(CNN) — The CDC added one new destination to its Covid-19 “high” risk list on Monday.
Azerbaijan, which borders the Caspian Sea between Iran and Russia, has moved to level 3, or ‘high’ risk.
Level 3 locations now occupy over 125 of approximately 235 locations It is monitored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is more than half of the total list.
This designation applies to locations with more than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 28 days. Levels 2 and 1 are considered “medium” and “low” risk, respectively.
In summary, only one destination was added to Level 3 on August 29th.
• Azerbaijan
Level 4 used to be the highest risk category, but is now reserved only for special circumstances such as very high case numbers, emergence of new variants of concern, or collapse of healthcare infrastructure. . CDC advises against travel to these destinations. In the new system, no destinations have ever been placed on level 4.
The island of Saba in the Caribbean was moved to Level 2 on Monday.
Absolutely!/Adobe Stock
level 2
Destinations designated as ‘Level 2: Moderate Covid-19’ reported between 50 and 100 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 28 days.
CDC designation Two new Level 2 locations on Monday:
• Morocco
•mackerel
Morocco, a country in North Africa, was previously listed in Level 3. The Caribbean island of Saba was previously Level 1.
There are 20 locations listed on Level 2 this week. Places visited by more visitors in this category include India, Kenya, and South Africa.
level 1
To be listed as “Level 1: Covid-19 Low”, a destination must have had no more than 49 new cases per 100,000 residents in the last 28 days.
There are no new locations added to the category on August 29th.
About 20 locations fell into the “low” risk category this week. Some of the more popular destinations in the ‘low’ risk category for global travelers this week included Tanzania and Egypt.
do not know
Finally, there are destinations that the CDC deemed at “unknown” risk due to lack of information. Usually, but not always, these are small, remote places, or places where war or unrest is going on.
No new destinations added this week
CDC recommends avoiding travel to these locations simply because the risks are unknown. Other destinations in this category that typically attract more tourist attention are Hungary and Vietnam.
Nearly 70 locations were listed as “unknown” this week.
Health professionals discuss risk levels
According to CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen, the infection rate is just “one guideline” for calculating a traveler’s personal risk.
Wen, an emergency physician and professor, said we’re “moving into a pandemic phase where people have to make their own decisions based on their medical situation and risk tolerance for contracting Covid-19.” There is.” PhD in Health Policy and Management from the Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University.
According to Wen, there are other factors to consider besides transmission speed.
“The other is the precautions required where you’re going, and the third is what you plan to do once you get there,” she said.
“Are you planning to visit a lot of attractions and go to an indoor bar? There are different levels of risk.”
Weng said vaccination is the most important safety factor for travel.
It’s also important to consider what to do if you test positive while on the go.
Above: Baku city, Azerbaijan (Boris Stroujko/Adobe Stock)
Source: www.cnn.com
