Following the COVID-19 outbreak onboard the first Caribbean cruise, “SeaDream 1” and the overall pandemic situation, members of Congress urge the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reinstate its “no-sail” order.
To remind, “no-sail” order expired at the end of October and was replaced by a “Conditional Sailing Order” that allows a phased-in return to cruising.
Although the Cruise Lines International Association announced the adoption of new mandatory health protocols concerning the resumption of operations in the US, the disturbing COVID-19 reports led members of Congress to send a letter to the U.S. CDC, expressing their concerns.
Namely, the Congress appealed the agency to reinstate its ‘no sail order’ in order to prohibit cruises from sailing in U.S. waters during a current surge in COVID-19.
“The CDC is putting American lives at risk, not to mention the potential for enhancing the spread worldwide. We’ll see massive outbreaks on cruise ships, which will become floating hot spots with major casualties and potential to spread this disease all around the world (if sailing restarts). The CDC should enforce its ‘no-sail’ policy, which certainly should not be suspended in the midst of a raging second surge that we’re seeing right now.”…as the letter issued at USA TODAY, stated.
In fact, Blumenthal and Rep. Doris Matsui, a Democrat from California, who are co-sponsors of the proposed Cruise Passenger Protection Act, made the request for reinstatement in a letter to CDC Director Robert Redfield.
“In light of these disturbing reports, we feel strongly that you should reverse course on the recent decision by the (CDC) to take a phased approach to restarting cruise line operations in the United States. Instead, we implore you to extend the prior no-sail order until a time when the health and safety of passengers and crew can be assured.”…as the letter concluded.
