Sri Lanka added to CDC’s ‘very high’ COVID-19 travel risk list

CNN: Sri Lanka and Jamaica in the Caribbean are now among the highest-risk destinations for travellers, according to the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s travel advisories list, which was updated on Tuesday.

Also joining the bulging highest-risk list during a global swell of Delta variant cases is the isolated nation of Brunei on the island of Borneo.

People should avoid travelling to locations designated with the “Level 4: COVID-19 Very High” notice, the CDC recommends. Anyone who must travel should be fully vaccinated first, the agency advises.

The CDC’s evolving list of travel notices ranges from Level 1 (“low”) to Level 4 (“very high”).

Destinations that fall into the “COVID-19 Very High” Level 4 category have had more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days, according to the CDC criteria. The Level 3 category applies to destinations that have had between 100 and 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days. Jamaica’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign has had low numbers so far, with only 19 doses given per 100 people as of Tuesday. It has been in a series of curfews since late August with “no-movement” days in hopes of slowing the virus’ spread.

Sri Lanka has seen a swell in cases recently despite having one of Asia’s stronger vaccination campaigns, with 102 doses administered per 100 people as of Tuesday. By comparison, its much larger neighbour India has only given 49 doses per 100 people.