It’s winter in the United States and people want a change of scenery. In its first update of travel advisories for 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added just one new destination — a popular Caribbean winter getaway — to its highest-risk category. The CDC advises travelers to avoid Aruba, a Dutch island just off the coast of South America, as it now resides at Level 4 with a “very high level” of Covid-19 risk.
The CDC places a destination at Level 4 when more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents are registered in the past 28 days.
This is a slowdown from the pace of additions in the past two weeks. One week ago, Sweden and two other European nations were added to Level 4. And two weeks ago, Spain and seven other destinations around the world were placed at Level 4.
Europe’s Covid-19 travel situation saw a little improvement this week. The CDC moved only two destinations on that continent — neither heavy-hitters — to a lower level (see Level 3 below).
Some of its biggest travel names remain firmly placed at the CDC’s Level 4 for now:
The United Kingdom has been at Level 4 since July 19
Europe isn’t the only continent with popular tourist destinations on Level 4. Other places also considered at “very high” risk for travel are:
More than 80 destinations were rated Level 4 as of January 4. You can view the CDC’s risk levels for global destinations on its travel recommendations page.
On December 30, the CDC increased the risk for cruise ship travel to its highest level and said it should be avoided, regardless of vaccination status.
Since the announcement, one of the largest cruise ships operating in the Mediterranean has become the latest to be hit by a Covid outbreak. MSC Cruises confirmed 45 Covid-positive passengers disembarked from its MSC Grandiosa vessel in the Italian port of Genoa Monday — fewer than 1% of those on board.
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