CDC Discontinues COVID-Related Travel Advisories for Specific Countries - Dinogo

Another travel precaution from the pandemic has been lifted: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Monday that it has ended its COVID-19 travel health notices. Previously, the agency provided weekly country-specific advisories and a corresponding map that categorized countries as Level 1, 2, 3, or 4 based on COVID-19 incidence—Level 1 indicated low incidents, while Level 4 identified “do not travel” destinations due to high transmission rates or variants of concern.

“With fewer countries conducting tests or reporting COVID-19 cases, the CDC's capacity to accurately evaluate the COVID-19 situation for most destinations popular with American travelers is now limited,” the CDC stated in a message to Dinogo.

Starting October 3, the CDC will only issue COVID-19 travel health notices for a country if a situation arises that necessitates a new recommendation from the agency, such as the emergence of a concerning variant.

In April, the CDC revised its classification system for international destinations, restricting Level 4 travel health notices to exceptional circumstances like a sudden rise in cases or the emergence of a new variant. This change significantly reduced the number of countries listed as Level 4, making it simpler for travelers to identify critical pandemic-related concerns worldwide.

For those wanting to monitor COVID-19 cases both domestically and internationally, Johns Hopkins University offers a COVID-19 dashboard that provides up-to-date information on total cases, deaths, and vaccination rates in the U.S. and around the globe.

Regardless of their international destination, the CDC continues to recommend that travelers stay updated on their COVID-19 vaccinations and test both before departure and upon arrival. Although mask mandates on flights to and within the United States were lifted following a federal ruling on April 18, the CDC still advises individuals aged two and older to wear a well-fitted mask in public transportation and transportation hubs, including on airplanes and in airports.

“Wearing a properly fitted mask or respirator protects both the wearer and those nearby, making travel and public transportation safer for everyone,” states the CDC.

On June 12, the CDC eliminated the COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers entering the United States from abroad, a rule that had been enforced since January 2021. Now, all travelers, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, no longer need to provide a negative COVID test to enter the U.S., which previously caused many to scramble for results within one day of travel.

While the CDC has discontinued its regularly updated COVID-19 travel advisories, it still maintains health notices on its international travel page. This resource provides information about various outbreaks and public health issues in destinations travelers intend to visit. These notices are categorized into Level 1: “practice usual precautions”; Level 2: “practice enhanced precautions”; and Level 3: “avoid nonessential travel,” covering topics from Zika and Ebola outbreaks to safety threats from natural disasters, such as the recent floods in Pakistan.

The CDC’s COVID-19 travel guidelines are distinct from the entry requirements set by individual countries. While many COVID-related restrictions have eased, some countries still enforce specific rules for international arrivals concerning vaccination status, testing, or quarantines. Travelers should stay informed about the latest entry requirements for their intended destinations.

A valuable resource for checking current entry regulations is the U.S. State Department, which maintains a comprehensive list of COVID-19 travel information for each country, detailing entry requirements and the availability of testing. Additionally, it provides travel advisories for individual nations that consider various safety factors beyond public health, including risks of war, violence, and other humanitarian or natural emergencies.