CDC adds Cyprus, France, Jordan, Portugal and more to the list of 'Level 4' for COVID-19 nations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has raised the travel advisory for several European and Middle Eastern countries too a "Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19" and is advising Americans to avoid those destinations.

The European nations include Andorra, France, Liechtenstein and Portugal as well as Cyprus and Jordan in the Middle East, and Tanzania in Africa. Each of the nations have had over 500 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last four weeks.

"Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated," the agency said in the advisory. "If you are not fully vaccinated, there are additional recommendations to follow before, during, and after travel."

Right now, over 80 countries are in the CDC's Level 4 category.

On Dec. 3, the CDC announced a new guidance requiring all travelers entering the United States to test negative for COVID-19 within one day of departure. 

The new restrictions arrived as scientists and governments attempt to buy time to better understand the new Omicron variant of the virus, which was first reported less than two weeks ago in South Africa and immediately prompted a flurry of new travel restrictions and local restrictions.