US State Department warns citizens to return home immediately

Illustration: Politico

The US State Department has urged Americans “in countries where commercial travel options remain viable” to “make arrangements to return to the United States immediately, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period of time.”

The updated advisory also advises US citizens living abroad to “avoid all international travel.”

“Many countries are experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks and implementing travel restrictions with mandatory quarantines, border closures, and non-citizen entry bans with little to no advance notice,” the notice said.

“Airlines have canceled many international flights and some cruise lines have suspended or canceled sailings. If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside the United States for an indefinite period of time,” the advisory added.

CNN cited four sources close to the matter on March 19, confirming that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had approved the level 4 recommendation.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, Level 4 travel advisories were issued for a handful of countries, including Syria, Iran, Yemen, and North Korea. However, as the virus spread globally, the State Department has raised the advisory to the highest level for additional countries, including China and Mongolia, as well as areas surrounding certain countries.

Last week, the advisory was upgraded to a global level 3: Consider Travel “due to the global impact of Covid-19.” A US diplomat working abroad said that part of the reason for the Level 4 recommendation was because US embassies are increasingly less able to help Americans abroad as consular staff gradually withdraw.