April 22, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose unprecedented risks to travelers. In light of those risks, the Department of State strongly recommends U.S. citizens reconsider all travel abroad. As travelers face ongoing risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State has updated its Travel Advisories this week to better reflect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) science-based Travel Health Notices that outline current issues affecting travelers’ health. Our Advisories also take into account logistical factors, including in-country testing availability and current travel restrictions for U.S. citizens.
This update resulted in a significant increase in the number of countries at Level 4: Do Not Travel, to approximately 80% of countries worldwide. This does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country, but rather reflects an adjustment in the State Department’s Travel Advisory system to rely more on CDC’s existing epidemiological assessments. As always, we are closely monitoring conditions around the globe, and will regularly update our destination-specific advice to U.S. travelers as conditions evolve.
Italy has been at level 2 for terrorism, along with most western European countries, since the Department implemented its new Travel Advisory system in January 2018. Following this recent update to the Department’s travel advisories, approximately 80% of countries worldwide have a Travel Advisory Level of 4: Do Not Travel. This alignment better reflects the current, unpredictable, and ever-evolving threat posed by COVID-19.
