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.
“Of course their solution, except for themselves, don’t cruise”
Right. I figure the RATs in control are researching the ships, and picking out which ones they want for themselves and their families. They’ll be cruising in style; we won’t.
Also, the CDC does have the statutory authority to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We’ll find out if they have the power to simply shut the industry down as the DeSantis lawsuit progress’. Given the fact that since reopening Royal Caribbean has served over 100,000 passengers with only ten covid cases, I don’t see the risk. Guidelines are very different closing the industry down.
Trust the science, last March Fauci said there was no reason that healthy young people couldn’t go on cruises if they waned.
Isn’t the CDC a non governmental organization that owns patients and sells drugs? What authority do they really have over us.
Interesting point. The three major lines should, in the name of charity, each assign a ship to Vera Cruz in alternate weeks to transport illegals to the US. Wouldn't be any opposition from dems in Congress, and the bill of attainder violation would be clear.
CDC said it was A-OK to go vote on election day even if you ACTIVELY tested positive for Covid that day.
This has never been about a virus or reducing the spread.
It’s a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services. In fact Dr. Fauci is the highest paid federal employee.
Should have mentioned the CDC is not a regulatory agency. Not a lawyer or politician, but common sense would tell me they can’t issue regulations, rather issue guidelines and enforce regulations issued by Congress. They’d claim authority under the mandate to prevent interstate transmission of communicable diseases. Which they probably have when it comes to issuing guidelines. Shutting down an industry isn’t a guideline.
Cruise Industry News a bunch of pathetic feckless people, can’t even call it out for it is.
Yeah, here are your “US politicians”....
Doris Matsui = DEMOCRAT
Richard Blumenthal = DEMOCRAT
Correct title:
US Democrats urge CDC to continue wrecking the Cruise Industry.
Fixed.
CDC or its employees own vaccine patents. I can not find any straight forward answers.
That is what will answer the ongoing questions of how much power dos the CDC have.
Unfortunately the cruise lines don't have time to wait for that decision, because they are losing Billions of borrowed money.
That is why Royal, MSC, Norwegian have moved some of their USA homeported ships out of this country to the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean.
CARNIVAL (Americas' Cruise Line) is left holding the bag if the CDC says no sailing until November at least.-Tom
How do you enforce a “guideline:.
Cruise companies should sue the crap out of them.
RCL is sailing again? I didn’t know that. I’m ready — unless masks are required.
We all have to remember when reading cruise articles by people who rely on the cruise Industry for information and free trips there is going to be a more rah rah lets go cruising attitude than a criticism of the cruise lines, or its top employees.
These blogs also rely on the success of the LINES for their own survival.
If Cruising collapses so don't some of these Cruise news blogs as part of the collateral damage.
Unfortunately many Americans are out of work because of no Cruising and Travel agencies have folded.
. I do agree with you how these cruise news reporting people spin the stories so as not to aggravate anyone.
Also the ass kissing cruise lines did the same with our CDC , and all they got was neglect and indifference, and no income for over a year. -Tom
*thumbsup* mate. :)
How about this: All passengers and crew members of cruise lines are vaccinated. If there is an outbreak aboard a vessel with 100% compliance that will blow their whole vaccine-safety construct out of the water. There will go the myth of the 95% protection and the rationale for signing up to be a lab rat.
Future ships operating Royal Caribbean Restart: A Concise Ship-By-Ship Guide
I suspect those US departures will be moving to non US ports or not happening.
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