U.S. State Department Drops “Do Not Travel” Advisory
The State Department drops its “Do Not Travel” advisory on global travel. But there aren’t many places for Americans to go.
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The U.S. State Department ended its worldwide Level 4 travel advisory on Thursday. A Level 4 advisory means “Do Not Travel.” Or maybe we should put “DO NOT TRAVEL” in all caps, because it’s the most serious guidance the State Department issues to travelers.
Country-Specific Advice Instead
The Level 4 advisory was unprecedented and indicates travelers face a greater likelihood of death. But as many countries have gotten their Covid-19 situations under control, the worldwide caution was starting to feel a bit extreme.
Some countries are safer than others, whether we’re talking crime or coronavirus. So the State Department, in cooperation with the CDC, has instead released brand-new country-specific advisories. These are based on a combination of factors, not just Covid-19.
Level 4 Countries
As of August 6th, the State Department’s travel advisories include 55 countries at Level 4. That includes Belize, one of my favorite places. They have just a few Covid-19 cases at the moment and plan to re-open for tourism on August 15th. The State Department warns people to avoid Belize primarily due to crime.
Some other Level 4 countries popular with American travelers include Mexico, Panama, and The Bahamas. But I was looking at some of the advisories, and it seems that a lot of previously Level 1 countries are now at Level 3. And plenty of former Level 2 countries moved to Level 4. Hmm! It almost looks like the State Department added two levels to their usual rankings. I’ll give them the benefit of a doubt and assume the pros at State were more in-depth than that.
Not Many Countries Want Us
Of course, the United States has its own Covid-19 issues, and Americans are only permitted to visit a small list of countries (relatively) easily. And about one quarter of them have been listed at Level 4. So there’s that.
Final Thoughts
The State Department’s travel advisory system was not made for a global warning. It puts the entire world at the same level of danger, whether it’s Canada or Somalia. That was clearly not the case, so this is a common sense update.
It’s also worth noting that the State Department’s advisories do not compare other countries to the United States. Nor is the department authorized to offer guidance on the U.S. and its territories. Imagine the advisory for the U.S. right now! No, I don’t want to see it either… sigh.
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Photos: Shutterstock