COVID-19 Scale

The COVID-19 scale is an internal evaluation assigned by Ohio State’s international risk management team. The scale incorporates the CDC COVID-19 Travel Health Notice system. It also factors in additional incidence rate data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the rating on the Ohio State scale for Country Medical Care Standard.

Primary factors include:

• Current 28-day incidence rate of new cases per 100k population
• Rating of the Ohio State scale for Country Medical Care Standard

Secondary factors include:

• If the current 28-day incidence rate is within two-months of its peak for the country
• The numerical CDC designation for the country

The scale is not solely based on the number of current cases in a particular country. It is strongly counterbalanced by the capacity of a country’s medical system to manage outbreaks. Stress on a country’s medical capacity due to COVID-19 can have a significant impact on the ability of travelers to access health care for other routine medical concerns or critical care. COVID-19 data is volatile; the country medical care standard provides a consistent variable.

Each country/territory is assigned to one of 6 groups:

• Group 6: Critical
• Group 5: Severe
• Group 4: Elevated
• Group 3: Transitional
• Group 2: Stable            
• Group 1: Contained

A specific designation on the Ohio State scale does not directly indicate that travel to that location is recommended or viable. Many countries in lower groups will have immigration restrictions and public health measures that significantly impede travel.

The COVID-19 scale is a secondary input in the Ohio State Risk Designated Scale.

• Ratings of Group 6 – Critical or Group 5 – Severe can elevate the overall risk designation
• Ratings of Group 1 – Contained or Group 2 – Stable can lower the overall risk designation

This incorporates COVID-19 into the overall risk rating, without overweighting it comparative to other health, safety, or security concerns.

The scale is currently updated by international risk management at the beginning of each month. As the pandemic evolves and variants emerge, it is not uncommon for countries to move up and down the COVID-19 scale rapidly.

The COVID-19 Scale was updated on January 18, 2022.