The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state department moved Germany and Denmark to the list of “very high” risk travel destinations on Monday.
Germany is currently dealing with another surge. Last week, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the “dramatic” situation was because of a fourth wave “hitting our country with full force”. The country recorded its highest single-day surge last week. Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s disease, and control agency recorded 65,371 new cases from 12,545 infections in just 24 hours.
Many of the newest cases in Germany are elderly individuals who received their first two shots early in 2021.
RKI chief Lothar Wieler said that the infections are likely underreported. It could even be “twice or three times as many”. Germany canceled the Christmas markets that are usually crowded this time of the year.
Aside from Germany, Denmark is also dealing with a spike in COVID19 cases. Denmark reportedly lifted domestic COVID19 restrictions in September. The famous Tivoli Gardens opened on Friday in Copenhagen.
Surge in Germany and Other European Countries
What does the “Level 4: Very High” category mean? CDC’s “COVID19 Very High” Level 4 category for Denmark and Germany means that there were more than 500 COVID19 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 28 days.
It only means that Americans should avoid traveling there. And if you need to travel to these countries, the agency advises that travelers to complete their COVID19 vaccine doses first.
There are around 75 countries worldwide placed at “Level Four: Very High” category. Many of which are European countries including Austria, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Romania, Czech Republic, Ireland, Switzerland, and Romania.
WHO’s Hans Kluge warned that 53 European countries are of “grave concern” as cases approach record levels. He said that “We must change our tactics, from reacting to surges of COVID19, to preventing them from happening in the first place”.
Austria already imposed a full COVID19 lockdown on Monday. On the other hand, Germany’s acting Health Minister Jens Spahn warned that Germany may do the same.
