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More countries added to CDC's highest travel advisory

Aug. 03, 2021
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3 min read
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More countries added to CDC's highest travel advisory
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Aug. 2 issued newly updated travel advice for more than a dozen countries.

Several destinations popular with American travelers, including Greece, Ireland, Curaçao and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have been added to the CDC's highest designation: Level 4: COVID-19 Very High. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, all have seen an increase in positive COVID-19 cases. The popular Greek island of Mykonos in mid-July banned music across all food and drink outlets in response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases on the island. Ireland on July 19 began allowing vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, including Americans, to visit.

The CDC recommends avoiding travel to countries at Level 4, the highest threat level. Countries in that category have had more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 28 days. Level 4 countries include nations such as Argentina, Cuba and Brazil.

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The CDC’s threat levels are determined by the number of COVID-19 cases in a given country. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated before visiting any country at any level, but its guidance for unvaccinated travelers varies by how severe the pandemic is in each particular nation.

Several destinations, including French Polynesia, Finland and Puerto Rico, were added to the Level 3 designation. The CDC recommends being fully vaccinated before traveling to these destinations and says that unvaccinated travelers "should avoid nonessential travel."

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Notably, several countries, such as Iceland and Mauritius, were moved from the lowest Level 1 designation to Level 3.

Level 1 countries like Australia and New Zealand are considered the lowest-risk destinations because they have reported less than 50 COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days. The CDC still recommends getting vaccinated before traveling to any location at Level 1. Other countries currently at the Level 1 destination include Ghana, Singapore and Turks & Caicos.

The U.S. State Department has its own travel advisory risk system, ranging from Level 1 to Level 4. You can see this information in list format or on a color-coded map. However, travel guidance from the State Department isn’t always 100% in sync with the CDC, as it considers other factors aside from health-related risks.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • 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 $6,000 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.
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  • 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.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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