US issues travel warning to 80% of the globe due to COVID-19

By Teddy Grant Published: April 20, 2021

US issues travel warning to 80% of the globe due to COVID-19

Arriving passengers walk past a sign in the arrivals area at Heathrow Airport in London, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, during England's third national lockdown since the coronavirus outbreak began. The British government are on Tuesday expected to discuss whether to force some travellers arriving in the UK to quarantine in hotels to try to curb the spread of coronavirus. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The U.S. State Department expanded its “Do Not Travel” advisory on Monday to around 80% of countries due to “unprecedented risks” worldwide because of COVID-19.

“As travelers face ongoing risks due COVID-19, we have updated our Travel Advisories to better reflect @CDC’s science-based Travel Health Notices. We also considered logistics like testing availability and travel restrictions for U.S. citizens,” the State Department tweeted.

As travelers face ongoing risks due COVID-19, we have updated our Travel Advisories to better reflect @CDC’s science-based Travel Health Notices. We also considered logistics like testing availability and travel restrictions for U.S. citizens. https://t.co/Eu0gas8DZg. pic.twitter.com/R7GMnk8DIN

— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) April 19, 2021

There have been over 141 million COVID-19 cases worldwide as of Monday, with over 3 million people dying from the disease, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

The United States leads the rest of the world in covid cases and deaths, with about 31.8 million people testing positive for COVID-19 and 567,000 people succumbing to the disease, data shows.

Travel restriction has been in place for much of the pandemic. Americans have been barred from traveling to Europe and non-U.S. citizens who recently traveled to Europe, Brazil, China, South Africa and Iran have been banned from the country because of COVID-19, according to Reuters.