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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has eased travel recommendations for more than 110 countries and territories, including Japan just ahead of the Olympics.
The CDC’s new ratings were first reported by Reuters and posted on a CDC website on Monday, include 61 nations that were lowered from its highest “Level 4” rating that discouraged all travel to recommending travel for fully vaccinated individuals, the agency confirmed on Tuesday.
Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.
Another 50 countries and territories have been lowered to “Level 2” or “Level 1,” a CDC spokeswoman said. Countries ranked lowest for COVID-19 risks now include Singapore, Israel, South Korea, Iceland, Belize and Albania.
Among those now listed at “Level 3,” are France, Ecuador, Philippines, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Honduras, Hungary, and Italy.
A US State Department official said it was in the process of revising its travel advisory to reflect the CDC changes.
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As of early Tuesday, the State Department had lowered its ratings on more than 90 countries and territories, including for Japan.
On May 24, the State Department had urged against travel to Japan, citing a new wave of coronavirus cases before the Tokyo Olympics are set to begin July 23.
The State Department warning raised concerns and prompted the White House to reaffirm its support for Tokyo’s plan to hold the Games this summer and for US athletes competing there despite a new wave of infections and low vaccination rate in the host country.
Foreign spectators have been banned, and organizers are expected to make a decision late this month on domestic spectators.
The CDC said the change comes after it revised its criteria for travel health notices. The CDC said it has also revised its rating for the United States to “Level 3” from “Level 4.”
The agency said the new criteria for a Level 4 “avoid all travel” recommendation has changed from 100 COVID-19 cases per
100,000 to 500 cases per 100,000.
The agency added that many countries have lower ratings “because of the criteria changes or because their outbreaks are
better controlled.” The CDC said it expects more countries to get lower, more favorable travel ratings.
Other countries being lowered to “Level 3” include Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Panama, Poland, Denmark and Malaysia.
Read more:
Pfizer to test COVID-19 vaccine in larger group of children under age 12
CDC bolsters surveillance of highly contagious Indian COVID-19 variant
Top Japanese virologist warns of risks of Olympic Games during COVID-19 pandemic
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