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US warns against travel to Italy due to ‘very high’ Covid numbers

The United States on Wednesday increased its travel warning for Italy to the highest level due to its ‘very high’ coronavirus figures.

US warns against travel to Italy due to ‘very high’ Covid numbers
Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

“Do not travel to Italy due to Covid-19,” wrote the US Department of State on its website.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Italy due to Covid-19, indicating a very high level of Covid-19 in the country.”

READ ALSO: What’s the latest news on the coronavirus situation in Italy?

It also stated that travellers to Italy should “exercise increased caution” due to terrorism activity, a warning which had already been in place.

Prior to Tuesday of this week, the State Department listed 34 of about 200 countries worldwide with the “Do Not Travel” warning, and has since increased the number to 150 countries based on the recommendations of the CDC.

Almost all European countries were placed on the Level 4 list this week, including France, Spain, Germany and Switzerland.

The warning does not bar Americans from travel to these countries, however the Department of State warns that insurance policies may not be valid.

Most Americans already had been prevented from traveling to much of Europe because of Covid-19 restrictions. Washington has barred nearly all non-US citizens who have recently been in most of Europe, China, Brazil, Iran and South Africa.

READ ALSO: When will Americans be allowed to travel to Italy again?

Italy has banned non-essential travel for Americans, and makes only a small number of exceptions, including for people with EU residency and business travelers.

All travelers, including from the US, face quarantine and testing requirements once they arrive in Italy – except for those who arrive on special ‘Covid-tested’ US flights, who do not need to quarantine on arrival if they test negative.

The US on Tuesday also extended its travel ban on non-US citizens by 30 days. The restrictions have already been in place for 13 months.

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HEALTH

Covid-19 still causing 1,000 deaths a week in Europe, WHO warns

The World Health Organization's European office warned on Tuesday the risk of Covid-19 has not gone away, saying it was still responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths a week in the region. And the real figure may be much higher.

Covid-19 still causing 1,000 deaths a week in Europe, WHO warns

The global health body on May 5 announced that the Covid-19 pandemic was no longer deemed a “global health emergency.”

“Whilst it may not be a global public health emergency, however, Covid-19 has not gone away,” WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge told reporters.

The WHO’s European region comprises 53 countries, including several in central Asia.

“Close to 1,000 new Covid-19 deaths continue to occur across the region every week, and this is an underestimate due to a drop in countries regularly reporting Covid-19 deaths to WHO,” Kluge added, and urged authorities to ensure vaccination coverage of at least 70 percent for vulnerable groups.

Kluge also said estimates showed that one in 30, or some 36 million people, in the region had experienced so called “long Covid” in the last three years, which “remains a complex condition we still know very little about.”

“Unless we develop comprehensive diagnostics and treatment for long Covid, we will never truly recover from the pandemic,” Kluge said, encouraging more research in the area which he called an under-recognised condition.

Most countries in Europe have dropped all Covid safety restrictions but some face mask rules remain in place in certain countries in places like hospitals.

Although Spain announced this week that face masks will no longer be required in certain healthcare settings, including hospitals and pharmacies, with a couple of exceptions.

Sweden will from July 1st remove some of its remaining Covid recommendations for the public, including advice to stay home and avoid close contact with others if you’re ill or have Covid symptoms.

The health body also urged vigilance in the face of a resurgence of mpox, having recorded 22 new cases across the region in May, and the health impact of heat waves.

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