April 21, the Department of State raised the Travel Advisory for Jordan from level three, which advises American citizens to reconsider travel plans to Jordan, to level four, which advises them against travelling to Jordan, according to the U.S. Embassy in Jordan's official website.

This came after a review of the COVID-19 situation around the world, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Travel Health Notice (THN) for Jordan. The Department of State advised against all travel to Jordan due to the COVID-19 situation in the Kingdom.

The Department of State encouraged American citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive notifications. It also issued a list of 'actions to take' including the following:

• Use the CDC website as their reference for up-to-date information about COVID-19 and information on what can be done to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19.
• Visit the COVID-19 crisis page for the latest information.
• Visit the U.S. Embassy's webpage on COVID-19 for information about travel restrictions related to Jordan.
• Monitor local media for the latest updates and abide by to governmental restrictions and instructions in Jordan.

At least 116 countries were raised to level four this week, including every country in the Middle East except for Morocco, which is at level three, according to The National.

Monday, the Department of State announced it would increase the number of countries to receive the highest advisory rating to approximately 80 percent.

According to the State Department the updating of the travel advisories is a reflection of the CDC's science based Travel Health Notices that outline current issues affecting travelers’ health. "Our Advisories also take into account logistical factors, including in-country testing availability and current travel restrictions for U.S. citizens. This does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country, including Jordan, but rather reflects an adjustment in the State Department’s Travel Advisory system to rely more on CDC’s existing epidemiological assessments."

The statement emphasized that "this decision is not intended to single Jordan or any other country out, but rather to harmonize previous travel recommendations for U.S. citizens made by the State Department and the CDC. The State Department continues to closely monitor health and safety conditions across the globe, and will continue to update the destination-specific information for U.S. travelers as conditions evolve."