(CNN) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled its new travel risk assessment system on Monday.
Several European countries are now considered to be at “high” risk for Covid-19, along with other marquee destinations around the world.
The new system places destinations in the following categories:
• Level 3: High risk of Covid-19
• Level 2: Moderate risk of Covid-19
• Level 1: Low risk of Covid-19
• Unknown: There is not enough data to assess the risks
The big change comes in level 4, which has been used regularly for places considered “too high” for travelers. Level 4 will no longer be used routinely for this purpose.
Instead, the Level 4 notice, in the new system, is reserved for special circumstances only.
Levels 3, 2, and 1 will still be determined primarily by the previous formula for the 28-day incidence or number of cases.
The sweeping reform comes against the background of US government agencies and the public continuing to respond and adapt to an ever-changing pandemic — sometimes in sharp disagreement.
CDC Level 3
The colorful traditional Asian fishing boats can be seen on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia, currently at level 3.
vasilygureev / Adobe Stock
In the new system, the “high” level 3 risk category applies to destinations with more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.
But other players in the European travel scene also fall into the “high” risk category. On April 18, they included:
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italia
• Portugal
• Spain
• United kingdom
It’s not just European favorites that find themselves on this re-running list. Other popular travel sites around the world also at level 3 include:
• Brazil
• Canada
• Egypt
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• South Korea
• Thailand
In all, there were just over 120 destinations in Level 3 late on Monday afternoon. The CDC reports approximately 235 places.
The CDC does not include the United States on its advisory list.
Level 2
Mi Teleferico is an aerial cable car in the city of La Paz, Bolivia. This South American country is located at Level 2.
saiko3p / Adobe Stock
Destinations labeled “Level 2: Moderate Covid-19” report 50 to 100 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.
It only had 11 entries on Monday, spread across regions around the world. The most prominent names were:
• Bolivia
• Peru
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Turks and Caicos Islands
Level 1
Looking for a nation currently at level 1? Let’s take Kenya, for example. Here, elephants roam in front of Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli National Park.
Dan / Adobe Stock
This tier is dominated by destinations in Africa and it has had nearly 55 entries in its first week under the new system.
To be at ‘Level 1: Covid-19 Low’, a destination must have 49 or fewer new cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.
Some noteworthy places include:
• Colombia
• dominican republic
• India
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Filipino
• Senegal
Anonymous
Finally, there are destinations where the CDC faces “unknown” risks due to a lack of information. Usually, but not always, these are small, remote places or places with constant war or unrest.
The Azores, Cambodia, and Nicaragua are among the locations currently included in the Unknown category. The CDC advises against travel to these places specifically because the risks are unknown.
Medical expert weighs in risk levels
Commuting rates are “one benchmark” for travelers’ personal risk calculations, according to CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen.
We have moved to “a stage in the pandemic where people need to make their own decisions based on their medical conditions as well as their own risk tolerance when it comes to contracting Covid-19,” said Wayne, an emergency physician and university professor. Health Policy and Management at The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.
Wen said some people will decide the risk is too high for them in the higher categories. “Other people will say, ‘Because I’ve been vaccinated and boosted, I’m willing to take that risk.'”
“So this should be a personal decision that people weigh in understanding that the CDC at the moment is categorizing different levels based on rates of community transmission, and that’s basically just that,” Wen said. “They don’t take into account individual circumstances.”
More considerations for travel
Wen said there are other factors that should be weighed in addition to transmission rates.
“The transmission rates of the virus are one indicative sign,” Wen said. “The other is what precautions are required and which are followed where you are going, and the third is what you plan to do once you get there.
“Do you plan to visit a lot of attractions and go to indoor bars? This is very different from going somewhere where you plan to lie on the beach all day and not interact with anyone else. This is completely different. These are very different levels of risk.”
Wen said vaccination is the most important safety factor for travel as unvaccinated travelers are more likely to get sick and pass Covid-19 to others.
It’s also important to think about what you’ll do if you end up testing positive away from home. Where would you stay and how easy would it be to take a test back home?
