15 Key Travel Advisories Announced in July 2021

July was a busy month for the U.S. State Department with foreign affairs officials issuing dozens of updated travel advisories for destinations around the globe. As has been the case since early 2020, the vast majority of advice pertains to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with the government easing or heightening warnings for places based on the presence of coronavirus, especially the worrisome Delta variant, leaning heavily on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here's a look at some of the notable travel advisories you may have missed this summer.

The State Department recommends that Americans do not travel to South Africa due to COVID-19 and pandemic-related restrictions and conditions. The department also asks travelers to exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime and civil unrest. The country has been open to travelers with proof of a negative COVID-19 test for months but saw a surge in coronavirus cases in early July.

As of July 12, Bermuda is just one of the fewer than two dozen destinations in the world to receive a Level 1 travel advisory (exercise normal precautions) from the State Department. The British island territory has reported 2,538 total COVID-19 cases over the past two years, including 33 deaths since the pandemic was declared last year.

Americans have been able to visit Germany for the last month unless traveling from a virus-variant area from which entry is banned. And as of July 12, officials are asking visitors to exercise increased caution in Germany due to COVID-19 and terrorism.

Mexico was among the first international destinations to reopen to Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to draw plenty of visitors thanks to proximity and limited COVID-19 restrictions. Still, as of July 12, the U.S. government is advising Americans to reconsider travel south of the border due to the coronavirus crisis. The State Department encourages visitors to exercise increased caution in the states of Quintana Roo (Cancun and Riviera Maya) and Baja California Sur (Los Cabos) due to crime.

Panama is another country on the State Department's "Do Not Travel" list this summer. Officials continue to warn of the threat of COVID-19 and also ask visitors to exercise increased caution in the Central American country due to crime.

Saint Lucia has fared well in the fight against COVID-19 since this past winter, implementing PCR testing requirements for all visitors regardless of vaccination status. Nonetheless, the U.S. government is recommending people reconsider travel to the Caribbean island as of July 15 due to the ongoing pandemic.

Belize is listed at a Level 3 on the State Department's four-tier travel advisory scale as of July, with officials recommending that individuals reconsider travel to the Central American country due to COVID-19 and exercise increased caution due to crime. Belize reopened to tourism last year and has fared relatively well in the fight against COVID-19, reporting fewer than 14,000 cases since the pandemic was first declared.

The British Virgin Islands received the State Department's highest travel advisory on July 19, with officials encouraging Americans to avoid travel to the islands due to health and safety measures and COVID-related conditions. The updated advisory came the same day that the island began requiring fully vaccinated travelers to undergo a $50 rapid antigen test at their port of entry. Travelers to the BVI must provide a PCR test or rapid antigen test taken within five days of arrival or show proof of vaccination.

"Do not travel to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to terrorism," the state department warned in a July 19 travel advisory. Americans can visit the U.K. but will be subject to vaccination, testing and quarantine requirements for the time being as the country aims to quell the outbreak of COVID-19.

The U.S. government is advising Americans to reconsider plans to visit Croatia this summer due to COVID-19 as of July 26. Currently, U.S. visitors are required to provide proof of a negative viral test result (PCR within 72 hours or rapid antigen test within 48 hours), a certificate of vaccination with the final dose being received at least 14 days prior to crossing the border or proof of recovery from COVID-19.

Barbados has fared extremely well against the coronavirus with fewer than 4,400 total confirmed cases. The CDC warns of a moderate level of COVID-19 in the country, prompting a Level 2 travel advisory (exercise increased caution) from the State Department. Currently, visitors to Barbados must undergo PCR testing and quarantine from 1-8 days depending on vaccination status.

Portugal recently reopened to travelers from the U.S. but the State Department is already advising against travel to the country as of July 26. The warning comes amid a jump in COVID-19 cases this summer, with Portugal reporting nearly 3,800 new cases nationwide on July 23.

The State Department also issued its highest travel advisory for Spain on July 26, advising Americans to avoid travel to the European country amid a rise in COVID-19 cases. Officials also recommend that travelers exercise increased caution in Spain due to terrorism and civil unrest. Spain reopened to Americans earlier this summer, recently doing away with COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements.

Cyprus is one of the dozens of countries listed at a Level 4 heading into the final month of summer. The Mediterranean island nation is just one of many that have experienced a jump in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, prompting officials to advise against travel.

As of July 27, the State Department is encouraging Americans to reconsider travel to Malta due to COVID-19. The updated travel advisory comes just two months after Malta said that it was the first European Union country to reach herd immunity from the coronavirus.