CDC Says to 'Avoid' 22 Destinations — Including Israel, Caribbean Islands, and Australia

Alison Fox
·2 min read
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised more than 20 destinations around the world to its highest travel advisory level in one of the widest-reaching COVID-19-related travel warnings yet.

The agency warned Americans this week to "avoid" traveling to 22 new countries and territories from Caribbean islands like the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, and Turks and Caicos, to Australia and Israel, designating them as "Level 4" destinations.

Tourists visit the Old City of Jerusalem, as the city reopens to foreign tourists vaccinated against COVID-19, on Nov. 2, 2021.
Tourists visit the Old City of Jerusalem, as the city reopens to foreign tourists vaccinated against COVID-19, on Nov. 2, 2021.

Muammar Awad/Getty Images Tourists visit the Old City of Jerusalem, as the city reopens to foreign tourists vaccinated against COVID-19, on Nov. 2, 2021.

The agency updates its list on a weekly basis and classifies a country or territory as "Level 4" if there are more than 500 COVID-19 cases reported per 100,000 people over the last 28 days. In total, the CDC now classifies more than 100 destinations throughout the world as "Level 4," a stark illustration of the widespread transmission of the coronavirus.

"Avoid travel to these destinations," the agency wrote. "If you must travel to these destinations, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel."

Many countries on the list continue to welcome American tourists, like Israel, for example, which recently started allowing all international visitors to enter after temporarily closing its borders in late November. But others, like Australia, have maintained strict border protocols, continuing to bar travel from much of the world.

The additions to the list join several other recent inclusions like Canada, Aruba, and popular vacation spots throughout Europe like Spain, Italy, and France.

Anyone who chooses to travel outside the United States and intends to return must get tested within one day of boarding a flight to the U.S.

These are the destinations the CDC has designated this week under its highest travel warning:

  1. Albania

  2. Argentina

  3. Australia

  4. Bahrain

  5. Bermuda

  6. Bolivia

  7. Cape Verde

  8. Egypt

  9. Grenada

  10. Guyana

  11. Israel

  12. Panama

  13. Qatar

  14. Saint Kitts and Nevis

  15. Saint Lucia

  16. São Tomé and Príncipe

  17. Sint Maarten

  18. Suriname

  19. The Bahamas

  20. British Virgin Islands

  21. Turks and Caicos

  22. Uruguay

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.