US CDC Lowers Japan Travel Alert to Lowest Level... South Korea Remains at Level 3

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has downgraded its travel advisory for Japan to the lowest Level 1. Meanwhile, South Korea remains at Level 3.

According to major foreign media on the 15th (local time), the CDC lowered the travel advisory to Level 1 for Japan, India, Pakistan, Liberia, Gambia, and Mozambique.

Conversely, the CDC raised the advisory to the highest Level 4 for the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Iceland, where COVID-19 cases are increasing.

South Korea maintains Level 3 travel advisories from both the CDC and the U.S. Department of State. Based on the State Department's criteria, South Korea was downgraded to Level 1, then raised to Level 2 in August, and further elevated to Level 3 on September 12.

The CDC's levels include Level 1, which recommends completing vaccination before travel, and Level 2, which advises unvaccinated travelers at risk of severe illness to avoid non-essential travel.

Level 3 advises unvaccinated travelers to avoid non-essential travel regardless of severe illness risk, and the highest Level 4 recommends avoiding travel to those countries altogether.

The State Department issues separate travel advisories referencing the CDC's classifications, divided into Level 1 'Exercise Normal Precautions,' Level 2 'Exercise Increased Caution,' Level 3 'Reconsider Travel,' and Level 4 'Do Not Travel.'

Although the CDC lowered its advisory for Japan to Level 1 on this day, the State Department still classifies Japan as a Level 3 'Reconsider Travel' country.