By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters), – Monday’s advisory from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised Americans to avoid travel to France and Portugal due COVID-19 concerns.

The CDC lists 83 destinations as “Level 4: Very high” and on Monday, added Andorra and Cyprus to its highest level of travel advice.

France stated Monday that while it was closing nightclubs before Christmas and tightening social distancing in the wake of Omicron, a coronavirus variant emerging, it did not need to impose new curfews.

Jean Castex, Prime Minister, said that there was an imminent fifth pandemic. But with nearly 90 percent of eligible people vaccinated now (52 million), it was better than the previous epidemics.

Effective Monday, the United States issued new regulations requiring that international passengers arriving to the United States must obtain a negative CoVID-19 test within one calendar day.

The previous rules allow international travelers who have been vaccinated to present a negative result within 3 days from their departure date.

Reuters was told by airline representatives that there’s a 3-day grace period for travelers who have had their tests done outside the 1-day window.

A spokesperson for the CDC refused to confirm this, however she stated “CDC is exercising some enforcement discretion while this requirement is being put into place.”

The White House banned nearly all foreign nationals entering the United States starting Nov. 29, but not to those from other southern African countries. This was due to concerns about spreading the Omicron variant.

France Monday announced that 25 Omicron positive cases have been identified.

Jen Psaki spokeswoman for the White House Monday, saying that African travel restrictions are being reviewed and discussed every day.