Risk Ratings Definitions

 

MEDICAL RISK RATINGS - PRE-COVID STATUS

International SOS assigns medical risk ratings based on the pre-pandemic situation. The rating must be interpreted in conjunction with the COVID-19 domestic operations scale and the COVID-19 cases status. For locations in outbreak status, even the best healthcare systems may be overwhelmed, limiting access to medical care, and the risk of infection in the general community is increased.

The pre-pandemic medical risk ratings are based on  a range of health risks and mitigating factors, including but not limited to: infectious disease, burden environmental factors, medical evacuation data, road trauma data, standard of emergency medical services, outpatient and inpatient medical care, access to quality pharmaceutical supplies, and cultural, language or administrative barriers.

An overall single rating is given for a location; however the medical landscape can vary widely. For example, major cities may have better access to quality medical care; whereas remote or rural locations may have limited availability of health facilities and specialist care.

	LOW MEDICAL RISK Quality medical care is available throughout the country. Specialist care, emergency and dental services, and quality prescription drugs are widely available. Low risk of infectious diseases. Medical assistance commonly required: Medical referral. Assistance with language and cultural differences. Payment. Evacuation rarely required.
	MEDIUM MEDICAL RISK Quality medical care is available from selected providers. Reliable emergency services, limited specialist and dental care are usually available.  Some risk of food or water-borne diseases. Potentially life-threatening infectious diseases such as malaria and typhoid may be present. Medical assistance commonly required: Selection of quality providers. Close supervision of medical care. Illness/injury requiring surgery may require evacuation.
	VARIABLE MEDICAL RISK Significant variation of travel medical risk: Quality medical care, emergency services, and dental care is available from selected providers in major cities, including prescription drugs.  Elsewhere: availability of these services may be limited. Similarly, exposure to food, water-borne or potentially life-threatening infectious diseases may vary. Medical assistance commonly required: In major cities: Selection of quality providers. Evacuation sometimes required. Elsewhere: Selection of best care available. Case monitoring. Transfer to a higher quality facility. Moderate and severe illness/injury may require evacuation.
	HIGH MEDICAL RISK Basic emergency services, medical and dental care may be available. Specialist care is limited even in major cities. A wide range of quality prescription drugs may not be available. Food and water-borne infections are common. Potentially life-threatening infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera may persistently pose a threat. Medical assistance commonly required: Selection of best care available. Close supervision of medical care. Transfer to a higher quality facility. Any condition requiring hospitalisation may require international evacuation.
	VERY HIGH MEDICAL RISK Healthcare is almost non-existent or severely overtaxed. There may be very limited or no primary care, emergency care or dental services. Quality prescription drugs are frequently unavailable. Food and water-borne infections are common. Potentially life-threatening infectious diseases such as malaria and cholera may be persistently present and large outbreaks may occur. Medical assistance commonly required: Selection of best care available. Close supervision of medical care. Transfer to a higher quality facility. All but minor health issues may require international evacuation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

SECURITY RISK RATING DEFINITIONS

The security risk rating evaluates the threat posed to employees by political violence (including terrorism, insurgency, politically motivated unrest and war), social unrest (including sectarian, communal and ethnic violence) as well as violent and petty crime. Other factors, such as the robustness of the transport infrastructure, the state of industrial relations, the effectiveness of the security and emergency services and the country’s susceptibility to natural disasters are also considered where they are of sufficient magnitude to impact the overall risk environment for employees.

	INSIGNIFICANT SECURITY RISK Rates of violent crime are very low. There is no significant political violence or civil unrest and little sectarian, communal, racial or targeted violence against foreigners. Security and emergency services are effective and infrastructure is sound. Transport services are of a high standard with good safety records and only occasional travel disruption. Industrial action affecting essential services is rare.
	LOW SECURITY RISK Violent crime rates are low and racial, sectarian or political violence or civil unrest is uncommon. If terrorism is a threat, groups have limited operational capabilities, and acts of terrorism are rare. Security and emergency services are effective and infrastructure is sound. Industrial action and transport disruption are infrequent.
	MEDIUM SECURITY RISK Periodic political unrest, violent protests, insurgency and/or sporadic acts of terrorism occur. Travellers and international assignees may face risk from communal, sectarian or racial violence and violent crime. Capacity of security and emergency services and infrastructure varies. Industrial action can disrupt travel.
	HIGH SECURITY RISK Protests are frequently violent and may target or disrupt foreigners; they may be exacerbated by governance issues, including security or law and order capacity. Violent crime and terrorism pose significant direct or incidental risks to travellers and international assignees. Communal, sectarian or racial violence is common and foreigners may be directly targeted. Certain parts of the country are inaccessible or off-limits to the traveller.
	EXTREME SECURITY RISK Government control and law and order may be minimal or non-existent across large areas. Serious threat of violent attacks by armed groups targeting travellers and international assignees. Government and transport services are barely functional. Large parts of the country are inaccessible to foreigners.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

REGIONAL VARIATIONS

Security Risk Zones are areas within a country where the risks faced by employees are different from the country’s overall risk environment, usually necessitating a different level of preparation.

 

 

¹An overall single scale is given for a country. However, it should be noted that the impact of COVID-19 may vary widely between locations within each country. For example, between states, counties, and cities.