The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its travel advisories for countries around the world. Only two countries were new to the ‘Level 3: COVID-19 High’ category, both in Africa: Botswana and Cape Verde.

There are now more than 100 destinations listed in Level 3, including South Africa, the UK, and Canada. Almost half of all 235 regions monitored by the CDC for COVID risk levels are now in the Level 3 category – places with more than 100 cases per 100 000 residents recorded over the preceding 28 days.

The ‘Level 2: COVID-19 Moderate’ classification was given to Kenya and Ethiopia, along with Bolivia, Morocco, Romania and Sweden. These countries reported 50-100 cases per 100 000 residents. Kenya had previously been on ‘Level 1: COVID-19 Low’.

Tanzania was the only African country to move to Level 1 recently, registering fewer than 50 cases per 100 000 residents. Others joining the lowest risk category were El Salvador, Fiji, Guinea, Moldova, and Sint Eustatius.

Kenya reinstates mask mandate

With rising cases of COVID-19 in Kenya, which prompted the reclassification from the CDC, the country has reinstated mandatory mask-wearing in indoor spaces. These include offices, supermarkets and places of worship, according to Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe.

Kenya recently recorded a positivity rate of 12.6% in a single day, the highest so far in four months; 252 people in the country tested positive from a group of 1 993 tested over 24 hours.

The East African nation has administered 18.4 million vaccine doses at time of publication, with 23.4% of the country partially vaccinated and 17.2% fully vaccinated.