The U.S. Department of State (DOS) is reexamining how COVID-19 concerns factor into how it determines Travel Advisory (TA) levels it issues for U.S. citizens traveling abroad, the DOS announced recently.
The DOS announced April 14 that its TA levels will no longer parallel the levels set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Travel Health Notices (THN). The DOS cites an increase in international travel, successful COVID-19 reduction efforts and the CDC's changes to its THN process for the decision.
"Although conditions have recently improved, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over," the DOS states in the announcement. "We continue to advise travelers to consider COVID-19 conditions and restrictions at their destinations when considering international travel."
U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide provide the latest information on COVID-19 specific to their host countries on their websites, according to the DOS. The State Department posts its TAs for any country on its website.
Should the CDC raise its THN to a Level 4 for any country, the DOS will also raise its Travel Advisory for that country to a Level 4: Do Not Travel Due to COVID-19, the statement reports. The DOS states that with the COVID-19 considerations updated, approximately 10 percent of its Level 4: Do Not Travel advisories will remain in place. The Level 4 assessments include all risk factors, not just COVID-19, according to the DOS.
"The Department of State has no greater responsibility than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," DOS states in the announcement. "We are committed to providing U.S. citizens with up-to-date and timely information, so they are informed as they make international travel plans and when they are abroad."
