Travellers in the US have been urged not to travel to several destinations after the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention updated its list of countries and territories with a "very high" Covid-19 risk.
The CDC added 16 destinations to the highest risk category on Monday. Among the places added to the Level 4 category are popular holiday destinations Malta, Greece, Ireland and the US Virgin Islands.
These destinations join several other nations already listed as Level 4, including the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UK.
Guidance from the CDC recommends that travel to these destinations should be avoided. Anyone who must travel to any destinations in the Level 4 category should only go if they are fully vaccinated. As a whole, the CDC advises US citizens and residents not to travel internationally unless they have received both doses of a Covid-19 jab.
To be ranked as a Level 4 risk category, countries must have registered more than 500 cases of the coronavirus per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.
Countries added to CDC's Level 4 category
- Andorra
- Curacao
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Iran
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Kazakhstan
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Malta
- Martinique
- St Barts
- Saint Martin
- US Virgin Islands
There are now a total of 70 destinations included in the CDC's Level 4 category.
Three other categories exist: Level 3 includes countries with a high risk of Covid-19; Level 2 for destinations with a moderate risk of Covid-19; and Level 1, where the risk of Covid-19 is deemed low.
Travellers are advised to check the latest guidelines for any destination before booking travel and before travelling, as the situation is evolving.
Several other destinations are listed by the CDC as Level Unknown. This includes Lebanon, Syria, Monaco and the Canary Islands. It also includes several other island destinations that made it on to the UK's original Green List for travel and which have remained open for UK travellers, such as South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Saint Helena.
Travel guidance from the CDC states that vaccinated people can now "travel at low risk to themselves within the US". It urges travellers to pay close attention to the Covid-19 situation at their destination before travelling.
What is the CDC’s latest guidance on masks?
US authorities also reminded travellers that wearing a face mask on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation was required, including at airports and train stations.
The CDC has recently come under fire for changing its stance on mask-wearing for those who are vaccinated against Covid-19.
In May, authorities said it was safe for people to go maskless while in indoor public spaces, if they were fully vaccinated. Last week, the advice changed with all people, vaccinated and unvaccinated, now advised to wear masks in places deemed to have substantial or high transmission of the virus.
This is in a bid to try to slow the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, said the CDC.
Masks should also be worn at schools and universities, with both teachers and students required to wear face masks even if they are fully vaccinated.
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Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Green ambitions
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- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
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