(CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added two destinations to its “high” category for Covid-19 risk — including a Caribbean nation popular for its beaches.
The Dominican Republic and Kuwait, a Middle Eastern country known for its cultural offerings, are both now listed as “Level 3: Covid-19 High.”
Level 3, or “high,” is now the top rung in terms of risk level and applies to places that have had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days. Level 2 and Level 1 are considered “moderate” and “low” risk, respectively.
Level 4, previously the highest risk category, is now reserved only for special circumstances, such as extremely high case counts, emergence of a new variant of concern or health care infrastructure collapse. Under the new system, no destinations have been placed at Level 4 so far.
In a weekly update with little movement overall, Monday’s move to Level 3 is a big jump up for Kuwait, which had been at Level 1. The Dominican Republic moved up from Level 2.
There were almost 115 destinations at Level 3 on June 27. Level 3 locations account for almost half of the roughly 235 places monitored by the CDC.
More on Level 3
Much of Europe has been stubbornly lodged at Level 3 for months with the summer travel season in full swing. As of June 27, the following popular European destinations were among those remaining at Level 3:
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Spain
• United Kingdom
Sightseeing ships give magnificent views of Istanbul. Turkey is at the CDC’s Level 3.
Nikolay N. Antonov/Adobe Stock
Those aren’t the only high-profile spots that find themselves at Level 3. Numerous other destinations around the world are among those in the “high” risk category, including the following:
• Brazil
• Canada
• Costa Rica
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Turkey
Level 2
A late afternoon view of Journalists’ Park in Bogota, Colombia. The South American nation is now at Level 2.
Danaan Andrew-Pacleb/Adobe Stock
Destinations carrying the “Level 2: Covid-19 Moderate” designation reported 50 to 100 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days. The CDC moved four places to this level on Monday:
• Colombia
• Iraq
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
The move was not good news for Colombia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which had been at Level 1.
There are a total of 21 places in the “moderate” risk category this week.
Level 1
The Taj Mahal is India’s most iconic structure. India is currently at Level 1.
Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
To be listed as “Level 1: Covid-19 Low,” a destination must have had 49 or fewer new cases per 100,000 residents over the past 28 days. No new destinations were added to the category on June 27.
A few of the more popular places in the “low” risk category this week include Indonesia, India and the Philippines.
Unknown
Finally, there are the destinations the CDC has deemed to be of “unknown” risk because of a lack of information. Usually, but not always, these are small, remote places or places with ongoing warfare or unrest.
This week, only rarely visited Djibouti in the Horn of Africa was added to this category.
The CDC advises against travel to these places precisely because the risks are unknown. Other destinations in this category that typically draw more tourist attention include…
Read More: CDC adds 2 destinations to ‘high’ risk list for Covid-19