Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Albania due to COVID-19, indicating a high level of coronavirus infections, underlined Tuesday the United States Embassy to Tirana.

In its appeal, the Embassy called on its citizens to reconsider travelling to Albania because of the high risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2, but also to be highly cautious due to crime as a businessman was shot dead and many others were injured just a night ago in Lushnja.

However, Embassy’s focus was the village of Lazarat in Gjirokastra, which was notorious for drugs cultivation years ago. Security situation in Lazarat remains volatile due to crime and violence associated with marijuana cultivation and local police have limited ability to protect and assist travelers, said the Embassy.

Full advisory message by the US Embassy below:

Location:  Albania

Event:  On August 23, 2021, the Department of State updated the Travel Advisory for Albania.

Please see the Travel Advisory below:

Level 3: Reconsider travel to Albania due to COVID-19.  Exercise increased caution in Albania due to crime.

Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Albania due to COVID-19, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.

Visit the Embassy’s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 and related restrictions and conditions in Albania.

Exercise increased caution in:

The southern town of Lazarat due to crime.

Read the country information page.

If you decide to travel to Albania:

See the S. Embassy’s web page regarding COVID-19.

Visit the CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

Review the Crime and Safety Report for Albania.

S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Lazarat-Exercise Increased Caution

The security situation in Lazarat remains volatile due to crime and violence associated with marijuana cultivation. Local police have limited ability to protect and assist travelers.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Lazarat as U.S government employees are prohibited from traveling there.