CDC adds Italy to travel warning list

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is adding Italy to its list of countries to which Americans are urged not to travel because of “very high” levels of coronavirus cases.

The CDC on Monday issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Italy, its highest designation, joining countries including the United Kingdom, France, Russia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Americans are urged to avoid travel to the countries altogether, but the CDC said that if people have to go, they should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The health agency also issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Mauritius on Monday because of a “very high” level of coronavirus cases there.

The State Department is urging Americans who travel to Italy to “exercise increased caution” because of terrorism in the country.

“Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Italy. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas,” the State Department said in its travel advisory.

The new recommendation from the CDC comes after Italy reported its first case of the new omicron COVID-19 variant last month. The strain, which was first detected in South Africa, has since been identified in a number of countries worldwide, including the U.S.

The variant has a high number of mutations and may be more transmissible compared to previous strains, according to a recent study. Health experts are still working to determine the variant’s severity and how well existing vaccines protect against the new strain.

Italy in October implemented a “health pass,” which requires that employees have proof of partial vaccination, a recent case of COVID-19 or a negative test from the last 48 hours to go to work.

The CDC announced a Level 4 travel advisory for Jordan, Portugal and a number of other nations last week.