UPDATE: Using new ranking system, CDC removes every country from 'do not travel' list
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed every country in the world from its "do not travel" recommendation as it applied updated parameters Monday to its multi-tiered Travel Health Notices system.
The change, which the CDC said last week would take effect Monday, was intended to significantly reduce the number of countries listed under the highest level of its alert system. Before Monday, the agency listed countries at "Level 4" with a recommendation to avoid travel when they hit certain COVID-19 metrics.
With virtually half the world, including most of Europe, listed at Level 4, though, the CDC has now shifted to reserving that highest alert level for only the most severe situations or "special circumstances."
No countries met that criteria Monday, but Level 3 ("high" levels of COVID-19) had far more countries listed than any other level, including all of North America and nearly every country in Europe.
This marks just the latest change in how the CDC communicates concerns about the virus when it comes to international travel. These changes are not likely to have any substantive impact on your existing travel plans, but understanding the CDC's system could help you get a better sense of the COVID-19 situation in another country as you prepare to travel.
How the system works
The CDC's travel health alert system has evolved over the course of the pandemic, particularly as international travel became more of an option.
While the CDC has typically used a three-level alert system for health advisories dating back to before the pandemic, the agency went to four levels in November 2020 as a way to align more closely with the alert systems used by public health organizations.
Related: The difference between CDC and State Department travel warnings
The agency monitors numerous factors in determining how to rank a country on its alert system, but the No. 1 factor is the number of cases per 100,000 people in the last 28 days. Before Monday, countries' metrics could land them on one of four Travel Health Notice levels, including Level 1: Low; Level 2: Moderate; Level 3: High; and Level 4: Very High.
Relying on data from the World Health Organization, the CDC updates its advisories each Monday.
Starting this week, though, the agency is, by and large, funneling countries into Levels 1, 2 or 3, with Level 4 now denoted "Do Not Travel/Special Circumstances."
In announcing the pending changes last week, the CDC said it would reserve those circumstances that could include "rapidly escalating case trajectory or extremely high case counts, emergence of a new variant of concern, or healthcare infrastructure collapse."
Why this change? The CDC says the goal is "to help the public understand when the highest level of concern is most urgent."
To give you a sense of how the new methodology changed the warnings, take a look at what the CDC's alert map looked like prior to Monday. Countries in red fell under the previous Level 4 which, as you can see, meant the agency was urging people not to travel to virtually anywhere in Europe, among other places like Australia and Iceland. This, despite international travel continuing to open up further. Again, the map below is now outdated.
Related: CDC completely drops its warning for cruises
Now, take a look (below) at the CDC's new map as of Monday. You can see that while much of the world (including the U.S.) is highlighted in orange, indicating "high" levels of COVID-19, no countries are in red under the new system.
Related: A country-by-country guide to coronavirus reopenings
Bottom line
These changes come just as the new White House COVID-19 response coordinator has said that when it comes to evaluating the COVID-19 situation as a whole, above cases, hospitalizations will be the most important metric to track.
With the CDC's newest changes, you know that if, in the future, you see a country listed at Level 4 on its Travel Health Notices, that country is truly dealing with a precarious COVID-19 situation.
The CDC's new alerts come out each Monday, so TPG will continue to monitor how countries fluctuate each week.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.