(CNN) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has placed France on its list of “very high” risk travel destinations.
France and six other countries moved to Level 4, the CDC’s highest risk category, on Monday. France was the world’s top destination for international tourist arrivals before the pandemic, according to 2019 figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
France was joined by European neighbors Andorra, Cyprus, Liechtenstein and Portugal as well as two other locations – one in the Middle East, the other in East Africa – at level 4. The seven nations are :
• Andorra
• Cyprus
• France
• Jordan
• Liechtenstein
• Portugal
• Tanzania
Customers have their health card checked before entering the traditional Christmas market in Strasbourg, France on December 4, 2021.
Frédéric Florin / AFP via Getty Images
Destinations that fall under the CDC’s Level 4 “Very High Covid-19” category have recorded more than 500 cases per 100,000 population in the past 28 days.
People should avoid going to places designated with a “level 4” notice, recommends the CDC. Anyone who needs to travel should first be fully vaccinated, the agency advises.
“Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to contract and spread Covid-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers may be at increased risk of contracting and possibly spreading certain variants of Covid-19. “the agency said.
All of these European destinations, as well as Jordan in the Middle East, were previously rated “high risk” at level 3. Previously, safari favorite Tanzania was rated “unknown” for lack of reliable information.
Concerns: wave of Covid in Europe and Omicron
The Level 4 announcement comes as two troubling fronts continue to develop during the pandemic.
Other nations at level 4
Although Europe is hard hit, it is not the only region with popular tourist destinations at level 4. Other places also rated as ‘very high’ for travel include:
• Barbados
• Cayman Islands
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Turkey
In total, more than 80 countries were classified at level 4 on December 6.
Level 3 news
Empty roads in Bogota, Colombia on March 20, 2020. Colombia moved to the CDC’s “high” risk category on Monday.
RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP / AFP via Getty Images
The level 3 category – which applies to destinations that had between 100 and 500 cases per 100,000 population in the last 28 days – had four updates this week, all in the Caribbean Basin.
The four places moved to level 3 were:
• Colombia
• Cuba
• Grenada
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
This decision was a positive development for the islands of Cuba, Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis, which were at level 4. It is a step in the wrong direction for Colombia from South America, which was previously at level 2.
New entries at level 2
Destinations with the designation “Level 2: Moderate Covid-19” have recorded 50 to 99 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 28 days.
It has five new entries this week. They are:
• Bahrain
• Green cap
• Fiji
• Mali
• Sao Tome and Principe
Level 1 and unknown
The small African nation of Djibouti upgraded to level 1 and was previously level 2.
“Level 1: Low Covid-19” destinations have recorded less than 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 28 days.
Finally, there are destinations for which the CDC has an “unknown” risk due to a lack of information. As of December 6, this list included Algeria, Cambodia, Macao and Monaco, among others.
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