CDC Raises Risk Level for Four New Destinations

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 12:43 PM ET, Tue July 12, 2022

Four new destinations were raised to the Level 3 risk category by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on July 11 due to high numbers of COVID-19 infections.

The countries of Lebanon, Tunisia, Peru and Bolivia are now classified as Level 3 risks, joining over 100 other countries in the category. Of the four, Lebanon and Peru are also now classified as Level 3 risks by the U.S. State Department, as of July 11, though their individual advisories mainly warn of the risk of crime.

The CDC's Level 3 risk category classifies destinations that have the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases worldwide; it's currently the highest classification category for the CDC's travel health notices, which urges travelers who aren't up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations to avoid traveling to the Level 3 destinations.

There haven't been any countries in the Level 4 risk category since April when the CDC removed the 90-some countries and territories from the category that urged travelers not to visit.

According to the new categorization system, a country will only be put under the Level 4 risk category in the event of the country's healthcare infrastructure collapsing or the emergence of a worrisome new variant.

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore