The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel advisory warnings for Chile, Turkey, Thailand, and Pakistan because of the coronavirus pandemic. The agency is warning travelers to avoid all non-essential travel to these destinations, adding to its growing list of risk countries.

Chile, Turkey, Thailand, and Pakistan were placed on the Level 3 warning list due to a high risk of COVID-19 contagion with no precautions available to protect against the virus.

According to the CDC, the four countries are experiencing widespread, ongoing transmission of the coronavirus. The agency is urging people to avoid non-essential travel to these countries as it is unknown how or where people have become infected with the coronavirus.

Travelers returning home from these countries should self-isolate for 14 days, monitor their health during this time, and practice social distancing, the CDC said.

For travelers that must arrive in these destination countries, the CDC recommends avoiding contact with sick people, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands, and avoiding travel when sick.

The CDC has also issued Level 3 warnings for travel to Canada, Israel, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, Europe, South Korea, cruise ships, China, Ireland, United Kingdom, Iran, and Venezuela.

According to John Hopkins University, there are 392,780 confirmed cases of the coronavirus around the world, with 17,159 deaths reported. Chile has seen 746 cases of COVID-19 with Turkey, Thailand, and Pakistan reporting 1,529, 827, and 916 cases, respectively.

Airlines have been been hit by a double-whammy: plunging demand and sweeping travel restrictions imposed by governments
Airlines have been been hit by a double-whammy: plunging demand and sweeping travel restrictions imposed by governments AFP / Martin BUREAU
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