The U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an international organization that lists travel destinations across the world based on their safety factors. Especially during the pandemic era when the risk of COVID is rotating around and controversies regarding the vaccination are also present, the CDC lists a number of countries based on the criteria of ‘risky to safe’ in COVID.

The following criteria are used by CDC for rating the countries:

• Level 1- COVID-19 low (0-98 cases per 100,00 people in 28 days)

• Level 2- COVID-19 moderate (99-100 cases per 100,00 people in 28 days)

• Level 3- COVID-19 high (100- 500 cases per 100,00 people in 28 days)

• Level 4- COVID-19 very high (more than 500 cases per 100,00 people in 28 days)

There are almost over 90 destinations on the Level 4 category and people have been recommended to travel only if they are fully vaccinated.

Talking of Norway, it was on Level 3 earlier because of its high COVID-19 restrictions. But recently this weekend, it relaxed some of its domestic restrictions to ease the strictness. And due to this, it slid down to Level 4 being ‘very risky’ for travel.

Along with Norway Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Panama and Saint Barthelemy also moved to Level 4 as they were earlier on the safer category. Other countries are also not safer to travel to. Due to relaxation in COVID-related restrictions, other movements also took place.

This data shows being more open to the risk of getting COVID infected as the countries relax their restrictions. It is not economically feasible to keep the countries ‘locked up’ for a longer time than ever. So, the CDC recommends only to travel if necessary and if travelling, you should be fully vaccinated.