The CDC and State Department have issued a travel advisory urging people to "avoid travel" to Italy and several other nations.

Italy has now been added to the list of countries experiencing the latest surge in coronavirus cases. This popular European destination has been categorized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a high-risk area for travel, just before Christmas.

The CDC has classified Italy, along with Greenland and the East African island nation of Mauritius, under the "Level 4: COVID-19 Very High" category, which is its highest risk designation for COVID-19. This classification is typically assigned to countries that report over 500 positive cases per 100,000 residents in the last 28 days.

Currently, there are more than 80 countries that fall under the highest warning level for COVID-19.

According to the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Italy has recorded over 26,000 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, marking the second consecutive day with more than 25,000 new infections.

The U.S. State Department has also issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for Italy.

CDC Alert for Italy

The CDC provided the following details on its official website regarding its Level 4 classification for Italy:

• Refrain from traveling to Italy.
• If travel to Italy is necessary, ensure you are fully vaccinated beforehand.
• Due to the current circumstances in Italy, even those who are fully vaccinated may still be at risk for contracting and spreading COVID-19 variants.
• Travelers should adhere to guidelines or requirements in Italy, such as wearing masks and maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others.

The agency also advises against international travel unless you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated, there are extra precautions to take before, during, and after your journey.

Tourists who are not vaccinated and arriving in Italy will be required to undergo a five-day quarantine. This rule also applies to travelers coming from the European Union. Those who are fully vaccinated will not need to quarantine but must present a negative test result. These new regulations are effective until January 31.

Italy's rising case numbers occur as Europe faces a surge from the highly contagious omicron variant. Recently designated as Level 4 "very high" risk countries include:

• France
• Cyprus
• Jordan
• Andorra
• Liechtenstein
• Portugal
• Niger
• Poland
• Trinidad and Tobago

U.S. State Department Advisory

The U.S. State Department uses its own proprietary ranking system to assess travel risks. In the past week, it has issued Level 4 Do Not Travel warnings for Italy, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Sudan.

On December 16, the State Department categorized Qatar as a "Level 3: Reconsider Travel" destination.

According to the official State Department website:

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Italy due to COVID-19, signifying a very high level of COVID-19 in the nation. There are entry restrictions for U.S. citizens traveling to Italy. If you are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine, your risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing severe symptoms may be reduced. Before making any international travel plans, please consult the CDC's specific guidelines for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers."

This color-coded map highlights the countries that the State Department considers to pose a high risk for travelers.