Posted on 04/15/2021 12:06:06 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
Congresswoman Doris Matsui and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal have sent a letter to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, urging her to strictly enforce recently issued safety guidance under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) and immediately halt cruises if outbreaks occur onboard.
They lawmakers said the premature resumption of cruise ship operations could threaten public safety and increase the spread of the coronavirus,
"Given the potential for a large, virus spreading event on a cruise ship, the CDC appropriately issued its No-Sail Order to suspend cruise ship operations," they wrote in their letter.
On April 2, 2021, the CDC issued the first new guidance since October 31 of last year, outlining technical guidance that would allow for the resumption of sailing.
“While the United States makes progress toward our shared goal of beating this pandemic, COVID-19 remains a grave public health risk that requires ongoing vigilance,” the lawmakers continued. “Prematurely lifting restrictions on cruising – with thousands of people in close proximity and conditions ripe for spread of infections – threatens a serious setback in this progress.”
According to a press release, Congresswoman Matsui and Senator Blumenthal are long-time advocates for improving safety, security, and medical standards aboard cruise vessels.
Together, they are lead sponsors of the Cruise Passenger Protection Act (CPPA) in Congress. The bill would build on the passenger safety measures signed into law in the Matsui-led 2010 Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA). Just last year, important CPPA provisions were enacted which would strengthen critical medical standards aboard cruise ships.
The Letter
Dear Director Walensky:
We write today with significant concern about the prospect of premature resumption of cruise ship operations that could threaten public safety and increase the spread of the coronavirus. While the United States is making significant progress in distributing COVID-19 vaccines, introduction and spread of COVID-19 by cruise ship crew and passengers could undermine this progress and require additional mitigation measures that delay our economic recovery and put public health at severe risk. We urge you to strictly enforce the technical guidance issued under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) to minimize this threat, and take all appropriate steps—including halting cruises as necessary—if outbreaks occur on board.
In its March 14, 2020, No-Sail Order, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledged the “increased risk of transmission on cruise ships” noting that outbreaks on cruise ships had “resulted in countless hours of work for numerous already-burdened public health officials.” Given the potential for a large, virus spreading event on a cruise ship, the CDC appropriately issued this No-Sail Order to suspend cruise ship operations. On April 2, 2021, the CDC issued the first phase of technical guidance under the CSO, which was implemented on October 31, 2020 by the previous administration. This guidance outlines procedures and protocols that will allow resumption of cruise ship travel when it is safe to do so. Failing to adhere to this guidance could create unsafe conditions that jeopardize public health. Therefore, we believe it is a public health imperative that the CDC rigorously enforce the technical guidance under the CSO and take all necessary measures, including stopping cruise line operations as needed, if COVID-19 outbreaks happen aboard ships.
While the United States makes progress toward our shared goal of beating this pandemic, COVID-19 remains a grave public health risk that requires ongoing vigilance. Prematurely lifting restrictions on cruising – with thousands of people in close proximity and conditions ripe for spread of infections – threatens a serious setback in this progress. It is absolutely critical that we listen to scientists and health and safety experts over the industry and its profit-driven executives.
Thank you for your attention to this important public health matter.
Planes can fly but ships can’t cruise. Sounds like a way to put a torpedo into Ron DeSantis.
Okay, so a California and New England representatives think they have standing and meaningful contribution in what occurs in Florida? What business is it of theirs? Other than to undermine DiSantis?
It looks like the resistance to Cruising from the USA has started to show its hand.
ps I lost my cruise ping list in my computer.- Tom
Planes can fly but ships can’t cruise.
They’ve gone woke for the most part, especially United. This madness has got to stop.....and speaking of airlines....our son and DIL are going to Mexico in a couple of weeks on American.......they will not give them seats together! I’ve never heard of such. AA could ESAD before they’d get a dime from me!
Headline is mis-leading.
What the headline should say is
“Two DEMOCRAT Politicians Want To Keep Cruise Lines Closed.
They want to keep the fear going all the way thru the 2022 Elections
so more massive vote by mail fraud can occur.
You kids should have flown Aeromexico.
Whats the big worry? Cruise ships sometime get breakouts of whatever so why not let them cruise? Can DeSantis and other governors of states that have ports tell the gooberment to go to hell?
Exactly. They’re out for De Santis.
I don’t see how the CDC has the power to keep anything closed. I guess they can recommend, but do they have actual power over all business in the USA?
Power mad pols are mad with power.
“U.S. Politicians Urge CDC to Keep Cruise Industry Closed”
The cruise ships have been a target for the environmentalist RATs for decades because of the fossil fuel they guzzle. As long as they and their Green New Deal are running the show, it’s doubtful that cruising will be a thing.
What has been their guidance on subways?
Article I Section 9
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
Question: Is denying cruise ships from sailing -- but not other ships -- giving preference to ports that don't harbor cruise ships over those that do?
If Congress wants to stop all cruise ships from sailing, wouldn't they have to stop all ships from sailing so as not to call out cruise ports over other ports for different treatment?
Or is singling out a class of ship, such as cruise ships, for no-sail across ALL ports in the nation enough to comply with the Constitution?
Or is singling out the class of cruise ships for no-sail really a bill of attainder because it de facto harms dedicated cruise ports over industrial ports with cruise docks?
-PJ
And their guidance on outdoors protests (aka riots)?
Which exposes the stupidity of radical environmentalists. Most newer ships have electric propulsion. Oops, like electric cars you have to have electricity. Which requires fossil fuels to power generators. And steam. And is more environmentally friendly than diesel. Windmills and solar panels won't cut it. They should embrace the technology and hope it spreads to cargo transport which would further reduce emissions. At least until Joe installs floating chargers. Of course their solution, except for themselves, don't cruise, don't fly, stay home and ride a bike.
Personally, since so many ships have ship wide outbreaks of some kind, I will never sail on them again. They are floating petri dishes.
As for airliners, much fewer passengers and I believe they are all installing UV in their air filter systems. Ultra-violet light kills most microbes, including Covid.
“Planes can fly but ships can’t cruise. Sounds like a way to put a torpedo into Ron DeSantis.”
Looks like Sen Blumenthal(D) is the hit man assigned to Fla. Gov DeSantis(R)
Read about it below: - Tom
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