Photo: Courtesy of olegbreslavtsev 

Many Caribbean Countries Now Rank "Low" on CDC's COVID-19 Travel Risk Advisory 

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently moved the Caribbean countries of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Barthélemy, and Turks and Caicos to the lowest risk COVID-19 travel advisory, Level 1 (cnn.com). Caribbean destinations already in the lowest risk category include Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Eustatius, and the Cayman Islands (cnn.com). 

The CDC has four COVID-19 threat levels. The CDC advises getting vaccinated at each level, but its guidance varies by how severe the pandemic is in each country (cnn.com).  

CDC's Four-Level System  

Level 4: Very high level of COVID-19 

• Avoid travel to this destination. 

Level 3: High level of COVID-19 

• Make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel. 
• Unvaccinated travelers should avoid nonessential travel to this destination. 

Level 2: Moderate level of COVID-19 

• Make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel. 

• Unvaccinated travelers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should avoid nonessential travel to this destination. If you must travel and have concerns, talk to your doctor. 

Level 1: Low level of COVID-19 

• Make sure you are fully vaccinated before traveling to this destination. 

According to the CDC, in determining a country's risk level, the primary criteria are:  

Destinations with Populations over 100,000  

1. Incidence rate (cumulative new cases over the past 28 days per 100,000 population) 
   1. Level 4: more than 500 cases  
   2. Level 3: 100 to 500 cases  
   3. Level 2: 50 to 99 cases 
   4. Level 1: less than 50 cases  
2. New case trajectory (Have daily new cases increased, decreased, or remained stable over the past 28 days?) 

Destinations with Populations of 100,000 or Fewer 

1. COVID-19 case counts (cumulative new cases over past 28 days) 
   1. Level 4: more than 500 cases  
   2. Level 3: 100 to 500 cases 
   3. Level 2: 50 to 99 cases 
   4. Level 1: less than 50 cases  
2. New case trajectory (Have daily new cases increased, decreased, or remained stable over the past 28 days?) 

As a tourism-dependent region, Caribbean countries continue to make strides in keeping their COVID-19 numbers down and their nations as safe as possible for visitors and residents.  

Sources: 

cdc.gov 

cnn.com 

travelweekly.com