By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON

The United States on Tuesday increased the travel warning for Venezuela to its highest level, advising travelers to avoid trips to the country.

The raised travel warning, now at Level 4, replaces the previous travel advisory issued last week when Washington ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from Venezuela.

"Do not travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens," the State Department said.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the country, the department added.

The department said if travelers still decide to go to Venezuela, they should avoid demonstrations and not travel between cities at night.

The warning was issued almost a week after Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido declared President Nicolas Maduro's government illegitimate and announced himself interim president.

The announced support for Guaido, to which an outraged Maduro announced he was cutting off all ties to the American government and called on Washington to recall all their diplomats from Venezuela.

The Level 4 warning is the highest travel warning issued by the U.S. A Level 4 travel warning says, "Do not travel," while a Level 3 warning advises people to reconsider travel.

Earlier this month, the State Department also issued a Level 2 travel warning to China, citing exit bans that were stopping American citizens from leaving the country.

The U.S. has given Level 4 travel warnings to 12 countries since last July.