Jamaica among latest destinations to receive travel warning from CDC
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's list of "avoid travel" warnings continues to grow, as the agency tells Americans to avoid travel to Jamaica as of Sept. 7 due to increasing case levels of COVID-19.
The CDC also issued Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19 warnings for Sri Lanka and Brunei on Tuesday.
"Avoid travel to Jamaica," the CDC said. "Because of the current situation in Jamaica, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants."
The tropical destination popular with American tourists saw huge spikes in COVID-19 case numbers in early March before dipping down throughout most of the summer and then increasing again in August, reporting more than 16,000 new cases. August saw nearly a quarter of Jamaica's overall COVID-19 cases since Jan. 3, 2020, according to data from the World Health Organization.
The 20-29-year-old age group among its nearly 3 million residents is responsible for the majority of cases, followed by those aged 30-39, per the Jamaican Ministry of Health.
On Sept.1, Prime Minister Andrew Holness extended a countrywide lockdown, instituting "no-movement days" through Sept. 14, requiring workplaces and businesses to close midday, extending a curfew and requiring most residents to stay home, excluding essential travel.
The U.S. Department of State also issued Level 4: Do Not Travel warnings for the three destinations, noting "increased risk for crime" in certain areas of Jamaica, including Kingson and Montego Bay.
Since reopening to tourists on June 15, 2020, Jamaica has continued to allow visitors who possess a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of arrival as well as a completed online travel authorization form. Per the country's Controlled Entry Programme, tourists are currently restricted to "resilient corridors" during their stay, including lodging accommodations, restaurants and other licensed tourist attractions approved by the Jamaica Tourist Board.
"All travel to and from the attraction must be on transportation licensed under the Tourist Board Act," says Visit Jamaica.
As of Sept. 8, Jamaica has fully vaccinated nearly 30% of its population. Until Sept. 17, all non-Jamaican citizens who have been in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, India or Trinidad and Tobago within 14 days of their intended date of entry are prohibited from travel to Jamaica.
Read more: Updated: A country-by-country guide to Caribbean reopenings
The State Department also has a crime warning due to terrorism for Sri Lanka, which reported almost 42,000 cases the week ending Aug. 23, per the WHO. Nearly 30% of people have been vaccinated.
Despite relatively low COVID-19 cases overall, the agencies warned against travel to Brunei, which has recorded fewer than 3,500 total cases and just 13 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Related: CDC issues 7 new travel warnings, including Switzerland
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.