CDC gives new guidelines for sailing, but does not give green light

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. The Centers for Disease Control issued new guidelines for the cruise ship industry on Friday. This is the first update since October, but it does not look like commercial shipping will resume immediately.

The new instructions mention COVID-19 vaccinations and say that the vaccines are a necessary step before passenger travel can begin again.

“COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical to the safe resumption of passenger operations,” the CDC said in a statement. “As more people are fully vaccinated, the gradual approach allows CDC to process this progress in planning to resume cruise ship travel if it is safe to do so.”

[ALSO SEE: Florida Gov. signs executive order banning “vaccine passports”]

The CDC said that simulated (trial) trips should be that would enable staff and port staff to practice new COVID-19 operational procedures with volunteers before sailing with passengers.

Advertisement

The guidelines also mention the frequency for reporting COVID-19 cases and diseases of crew members should be increased from weekly to daily.

However, the CDC has not set a date on which cruise operations can resume from U.S. ports, but they said they will issue additional guidance before allowing shipping to resume.

‘It is difficult to act safely and responsibly during a global pandemic. “Although the voyage will always involve a risk of COVID-19 transmission, the cruise ship’s passenger operations will ensure that crew members, passengers and port staff are protected, especially with emerging COVID-19 variants of concern,” the release said.

The CDC first issued a sail-free order in March 2020 that took its toll on one of South Florida’s economic engines, the cruise industry.

Advertisement

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has called on the CDC to revoke its sailing order.

“If there’s anything we’ve learned over the past year, it’s not exclusion and Floridians deserve the right to make money,” DeSantis said during a round table in Port Canaveral, Fla: ‘The cruise industry is vital to our state’s economy and shutting it down until November will be devastating for the men and women who rely on the cruise lines to to provide for themselves and their families. I call on the CDC to immediately revoke this unfounded order without sail so that Floridians can get back to work in this industry. ”

The CDC’s non-sail order is currently in effect until November 1st.