INTERNATIONAL. France, Israel, Thailand and Iceland are among new destinations added to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list of countries into which international travel is advised against.
The latest travel advisory notices apply regardless of vaccination status.
The US health agency moved seven destinations into its highest travel advisory tier, ‘Level 4: very high level of COVID-19’, on Monday. Rounding out the new territories added are Aruba, Eswatini and French Polynesia.
The newly-added destinations join the likes of Greece, Iran and Ireland, which were allocated Level 4 status by the CDC last week.
Travellers should avoid travel to these seven destinations, but those who must travel should make sure they are fully vaccinated, the CDC advised. Other recommendations include social distancing of six feet apart.
The addition of France to the CDC highest levels of COVID-19 list is another huge blow for European air travel, which has been showing encouraging signs of recovery in recent times.
Yesterday, France announced that it will require people to show a QR code proving they have a special virus pass before they can use restaurants and cafés or travel across the country.
The requirement is part of a government plan to encourage more people to get COVID-19 vaccinations and curb the spread of infections. The highly contagious Delta variant now accounts for most new cases in France.
More than 36 million people in the country (about 54% of the population), are now fully vaccinated following the announcement of the new measures.
The new virus pass is issued to people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have proof of a recent recovery from the virus, or who have a recent negative test. The requirement also applies to tourists visiting the country.
