US puts popular Caribbean island getaway in highest-risk category

Dhaka: The year 2022 for the United States starts with a new update of travel advisories as the country’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added another destination, a popular Caribbean winter getaway, to its highest-risk category.

CDC now advises travellers to avoid Aruba, a Dutch island just off the coast of South America, as it now resides at Level 4 with a "very high level" of Covid-19 risk. CDC places a destination at Level Four when over 500 cases per 100,000 residents are registered in the past 28 days.

This is a slowdown from the pace of additions in the past two weeks. One week ago, Sweden and two other European nations were added to Level Four. And two weeks ago, Spain and seven other destinations around the world were placed at Level 4.

Some of its biggest travel names remain lodged at CDC's Level Four for now: France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

However, Europe is not the only continent with popular tourist destinations on Level Four. Among the other places also considered at "very high" risk for travel by CDC are: Belize, Jordan, Maldives, South Africa, and Turkey.

As of January 4, over 80 destinations are rated Level Four.