia, Kenya, and Morocco — previously in the Level 1: “Low” Risk category in April 2022 — this is indicating an increase in COVID cases.
