Two top European destinations move into the CDC’s highest-risk category

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Germany and Denmark were added to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of “very high” risk travel destinations on Monday as a winter COVID-19 surge sweeps much of Europe.

Germany is battling a fourth wave and reported a record single-day surge in cases last week.


Some of the charming Christmas markets that typically draw crowds in Germany this time of year have already been canceled, including the popular Christmas market in Munich.

After lifting domestic COVID restrictions in September, Denmark is once again fighting a spike in COVID-19 cases and is weighing renewed restrictions. In Copenhagen, the famed Tivoli Gardens opened its Christmas season on Friday.

Destinations that fall into the CDC’s “COVID-19 Very High” Level 4 category have had more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.

People should avoid traveling to locations designated with a “Level 4” notice, the CDC recommends. Anyone who must travel should be fully vaccinated first, the agency advises.


To recap, these two destinations moved to Level 4 on November 22:
• Denmark
• Germany


Previously, the two destinations had been listed in the Level 3 category of “COVID-19 High” risk. By moving to Level 4, they join the ranks of other travel favorites in Europe and elsewhere.

They include:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Costa Rica
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Singapore
• Turkey


In all, about 75 destinations are currently at Level 4. The United Kingdom and British Virgin Islands have been lodged at Level 4 since July 19.



New entries on Level 3
The Level 3 category which applies to destinations that have had between 100 and 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days had five updates this week, with a big showing in the Caribbean.

These five destinations moved to Level 3 on November 22:
• Aruba
• Curaçao
• Guadeloupe
• Israel
• US Virgin Islands

The move was actually good news for all five destinations, which had been at Level 4.

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