To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit. 

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to change and develop there are some updates you may want to be aware of ahead of your upcoming vacations.

We’ve shared updates about Omicron, the BA.2 variant, the BA.2.12.1 variant, the BA.5 variant, and more. But now we have an update about certain travel destinations that are in a “high” risk COVID-19 category.

Back in May of 2022, we shared that certain travel destinations had been added to the “high” risk COVID-19 category by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). Now, more locations have joined the list.

CNN reports that 6 new destinations now fall under the CDC’s “high” risk category for travel. The 6 destinations added are as follows:

• El Salvador
• Honduras
• Bangladesh
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Poland
• Fiji

This “high” risk category (or Level 3, as it is sometimes referred to) applies to places that have had more than 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.

There are lower categories — Level 2 is “moderate” risk, while Level 1 is for countries at “low” risk. As of July 25th, there were more than 120 places in the “high” risk (Level 3) category. About half of the 235 places monitored by the CDC now fall into the “high” category.

There is one level above the “high” category — Level 4. That is now reserved for special circumstances like extremely high COVID-19 case counts, a new variant, or other special situations. No places are currently in the Level 4 category.

Wondering what other countries are within the Level 3 or “high” COVID-19 risk category? Here’s a look at some of the places in Europe in Level 3 as of July 25th:

• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Spain
• United Kingdom

Other countries are also still at Level 3, including:

• Brazil
• Canada
• Costa Rica
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Turkey

If you’ll be traveling to a Level 3 country, the CDC recommends that you be “up to date” with your COVID-19 vaccines. Being “up to date” with your vaccines means receiving all of the doses in the primary series and any boosters recommended for you.

New spots have been added to the Level 2 or “moderate” category as well. This category covers locations where there are 50 to 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 28 days. The new spots added to Level 2 are as follows:

• Equatorial Guinea
• India
• Moldova
• Philippines
• Togo

All 5 locations were previously at Level 1 but have now gone to Level 2.

Two new spots also got added to Level 1 or “low” recently. These destinations have to have 49 or fewer new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 28 days. The places newly added to Level 1 are Angola and Comoros. 

CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen has noted that there are a number of factors to consider when traveling, in addition to COVID-19 transmission rates. According to Dr. Wen, we’re at a part of the COVID-19 pandemic where “people need to make their own decisions based on their medical circumstances as well as their risk tolerance.”

Dr. Wen notes that other factors to consider when traveling are: what precautions are being followed in the places you’re going to, and what you’ll be doing once you arrive. Dr. Wen points out that there are different levels of risk between someone going to lay out on the beach alone, and those planning to visit lots of indoor attractions.

Dr. Wen also noted that vaccination is “the most significant safety factor” because unvaccinated travelers are more likely to get sick and transmit COVID-19 to others.

Dr. Wen also points out that travelers should think about what would happen and what they would do if they test positive for COVID-19 while on vacation and away from home.

We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more COVID-19 updates and share those with you.

In the meantime, click here to see what major cruise line has removed their COVID-19 testing requirements, or click here to see everything you need to know about COVID-19 testing requirements for Disney Cruise Line. Stay tuned for more news.

Click here to see our page full of updates about COVID-19