The 2020 Travel Risk Rating Guide For U.S Citizens

they’re organized according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) risk assessment level in each case.
First, a disclaimer…

If you’re an older person or have an underlying health condition (cancer, COPD, sickle cell disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, etc.), you shouldn’t take on any non-essential travel right now.

Also, what we present below is the picture right now. As the situation with the pandemic continues to unfold, rules and regulations to do with travel are fluctuating in real time. So please double-check and confirm the details for any particular destination at the time you plan a trip.

And one note to do with the reporting…

How does the CDC determine risk levels country to country? It looks at a country’s population size, the number of new cases it has, its incidence rate per 100,000 people, and its new case trajectory to determine whether it’s a very low-, low-, moderate-, or high-risk place to visit.

Very Low Risk Destinations Americans Can Travel To

Of the CDC’s list of 26 destinations with no travel health notice because of the very low risk of catching COVID-19, there are three that Americans can travel to right now: Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Grenada.

Dominica was one of the countries least affected by the coronavirus, with only 18 cases and 0 deaths. Its government has been very careful about following and enforcing health and safety guidelines to be able to reopen its borders to international travelers, which it did on Aug. 7.

To come here as an American, you need to provide a negative COVID-19 or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, recorded within 24 and 72 hours of your arrival. You’ll also have to fill out an online questionnaire and undergo a rapid test when you arrive.

Saint Lucia started re-welcoming U.S. tourists on June 4, which it was able to do because of its low case numbers (26 cases, 0 deaths). To visit as a tourist, you’ll need to provide a negative PCR test taken within a week of travel and complete a registration form before you arrive.

Facemasks need to be worn during the flight and when you arrive, and authorities will screen you for symptoms (potentially testing you again if you show any). The good news is that its major resorts (Sandals Grande St Lucian, Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, etc.) have been certified as safe after complying with strict sanitation measures.

On Aug. 1, Grenada also began reaccepting tourists from the States, with flights restarting from Miami and New York last month… The entry requirements are tougher than they are for its Caribbean counterparts, however, as the States is considered a high-risk visitor.

To come to Grenada, you’ll need to fill out a health declaration form, download the country’s contact-tracing app, provide a negative PCR test (taken within seven days of arrival), take a PCR test on arrival, and quarantine at an approved accommodation at your own expense for two to four days.

If you’re considered a high-risk passenger, you’ll have to do a full 14 days of quarantine on arrival. Also, keep in mind that you’ll need to wear a facemask in all public places and keep the contact-tracing app on your phone at all times (or be subject to a US$370 fine).

Grenada has had low case numbers throughout the pandemic. With only 24 total cases and 0 deaths, it’s serious about keeping its people and visitors safe.

Low And Moderate Risk Destinations Americans Can Travel To

Of the CDC’s list of countries where the COVID-19 risk is low, only Saint Barts is available for Americans to visit. This Caribbean island started reaccepting U.S. tourists on June 22 and only requires that you bring a negative PCR test (recorded within 72 hours of departure) to be allowed in.

Bermuda and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are considered moderate risk. You can fly to both of them as of July 1 but will need to take a PCR test upon arrival. To fly to Bermuda, you’ll also need to bring a negative PCR test recorded within 72 hours of arrival with you.

High Risk Destinations Americans Can Travel To

The CDC has a long list of high-risk destinations you can technically travel to, where the new case trajectory is accelerating or growing. While going to these places isn’t advised (especially if you have underlying health conditions or are older), it is possible right now for U.S. citizens.

The Dominican Republic is one country you can travel to if you’re willing to accept the risks. So far, the country has recorded 1,533 coronavirus-related deaths and had almost 90,000 cases. Still, U.S. travelers have been able to travel here since July 1.

If you do decide to visit, you don’t need to bring a negative PCR test; you only need to be OK with the fact that border control will randomly test 3% to 10% of arrivals. You’ll also need to fill out a Traveler’s Health Affidavit, which provides contact info for the next 30 days and declares that you haven’t felt any COVID-19 symptoms in the past 72 hours.

Croatia is another high-risk country that’s currently open to Americans and tourists from other countries. In fact, the country is seeing huge tourism numbers, with over a million tourist arrivals just in the first week of August. This is partially becauseForbeshas rated Zagreb, Cavtat, and Rijeka among its “20 Safest Places for Travel and Tourism Post-Coronavirus.”

As an American, you can join the masses and visit Croatia as of July 1, but you’ll need fill out a form, show proof of accommodation, and bring a negative PCR test to be allowed in.

Mexico is also open to U.S. tourists… The land border is closed to non-essential traffic, but there was never any real restriction on air travel into Mexico. That said, many resorts in places like Cancún, Mazatlán, and Playa del Carmen had shut their doors and are now open for business again.

To enter Mexico as an American, you don’t have to quarantine on arrival or take a PCR test before or after entering the country. In fact, there are very few health protocols you need to follow to visit, aside from wearing a face mask and social distancing in public spaces.

Other high-risk places Americans can travel to now: