WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention released new clues to the cruise ship industry Friday, including the need for COVID-19 vaccinations, a necessary step before passenger travel can begin again.
The new technical instructions, the first update since October, include increasing the weekly to daily reporting frequency of COVID-19 cases and illnesses and implementing routine testing of all crews based on the COVID-19 status of a ship and drawing up a plan and timeline for vaccination of crew and port personnel.
“COVID-19 vaccination efforts are critical to the safe resumption of passenger operations,” the CDC said.
The CDC said the next phase of the CDC’s conditional sail order includes simulated voyages to enable crew and port staff to practice new COVID-19 operational procedures with volunteers before sailing with passengers.
“CDC is committed to resuming the cruise with the cruise industry and port partners if it is safe to do so, according to the phased approach set out in October’s conditional sail order,” the agency said.
It has not set a date for the resumption of shipping from U.S. ports, despite calls from the industry to plan for a phase resumption by early July. The CDC has said it will issue additional guidance before allowing shipping to resume.
The Cruise Lines International Association, which represents Carnival Corp, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises and others, pleaded with CDC to provide new guidance and said in a statement dated March 24 that the “lack of any action by the CDC all The largest shipping market in the world. ”It did not immediately comment on Friday.
The group said the previous conditional sail order issued in October was ‘outdated’ and did not reflect the proven progress and success of the industry in other parts of the world or the advent of vaccines. Boating lines should be treated the same as other travel, tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors. ”