State Department to issue travel advisories for 80% of the world

The State Department announced Monday that it will be issuing "do not travel" guidelines for roughly 80% of countries worldwide and urged Americans to "reconsider all travel abroad."

Why it matters: The announcement emphasizes the ongoing severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite a ramped up domestic vaccination campaign and many states moving to reopen. Globally, cases continue to surge.

What they're saying: "The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose unprecedented risks to travelers," reads the statement.

• "This update will result in a significant increase in the number of countries at Level 4: Do Not Travel, to approximately 80% of countries worldwide."

For the record: The new guidelines, the department notes, are intended to better reflect the CDC's "existing epidemiological assessments" and will be updates as "conditions evolve."