(CNN) — Jhe United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have added two destinations to its “high” category for Covid-19 risk – including a Caribbean nation popular for its beaches.

The Dominican Republic and Kuwait, a Middle Eastern country known for its cultural offerings, are now both listed as “Level 3: Covid-19 High”.

Level 3, or “high”, is now the top tier in terms of risk level and applies to places that have had more than 100 cases per 100,000 population in the past 28 days. Levels 2 and 1 are considered “moderate” and “low” risk respectively.

Level 4, previously the highest risk category, is now reserved only for special circumstances, such as an extremely high number of cases, the emergence of a new variant of concern or the collapse of healthcare infrastructures. health. Under the new system, no destinations have been placed at Tier 4 so far.

In a weekly update with little movement overall, Monday’s move to Tier 3 is a big leap for Kuwait, which was in Tier 1. The Dominican Republic moved from Tier 2.

There were nearly 115 destinations at Level 3 on June 27. Level 3 locations make up nearly half of the approximately 235 locations monitored by the CDC.

Learn more about level 3

Much of Europe has been stubbornly lodged in Level 3 for months with the summer travel season in full swing. As of June 27, the following popular European destinations were among those remaining at Tier 3:

• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Spain
• UK

These aren’t the only high-profile locations that fall into Level 3. Many other destinations around the world fall into the “high” risk category, including:

• Brazil
• Canada
•Costa Rica
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Turkey

Level 2

A late afternoon view of the Journalists’ Park in Bogota, Colombia. The South American nation is now at level 2.

Danaan Andrew-Pacleb/Adobe Stock

Destinations with the designation “Tier 2: Moderate Covid-19” have reported 50 to 100 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 population in the past 28 days. The CDC moved four places to this level on Monday:

• Colombia
• Iraq
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia

This decision was not good news for Colombia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which were in Tier 1.

There are a total of 21 places in the “moderate” risk category this week.

Level 1

The Taj Mahal is India’s most iconic structure. India is currently at Tier 1.

Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

To be listed as “Tier 1: Covid-19 Low”, a destination must have recorded 49 or fewer new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 28 days. No new destinations were added to the category on June 27.

Indonesia, India and the Philippines are among the most popular places in the “low” risk category this week.

Unknown

Finally, there are the destinations the CDC has deemed “unknown” risk due to a lack of information. Usually, but not always, these are small, remote places or places where war or unrest is going on.

This week, rarely visited Djibouti in the Horn of Africa has been added to this category.

The CDC advises against travel to these places precisely because the risks are unknown. Other destinations in this category that generally attract more attention from tourists include French Polynesia, Macau and the Maldives.

Medical expert weighs in on risk levels

Transmission rates are just a “benchmark” for travelers’ personal risk calculations, according to CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen.

We have entered “a phase of the pandemic where people have to make their own decisions based on their medical situation as well as their risk tolerance when it comes to contracting Covid-19,” said Wen, who is an emergency physician and professor. in Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

There are other factors to weigh in addition to transmission rates, according to Wen.

“Another is what precautions are needed and followed where you are going, and then the third is what you plan to do once there,” she said.

“Are you planning on visiting a lot of attractions and going to indoor bars? It’s very different from going somewhere where you plan to lay on the beach all day and not interact with anyone outside. “other. It’s very different. It’s very different levels of risk.”

Vaccination is the most important safety factor for travel, as unvaccinated travelers are more likely to get sick and transmit Covid-19 to others, Wen said.

And it’s also important to think about what you would do if you became positive outside of your home.

Top image: Tropical beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Valentin Valkov/Adobe Stock)