12 Key Travel Advisories Announced in August

August was among the busiest months of the year for the U.S. State Department in terms of its assessment of the various threats to Americans traveling internationally. The emergence of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant in places all over the world prompted officials to issue dozens of updates. Here's a look at some of the most notable advice travelers may have missed over the past month.

The State Department advised against travel to Greece in an August 2 update. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Greece due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country," officials warned. "Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine."

Elsewhere in Europe, Ireland also received a crippling Level 4 (Do Not Travel) travel advisory on August 2 due to the ongoing pandemic. Likewise, the CDC is asking Americans to avoid travel to the Emerald Isle for now but to make sure that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if they must visit.

As of August 2, the State Department is encouraging Americans to reconsider travel to Egypt due to terrorism. "Do not travel to the Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) and the Western Desert due to terrorism and Egyptian border areas due to military zones," the department stated. Visitors are also advised to exercise increased caution in Egypt due COVID-19 as well as the Embassy's limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained.

On the same day that Canada reopened to fully vaccinated Americans, August 9, the State Department published an updated travel advisory for the country, asking U.S. travelers to exercise increased caution due to the virus. The CDC warns of only a moderate level of COVID-19 in Canada, issuing a Level 2 Travel Health Notice.

The State Department is encouraging travelers to exercise increased caution in the Turks and Caicos Islands due to COVID-19 and crime. The destination will implement new entry requirements starting September 1, including requiring that all visitors 16 years of age and over be fully-vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Jamaica was another popular Caribbean destination to receive an updated travel advisory in August. As of August 9, State Department officials are recommending that potential visitors reconsider travel to the island due to COVID-19. If they do decide to visit, they are asked to exercise increased caution due to crime in certain areas, specifically Spanish Town and parts of Kingston and Montego Bay.

The State Department is currently advising against travel to Aruba, citing COVID-related conditions and making note of the CDC's Level 4 Travel Health notice indicating a high level of COVID-19 on the island. Currently, all visitors including children must complete the online Embarkation/Disembarkation card process and be approved in order to enter Aruba.

Two months after reopening to Americans, France received a Level 4 travel advisory from the U.S. State Department, with officials warning of a high level of COVID-19 and asking potential travelers to exercise increased caution in the country due to terrorism and civil unrest. Some of the recent demonstrations throughout France have been in opposition to the country's response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Iceland also received a Level 4 travel advisory recommending against travel due to COVID-19 related restrictions on August 9. The country reopened to fully vaccinated Americans earlier this year and currently requires all vaccinated visitors and those who can present a certificate of a prior COVID-19 infection to provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken no more than 72 hours before departure to Iceland, according to the U.S. Embassy.

The State Department encourages Americans to avoid travel to Thailand right now due to COVID-19 as the Asian destination prepares to welcome back vaccinated tourists. What's more, officials are asking visitors to reconsider travel to Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces due to civil unrest.

Bermuda has navigated the pandemic better than most, reporting fewer than 3,000 cases to this point. As of August 23, the State Department simply asks visitors to the British overseas territory to exercise increased caution in the destination due to the virus, with the CDC warning of only a moderate level of COVID-19 in the country.

In one of its most recent updates, the State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory for the Bahamas due to COVID-19 and also advised visitors to the islands to exercise caution in some areas due to crime. On August 6, the Bahamas issued updated entry requirements requiring testing for all visitors regardless of vaccination status.