CDC Elevates Germany & Denmark To `Do Not Travel' Level 4 Warning As COVID Surges In Europe

 

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Two weeks ago, with COVID cases continuing to surge across much of Europe, we saw The Netherlands and Luxembourg moved from high risk (Level 3) to very high (Level 4) on the CDC's COVID travel warning page.  

Last week Hungary, Iceland, and the Czech Republic were added to that list, and yesterday - with COVID cases still climbing (see chart below) - the CDC added Germany and Denmark to their `Do Not Travel' recommendation. 

Two months ago, with Denmark, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands all reporting fewer cases (per capita) than the United States, the U.S. announced plans to relax travel restrictions from Europe in early November, although COVID vaccination and a negative COVID test would still be required. 

Those new rules went into effect two weeks ago (see AP report As rules ease, travelers head to US for emotional reunions), but by then the COVID picture in Europe had changed radically.  Now many European nations are seeing rates 3 or 4 times higher than here in the United States. 

Over the past 60 days 20 European nations have been raised to a Level 4 travel warning, illustrating how widespread their outbreak has become. 

With many of the world's nations ranked as either high or very high COVID risk destinations (see map below) - and status changes happening every week - it is highly recommended that you visit the CDC's Traveler's Health Website , and continually monitor conditions at your intended destination, before departure. 

While the United States is currently seeing fewer case than many parts of Europe, pandemic waves continues to roll around the globe, and its anyone's guess where the next hot spot will emerge.