10 Key Travel Advisories Announced in October 2020

The U.S. State Department has been hard at work reissuing and updating travel advisories for individual countries and territories as Americans return to travel abroad this fall. Here are some of the most notable updates from the month of October.

The State Department reissued its Level 2 travel advisory (exercise increased caution) for Vietnam on October 5 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, warning that the country's borders "are still closed for all foreign nationals with few exceptions."

Belize reopened to international tourism on October 1 but the State Department is encouraging Americans to reconsider travel to the country this fall due to the coronavirus, pointing out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (avoid all non-essential travel) for Belize. Visitors are also advised to exercise increased caution due to the threat of crime.

The CDC has also issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Costa Rica, prompting a matching Level 3 travel advisory (reconsider travel) from the U.S. government. As of October 26, national and foreign passengers entering the country by air are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

Americans are advised to exercise increased caution while visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The CDC has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice (practice usual precautions) for the Caribbean destination due to COVID-19.

Another Caribbean destination being heavily impacted by the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the Cayman Islands sits at a Level 3 as of October 19. The destination took a cautious approach to the resumption of tourism but began a phased reopening on October 1.

The State Department encourages Americans to reconsider travel to Dominica "due to health and safety measures and COVID-related conditions." The Nature Island reopened to tourism earlier this summer and is currently at a Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions), according to the CDC.

Kenya also reopened to tourism this past summer but the State Department is encouraging Americans to reconsider travel there due to COVID-19. The U.S. government also warns of crime, terrorism, health issues and kidnapping. The Kenya-Somalia border and some coastal areas should be avoided entirely due to the threat of terrorism.

South Africa, which resumed international tourism on October 1, is at a Level 3 on the State Department's travel advisory scale due to COVID-19 as of October 19. Americans visiting the African country are also advised to exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest and drought.

Bermuda is perhaps one of the safest overseas destinations that travelers can visit right now. After all, the British island territory is one of the few places at a Level 2 or lower heading into November. "Bermuda has resumed most transportation options, (including airport operations and re-opening of borders) and business operations (including daycares and schools)," the State Department said in its October 26 update. "Other improved conditions have been reported within Bermuda."

Panama reopened its borders to travel on October 12 and two weeks later the State Department reissued its Level 3 travel advisory for the country with updates to relevant COVID-19 information. Travelers are advised to avoid parts of the Mosquito Gulf and the Darien Region altogether due to crime.