Texas banned businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations. This opposses to the CDC, which provided looser restrictions for cruise ships that have 95% of passengers and crew fully vaccinated.
As Governor Gregg Abbott explained:
Texas is open 100 percent. Texans should have the freedom to go where they want without any limits, restrictions, or requirements. I signed a law that prohibits any TX business or gov’t entity from requiring vaccine passports or any vaccine information
However, the governor’s broader order also includes language saying that it does not preclude businesses and other establishments from requiring employees and customers to follow additional hygiene measures, including the wearing of a face mask.
Texas’ decision came as Carnival Cruise Line announced that it will continue sailing with two cruise ships from Galveston in July, requiring all passengers to be vaccinated.
As Carnival said, it reached this decision because “the current CDC requirements for cruising with a guest base that is unvaccinated will make it very difficult to deliver the experience our guests expect.”
In a similar move, Florida will impose a $5,000 penalty on any business that requests proof of vaccination. What is more, Texas along with Alaska joined Florida in its lawsuit seeking to void the CDC’s Conditional Sail Order and framework to restart cruises from US ports.
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