A tourist wears a face mask to prevent spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during sunset near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, January 7, 2022.
A tourist wears a face mask to prevent spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during sunset near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, January 7, 2022. Reuters / CHALINEE THIRASUPA

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made very few updates to its COVID warning list for American travelers this week, cases of the virus remain high in most regions of the world.

Only one nation was moved out of its highest risk category on Monday with the downgrading of Namibia to the Level 2 "moderate" risk category.

Still, nearly 130 places out of the roughly 235 destinations being monitored by the CDC remain at Level 3 "high" risk as their COVID cases are currently at 100 per 100,000 residents over the past 28 days.

Level 3 is the highest risk category currently being reported by the agency as it has now reserved the Level 4 "very high" risk category for extreme cases of the virus, a new COVID variant, or the complete collapse of a nation's healthcare system. There are no locations listed in the Level 4 category to date.

Many of the locations listed in the Level 3 category are popular travel spots for Americans, including much of Europe and the Caribbean. The Level 3 list also includes countries such as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia.

The CDC warns Americans to be up to date with all of their COVID vaccines before traveling to a Level 3 destination but added that there is still a danger, advising, "Even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, you may still be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19."

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With COVID cases still high in much of the world, there was more bad news for another country.

While it was not listed in the CDC's highest risk category, Cuba did move up a rung as its cases of the virus worsened. Cuba was moved into the Level 2 "moderate" risk category after sitting in the Level 1 "low" risk list as its COVID cases increased to between 50 and 100 per 100,000 residents over the past 28 days.

As previously mentioned, Namibia saw improvements this week and moved from Level 3 into the Level 2 "moderate" risk category.

These were the only changes to the Level 2 category by the CDC on Monday for a list that now carries 19 locations, including India, South Africa, Indonesia, Kenya, and Zambia.

Also seeing changes from the CDC this week was the Level 1 "low" risk category, which added the nation of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia had previously been listed in the Level 2 "moderate" risk category, but saw its COVID cases decrease to 49 or fewer per 100,000 residents reported over the past 28 days.

There are currently 22 destinations listed in the Level 2 category, including Egypt, Tanzania, China, Nigeria, and Uganda.

Lastly, the CDC moved the nation of Benin to its "unknown" category due to a lack of reliable information coming out of the location on its COVID situation. "Unknown" places are typically remote locations or ones that have ongoing warfare or unrest.

Benin was previously listed in the Level 1 "low" risk category.

The CDC advises American travelers to avoid visiting a destination in the "unknown" category because the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19 while there is simply unknown.

There are nearly 70 locations listed in the CDC's "unknown" category.