As the United States passed 150,000 deaths from COVID-19 after President Donald Trump favored reopening the economy over saving lives, the State Department advised against traveling to Greece, where there have been 210 deaths.

Cases have been rising in Greece, which still has one of the world's best records in dealing with the pandemic because of an early lockdown that was gradually lifted, the jump attributed to people defying health protocols and tourists bringing the virus.

The Level 3 advisory that was issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that travelers “avoid all nonessential international travel to Greece.”

The announcement urges people planning to travel to Greece to visit the US Embassy in Athens’ website for more information or if they have any queries, at gr.usembassy.gov. Greece had banned American tourists because of the soaring numbers in the US, the hardest-hit country in the world and where near chaos has complicated any attempt to stop the spread of the virus, Trump remaining obstinate.