12 Key Travel Advisories Announced in February

The U.S. State Department issued just over three dozen updated travel advisories for countries all over the world during the month of February. The vast majority of advisories were Level 3 or Level 4, recommending that Americans either reconsider or avoid travel entirely. In fact, only one of the 39 travel advisories issued over the past month was lower than a Level 3. Most were issued in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. However, others were tied to crime and war in the wake of Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine. Here's a look at the most significant updates that travelers may have missed in February.

On February 7, the State Department reissued a Level 3 travel advisory for South Africa, encouraging people to reconsider travel due to COVID-19 and to exercise increased caution due to crime and civil unrest. "Commercial transportation to/from South Africa is not available or only sporadically available," officials warned. "It may be difficult to enter or leave South Africa and travelers should expect delays entering South Africa and/or returning to the United States."

The U.S. government is asking Americans to avoid travel to Cuba due to COVID-19 and also recommends that visitors exercise increased caution on the island due to "demonstrable and sometimes debilitating injuries to members of our diplomatic community resulting in the drawdown of embassy staff."

Travelers are also being advised to avoid Japan this spring due to ongoing COVID-19-related restrictions. "There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into Japan," the State Department points out.

French Polynesia, home to coveted destinations such as Tahiti and Bora Bora, among others, is listed at Level 4 as of February 14, with officials encouraging Americans to avoid travel to the islands due to the pandemic.

The State Department is also advising travelers to steer clear of Indonesia due to COVID-19. Officials are also asking visitors to exercise increased caution in the Asian country due to the potential for terrorism and natural disasters.

In another February 14 update, the State Department advised Americans to avoid travel to South Korea due to COVID-19. The advisor cites the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Level 4 Travel Health Notice for South Korea, which indicates a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.

The only country to receive a travel advisory lower than a Level 3 during the month of February, Kenya is listed at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution as of February 22, with officials warning of COVID-19, crime, terrorism, health issues and kidnapping. The Start Department notes that some areas have increased risk and asks travelers to avoid the Kenya-Somalia border and some coastal areas due to terrorism as well as areas of Turkana County due to crime. Visitors are also advised to reconsider travel to the Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera at all times due to crime and kidnapping. "Be especially careful when traveling after dark anywhere in Kenya due to crime," officials state.

Americans are advised to reconsider travel to New Zealand this spring without prior authorization from the New Zealand government. "Entry restrictions are in place to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in New Zealand," the State Department reported in its February 22 update.

In one of its most recent updates, the State Department encouraged travelers to avoid Ecuador due to COVID-19 and to exercise increased caution in the country due to crime. As of February 24, officials say visitors should not travel to Carchi, Sucumbíos and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, including Esmeraldas city or Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarquí Avenue, due to crime.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted a Level 4 travel advisory from the State Department on February 24, with officials advising Americans to depart Ukraine immediately. "U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options," the department stated. "U.S. citizens remaining in Ukraine should carefully monitor government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those remaining in Ukraine should exercise increased caution due to the potential for active combat, crime, and civil unrest."

The State Department is encouraging Americans to avoid travel to one of the most popular Caribbean destinations this spring due to COVID-19-related conditions. Officials are also advising people to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime. The State Department lists a plethora of specific areas that visitors should avoid due to the threat of crime.

On February 28, the State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Russia "due to the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the embassy's limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, limited flights into and out of Russia, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law." The department is encouraging U.S. citizens to consider departing Russia immediately.