Photo: Getty Images
Seven destinations have been added to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's list of areas with the highest risk category for travel.
CNN reports the CDC classified the following destinations as carrying the "Level 4: COVID-19 very high" notice on Monday (August 9):
- Aruba
- Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
- France
- French Polynesia
- Iceland
- Israel
- Thailand
The CDC also reiterated its recommendation for all individuals to be fully vaccinated before traveling internationally.
"Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread Covid-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some Covid-19 variants," the agency said via CNN.
The CDC's list of destinations considered to be a "very high" risk includes areas with more than 500 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents within the past 28 days, according to the agency's guidelines.
France has implemented COVID-19 health passes, which require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter establishments such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, transport hubs and long-distance public transportation, effective as of Monday.
The CDC's evolving list of travel notices ranges from Level 1 ('low') to Level 4 ('very high').
Last week, the CDC added 16 other destinations to its 'very high' list including:
- Andorra
- Curacao
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Iran
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Kazakhstan
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Malta
- Martinique
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Martin
- US Virgin Islands
Level 4 also includes the following travel destinations added before August 3:
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Maldives
- The Netherlands
- Panama
- Portugal
- Seychelles
- Spain
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
The agency currently lists Bermuda, Dominica, Hungary and Poland as "Level 1: COVID-19 low" destinations, according to its website.
The CDC's full risk level list can be accessed here.