Coronavirus: What do different levels of travel advisories mean?

During his news conference Saturday, President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force authorized elevated warnings against travel to specific regions in Italy and South Korea.

The president also authorized new restrictions on travelers who have been to Iran, The New York Times reported. Vice President Mike Pence said travel restrictions to parts of Italy and South Korea were raised to Level 4, the highest of the four levels created by the Department of State.

Traveling, particularly overseas, has now become more of a concern for Americans.

So what does each travel advisory level mean? Here’s a look.

Level 1: This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risks, according to the Department of State website. The State Department advises the exercise of normal precautions at this level. “There is some risk in any international travel," the State Department said.,

Level 2: The State Department advises travelers to exercise “increased caution." noting that people should “be aware of heightened risks to safety and security.”

Level 3: Travelers are advised to reconsider going to countries under this level. Persons should avoid travel “due to serious risks to safety and security,” according to the Department of State website.

Level 4: This is the most severe travel advisory. Travelers are advised not to go to countries that fall under this advisory. This is due to the greater chance of life-threatening risks, the State Department said. The U.S. government also warns that during an emergency, its capacity to help citizens abroad could be severely limited. According to the State Department, these are the countries with Level 4 status, in addition to the restrictions announced for parts of Italy and South Korea on Saturday: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, China (coronavirus concerns), Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Cox Media Group