This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added one more country to its list of “very high” risk travel destinations.

Europe’s second-largest country by geographical size Ukrain was elevated from Level 3, or “high” danger for Covid-19, to Level 4, the agency’s highest risk level.

Level 4 or Covid-19 Very High risk travel destinations

According to CDC guidelines, destinations in the “Covid-19 Very High” Level 4 category had had more than 500 cases per 100,000 people in the last 28 days. These countries include:

• Austria
• Bahamas
• Botswana
• Croatia
• Greece
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Maldives
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Turkey
• United Kingdom

In the case of the United Kingdom, it has been at Level 4 since July 19. Greece has been since August 2. Thailand has been there since August 9.

On October 25, there were 77 destinations globally that were remained at Level 4.

Level 3 or Covid-19 High risk travel destinations

This week witnessed higher activity in the Level 3 category, which pertains to destinations with 100 to 500 instances per 100,000 population in the previous 28 days. Being placed at Level 3 indicated progress in these seven destinations, all of which were moving down from Level 4:

• Guatemala
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Mauritius
• Puerto Rico
• Saint Martin
• Sri Lanka

Moving to Level 3 was an alert of the worsening situation in three destinations. Egypt and the Dominican Republic were at Level 2 (“moderate”) risk, while the Cayman Islands were at an enviable Level 1. (“low” risk).

Cruising on Level 3

This week, the CDC also added cruise ships, including river vessels, to its Level 3 alert, advising that only fully vaccinated people sail.

The CDC stated that Covid-19 “spreads easily between people in close quarters aboard ships, and the chance of getting [it] on cruise ships is high.”

Level 2 or Covid-19 Moderate risk travel destinations

In the last 28 days, destinations with the “Level 2: Covid-19 Moderate” rating have witnessed 50 to 99 Covid-19 cases per lakh population. On October 25, popular places in this less dangerous category included the following:

• Colombia
• India
• Peru
• Poland

Just keep in mind that the CDC list is updated weekly, so your lower-risk destination of choice may move up after you start making preparations.

Level 2 or Covid-19 Low risk travel destinations

Over the last 28 days, fewer than 50 new cases per 100,000 residents have been documented in the category of “Level 1: Covid-19 Low” destinations. New Zealand falls within this group, but it has yet to welcome leisure vacationers.

Finally, there are destinations for which the CDC has an “unknown” risk because of a lack of information. As of October 25, that included Monaco, the Azores and Tanzania.

Image Credit: Getty

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