U.S. adds Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and more to the "Do Not Travel" list as global COVID-19 cases increase

As COVID-19 cases surge worldwide, both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State Department have added several countries to their "Do Not Travel" lists. The CDC website has updated its travel advisory, placing multiple destinations on its "Level 4: COVID-19 Very High" warning list. The CDC advises all travelers, even those who are vaccinated, to steer clear of places marked as Level 4.

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The countries and territories recently added to the CDC's Level 4 list include:

• Anguilla
• Brazil
• Chile
• Ecuador
• French Guiana
• Kosovo
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Paraguay
• Saint Vincent
• The Grenadines
• Singapore
• The Philippines

Many of these countries, particularly Mexico, are favored destinations for Americans. However, high COVID-19 levels are not the sole reason U.S. authorities are cautioning against travel there. The State Department also placed Mexico in its "Level 4: Do Not Travel" category.

The fatal shooting of two Canadian tourists in January at a luxury resort in Playa Del Carmen prompted the U.S. Consulate General Merida to issue a strong warning regarding the dangers for tourists in Mexico. "In light of recent security incidents and criminal activity in popular tourist spots like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, U.S. citizens are advised to exercise heightened caution when visiting the state of Quintana Roo," the statement noted. "Criminal activity and violence may happen throughout the state, including in areas frequented by U.S. travelers."

The State Department has also revised its travel advisory list, adding 12 destinations to the "Level 4: Do Not Travel" category and reclassifying 12 others to "Level 3: Reconsider Travel."

The countries included in Level 4 are:

• Anguilla
• Belarus
• Brazil
• Ecuador
• Kosovo
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Singapore

The revised Level 3 list now includes destinations such as Bhutan, Brunei, Chile, Comoros, French Polynesia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Liberia, Nepal, Oman, and The Gambia. It's important to note that while the State Department maintains its own travel advisories and considers factors beyond just COVID-19, its warnings often align with those from the CDC.

This week's updates reflect a trend where the CDC and State Department have been revising their travel advisories and advising against travel to countries and territories like Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Kuwait, Mongolia, Niger, Peru, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Featured Image: Jasmin Merdan/Getty Images