View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

CDC Newsroom

CDC Mask Order Remains in Effect and CDC Realigns
Travel Health Notice System
Media Statement
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

Today, CDC is announcing two COVID-19 travel-related updates based on close-monitoring of the COVID-19 landscape in
the United States and internationally.
CDC continues to monitor the spread of the Omicron variant, especially the BA.2 subvariant that now makes up more
than 85% of U.S. cases. Since early April, there have been increases in the 7-day moving average of cases in the U.S. The
CDC Mask Order remains in effect while CDC assesses the potential impact of the rise of cases on severe disease,
including hospitalizations and deaths, and healthcare system capacity. TSA will extend the security directive and
emergency amendment for 15 days, through May 3, 2022.
Secondly, CDC will update its Travel Health Notice system for international destinations. To help the public understand
when the highest level of concern is most urgent, this new system will reserve Level 4 travel health notices for special
circumstances, such as rapidly escalating case trajectory or extremely high case counts, emergence of a new variant of
concern, or healthcare infrastructure collapse. Levels 3, 2, and 1 will continue to be primarily determined by 28-day
incidence or case counts. The new level system will be effective April 18, 2022.
CDC uses Travel Health Notices to alert travelers and other audiences to health threats around the world and advise on
how to protect themselves before, during, and after travel. With this new configuration, travelers will have a more
actionable alert for when they should not travel to a certain destination (Level 4), regardless of vaccination status, until we
have a clearer understanding of the COVID-19 situation at that destination.
CDC will continue to monitor COVID-19 levels, in our communities, nationally, and abroad to provide the most up-to-date
guidance to keep travelers safe and healthy.

###
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or
preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing
health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.
Page last reviewed: April 13, 2022