(CNN) — The US Centers for Sickness Handle and Avoidance extra even far more places on Monday to its at any time-developing list of destinations regarded as to be a “pretty higher” travel chance for Covid-19.

Joining the Level 4 ranks this week are two island nations on opposite sides of the globe: Japan in Asia and Cuba, the largest and most populous island in the Caribbean.

The other new Stage 4 nations are also scattered close to various components of the world.

Armenia is in the mountainous Caucasus region on the significantly reaches of eastern Europe. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the heart of Central Africa when Libya is on the Mediterranean coast of northern Africa. Oman is on the Arabian Peninsula, though Israel is on the Mediterranean shores in the Middle East.

The CDC destinations a spot at Degree 4 when additional than 500 conditions per 100,000 people are registered in the previous 28 days. The CDC advises travelers to prevent journey to Level 4 international locations.

To recap, this week’s additions to Amount 4 are:

• Armenia
• Cuba
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Israel
• Japan
• Libya
• Oman

Last week, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was at “moderate” Stage 2. Armenia, Cuba, Japan, Libya and Oman had been at Amount 3, in the “significant” threat category.

Other major locations at Amount 4

Other vacationer favorites parked on Degree 4 even longer include Australia, Canada, France, Peru, Singapore and Spain. The United Kingdom has been there given that July 2021.

Ray of hope at Level 3

The Degree 3 classification — which applies to locations that have had amongst 100 and 500 circumstances for each 100,000 citizens in the past 28 times — noticed 3 additions on Monday. They had been:

• Bangladesh
• Montserrat
• South Africa

South Africa, the place the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was first documented, dropped from Level 4, supplying a ray of hope for the coming months and months that other locations will comply with match.

Having said that, the go to Level 3 meant worsening conditions in populous Bangladesh in South Asia and Montserrat, a smaller British island in the Caribbean. The two had been at Stage 2.

Stages 2, 1 and unidentified

Places carrying the “Degree 2: Covid-19 Reasonable” designation have seen 50 to 99 Covid-19 scenarios for every 100,000 citizens in the earlier 28 times. This stage observed only just one addition on Monday: Pakistan. It earlier had been at Stage 1.

Now, there are just 5 locations at Degree 2, such as New Zealand, which has some of the world’s tightest journey restrictions.

To be in “Amount 1: Covid-19 Minimal,” a desired destination have to have less than 50 new situations for each 100,000 residents around the earlier 28 days.

No locations were being moved to Degree 1 on Monday. There are presently only 7 places in the classification. That consists of China, which is internet hosting the Wintertime Olympic Online games.

At last, there are places for which the CDC has an “mysterious” threat simply because of a absence of information and facts. Generally, but not normally, these are small, remote locations or places with ongoing warfare or unrest. There had been no additions this 7 days.

Tanzania, Cambodia and the Canary Islands are amongst the far more-visited areas at present detailed in the not known class. The CDC advises towards vacation to these spots precisely due to the fact the hazards are unfamiliar.

Cruising

On December 30, the CDC elevated the hazard for cruise ship vacation to Level 4 and reported it ought to be avoided, no matter of vaccination standing. It remained at Level 4 in the most recent update.

Concerns for journey

Transmission costs are vital to look at when generating vacation selections, but there are other components to weigh as effectively, in accordance Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN healthcare analyst, emergency doctor and professor of health policy and administration at the George Washington College Milken Institute Faculty of Public Health and fitness.

“The transmission prices are a person guidepost,” Wen reported. “An additional is what safety measures are needed and adopted in the position that you happen to be going and then the third is what are you setting up to do the moment you’re there.

“Are you scheduling to stop by a great deal of attractions and go to indoor bars? That’s very different from you are going somewhere the place you’re organizing to lie on the seaside all day and not interact with anyone else. That’s really distinct. Individuals are extremely diverse stages of risk.”

Vaccination is the most important safety factor for travel considering that unvaccinated vacationers are additional very likely to turn into unwell and transmit Covid-19 to other people, Wen stated.

She claimed people need to be wearing a significant-high quality mask — N95, KN95 or KF94 — whenever they are in crowded indoor settings with folks of unknown vaccination position.

Right before you vacation, it can be also crucial to take into account what you would do if you stop up tests good away from house, Wen reported. In which will you continue to be and how straightforward will it be to get a exam to return residence?

Best graphic: Individuals move upcoming to Hokan-ji Temple (also identified as Yasaka Pagoda) in Kyoto, Japan, on Oct 14, 2021. (Image by Carl Courtroom/Getty Pictures)