Covid-19: Greece Still in CDC’s ‘Very High’ Travel Risk Category

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is warning Americans to avoid travel to some 75 countries, including Greece, after adding on Monday, Germany and Denmark to its “Level Four: Very High” Covid-19 risk advisory.

The US State Department also issued a “Do Not Travel” recommendation for the two countries, which are currently facing a fourth wave of Covid-19 and increasing infection rates.

Greece is among several European countries already on the red Level 4: Covid-19 “Very High” list together with Austria, Bulgaria, Britain, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Europe is in the midst of a strong winter wave of the deadly virus forcing authorities in Germany to cancel several traditional Christmas markets across the country, among others. Officials in Denmark are examining the possibility of introducing new restrictions. Both countries were previously listed in the Level 3 category by the CDC, which updates its list weekly.

The Covid-19 travel map of CDC. Source: cdc.gov

Meanwhile in Greece, where coronavirus cases have surged in the last month, new Covid-19 restrictions banning access to unvaccinated residents to restaurants, cafes, bars, cinemas, theaters, museums or gyms, and events went into effect on Monday.

Earlier this month, Austrian authorities placed approximately two million unvaccinated residents in lockdown allowing them to leave home only for work- or health-related reasons or shopping.

The CDC lists countries reporting more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days in the “Covid-19 Very High” Level 4 category, which advises against travel to listed locations. 

According to the CDC advisory, countries currently with the lowest Covid risk include China, India, Japan, Morocco, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and several countries in Africa.