State Department and CDC Advise Against Travel to Spain and Portugal

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State Department have both cautioned Americans against visiting the popular European destinations of Spain and Portugal, as well as Cyprus and Kyrgyzstan.

The State Department has issued "Do Not Travel" alerts, while the CDC has upgraded its advisory to "Level 4: Very High" for these nations.

This new guidance comes in response to rising COVID-19 cases in these countries, although current infection rates are significantly lower than the spikes seen last winter, which led to strict and extended lockdowns across most of Europe.

Spain and Portugal typically welcome thousands of American tourists during their peak summer seasons. Both countries had been permitting U.S. tourists since June of this year — Spain currently does not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for U.S. citizens entering the country.

Portugal permits U.S. citizens to enter for tourism with a negative COVID-19 test result (or proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the last 90 days), irrespective of their vaccination status.

Travel advice for Americans heading to Europe this summer is frequently updated. While England lifted most social distancing measures on July 19 due to its successful vaccination campaign, the CDC and State Department simultaneously caution against travel to the United Kingdom.

Anyone intending to travel to Europe should regularly consult both the CDC and State Department guidelines before their trip.