This week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 advisory page. Two countries in Europe, which were previously on the “high” risk list have now moved down to “moderate” risk.
Sweden and Romania were both downgraded from Level 3 to Level 2.
Related: These Islands Classified As “High Risk” For Travel By The CDC
CDC’s COVID-19 risk categories
Prior to April of this year, the CDC had a Level 4 rating as the highest risk category. This category is now only used for special situations such as a new variant, healthcare infrastructure collapse, or extremely high cases. There are currently no destinations on Level 4.
Level 3 is the “high” risk category, Level 2 is “moderate” risk and Level 1 is “low” risk.
Countries with more than 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days are considered to be Level 3. Botswana and Cape Verde both joined the Level 3 list this week.
Prior to being Level 3, Botswana was at Level 1. Cape Verde moved up from Level 2.
There are about 235 places monitored by the CDC and almost half of them are at Level 3.
European countries at Level 3
Although Sweden and Romania are at Level 2, most European countries are at Level 3.
-France
-Germany
-Greece
-Ireland
-Italy
-The Netherlands
-Norway
-Spain
-The United Kingdom
Other countries on the Level 3, “high” risk list
-Brazil
-Canada
-Costa Rica
-Malaysia
-Mexico
-South Korea
-Thailand
Before traveling to a Level 3 destination, the CDC strongly advises getting vaccinated and boosted.
Level 2 countries
The CDC recognizes places with 50 to 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days as being “moderate” risk, Level 2.
There were 6 countries moved to Level 2 this week:
-Bolivia
-Ethiopia
-Kenya
-Morocco
-Romania
-Sweden
Bolivia, Kenya, and Morocco moved from being “low” risk to “moderate” risk.
Level 1 countries
Level 1 countries are places with 49 or fewer new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.
There were 6 countries added to the “low” risk, Level 1 category this week:
-El Salvador
-Fiji
-Guinea
-Moldova
-Sint Eustatius
-Tanzania
Sint Eustatius, a Dutch island located in the Caribean moved from being “high” risk, Level 3 to “low” risk, Level 1.
El Salvador, Fiji, and Moldova were “moderate” risk, Level 2. Tanzania moved from being “unknown” to Level 1.
Unknown countries
The CDC views “unknown” risk countries as being places where there is a lack of information. This could be because the country or destination is remote or small.
There were 4 countries added to the “unknown” list this week:
-Bhutan
-Comoros
-The Democratic Republic of Congo
-Ghana
Since the risks in these places are unknown, the CDC urges people to not travel to these places. This category includes Cambodia, the Canary Islands, and Macau.
Related: Fee To Enter Europe Will Become Effective Starting 2023