Cruise ships in the US *

Cruise ships operating in the US will no longer be required to follow mandatory Covid-19 guidance from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) health agency as reported in last week’s BTN.
(See www.btnews.co.uk/article/18560)

Cruise ships operating in the US have moved to a voluntary system of Covid-19 rules.

Dr Rochelle Walensky, Director, CDC, told US Senate members last week that the sailing order would automatically lapse, as the health agency “transitions to a voluntary Covid-19 risk mitigation programme.”

Walensky told US Senators that the cruise industry had “stepped up” in the way it had implemented Covid-19 procedures and was now “interested in exceeding the compliance” necessary to meet the sail order’s requirements.

Cruise lines can decide individually voluntarily on their anti-Covid-19 rules with the CDC continuing to carry out oversight and provide technical support.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said the CDC’s decision to move to a voluntary system showed the industry’s “unwavering commitment” to implementing Covid-19 health procedures.

“Cruise is the only segment of travel and tourism that requires – prior to embarkation for both passengers and crew – exceedingly high levels of vaccination and 100% testing of every individual,” added CLIA in a statement.

www.cdc.gov

https://cruising.org

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Mike Pickup, United Kingdom

Odd decisions when, only a few days ago, the CDC said that infections had shot up 30-fold! A number of cruise ships are now be used as quarantine vessels / hospital ships to get round the limitation on the numbers of infected people that ports will allow on a ship before it is denied permission to dock.