After months of warning all travelers to avoid a long list of countries because of “very high” levels of COVID-19, the CDC has removed all countries from its “do not travel” list.
The federal agency removed 89 countries from its “Do Not Travel” list on Monday. The highest Level 4 designation is now reserved for “special circumstances” reflecting a dangerous surge in COVID-19 cases, a new variant or the collapse of healthcare infrastructure.
While the Level 4 list at one point included well over 100 destinations, there are now no Level 4 countries.
Level 1, 2, and 3 classifications are still based on 28-day incidence or case counts.
Countries with a “high level of COVID-19” are considered Level 3. Travelers who are not fully vaccinated are still advised to avoid travel to these destinations, but the warning does not apply to fully vaccinated visitors. Travelers with compromised immune systems are urged to check with a doctor before visiting.
CDC LEVEL 4 WARNINGS: Do people care?
Passengers inside an airport.
The CDC classifies countries with “moderate” levels of COVID-19 as Level 2 and “low” levels of COVID-19 as Level 1. Travelers should ensure they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines before traveling to these destinations, according to the CDC.
The agency said the new travel advisory system aims to be “a more actionable alert” for travelers, helping them understand “when the highest level of concern is most urgent.”
The update comes less than a week after the CDC confirmed it would extend the federal mask mandate on airplanes and other public transportation through May 3. However, that decision was challenged on Monday when a federal judge in Florida invalidated the mandate.
The State Department also said it would also adjust its travel advisories and no longer automatically correlate its guidance with the level of CDC travel health advisories. However, if the CDC moves a destination to Level 4 due to COVID-19 risk, the State Department’s travel advisory for that destination will also be upgraded to Level 4.
The story goes on
The update leaves about 10% of all travel advisories at Level 4. The State Department advises against travel for a range of risks, not just COVID-19.
FEDERAL MASK ORDER: Florida judge lifts US mask mandate on planes and public transportation after CDC extension
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CDC Removes 89 Countries From Do Not Travel List