The CDC has added several nations to its 'avoid travel' list, which includes Aruba, France, Israel, and Thailand.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded its "avoid travel" list to include various countries that have gained popularity among American travelers.

As of August 9, Aruba, France, French Polynesia, Iceland, Israel, and Thailand have all received the CDC's highest warning, "Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19." Eswatini, previously known as Swaziland, is also now classified under Level 4.

According to World Health Organization data, all these nations have reported a rise in COVID-19 cases.

For instance, the CDC outlines the travel warning for Aruba as follows:

• Refrain from traveling to Aruba.
• If travel to Aruba is necessary, ensure you are fully vaccinated beforehand.
• Due to the current circumstances in Aruba, even fully vaccinated individuals may still risk contracting and transmitting COVID-19 variants.
• Refer to guidelines for fully vaccinated travelers.
• Check guidelines for unvaccinated travelers.
• Travelers should adhere to Aruba's recommendations or requirements, including wearing masks and maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others.
• Here’s a quick guide for travelers.

On August 2, Greece, Ireland, Curaçao, St. Martin, St. Barts, and the U.S. Virgin Islands were added to the Level 4 list.

The U.S. Department of State has its own travel rankings, which vary from Level 1 to Level 4, though these may not always align with CDC advisories.

Today, the State Department also issued "Level 4: Do not travel" advisories for Iceland, France, and French Polynesia.

Regarding France, the State Department states:

"Refrain from traveling to France due to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for France, reflecting a very high level of COVID-19 in the country. There are restrictions affecting U.S. citizens' entry into France."

Check out the color-coded map here for additional information from the State Department.