Posted on 04/19/2021 8:07:10 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
Another Setback for Resuming Cruises in the U.S. There is another setback for resuming cruises in the U.S. as the Public Health Emergency has been extended resulting in the Conditional Sailing Order remaining in place.
While most of the talk lately has been on the Conditional Sail Order from the CDC and what that means for the cruise industry, there has always been a second way the cruise industry can go back to sea. However, that second option seems to be up in the air as well now.
The Conditional Sail Order is only in effect as long as the United States is under a public health emergency. This order has been extended on April 21, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 2, 2020, and January 7, 2021.
Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, extended the order again, dashing hopes that the administration would take a step that the CDC has been unwilling to take.
The public health emergency, which has been extended for an additional 90 days, now runs until mid-July. This sets the scene for further cancellations from the cruise lines down the line, while it also creates the framework for the CDC to hold fast to the Conditional Sail Order.
The U.S. Remains Under Public Health Emergency While it may have been unrealistic to think that the Department of Health and Human Services would have overruled the CDC, there have been greater surprises this pandemic. The way out for the cruise industry remains unchanged then as Xavier Becerra released the following statement:
As a result of the continued consequences of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby renew, effective April 21, 2021, the January 31, 2020, determination by former Secretary Alex M. Azar II, that he previously renewed on April 21, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 2, 2020, and January 7, 2021, that a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide.
In the US, any situation which is declared a public health emergency will activate the National Disaster Medical System, which allows the federal government to supply medical equipment to where it’s needed.
The public health emergency declaration also allows government agencies to make far-reaching decisions, such as the No-Sail order which has brought cruising to a standstill for over a year now, and the controversial Conditional Sail Order from the CDC.
However, the CDC Director still has the power to rescind the Conditional Sailing Order but from how things look at the moment, there is no hint on that ever happening.
No Changes in Policy The extension of the Public Health Emergency comes at a time when the pressure has been building extensively towards the CDC. Calls for the agency to let cruises resume have been growing louder and louder from all sides.
For now, the cruise lines seem to have to comply with the procedures, policies, and agreements the CDC has laid out for them. Something that has seen widespread criticism. The CDC’s conditional sail order only calls for widespread testing and has not made vaccinations mandatory.
On the other hand, most cruise lines have been vocal about making vaccinations mandatory as long as ships are then able to sail. With that, the pressure has been growing from a political side, as economies are starting to feel the absence of the cruise lines, especially in Florida.
Also Read: Criticism Against the CDC on Resuming Cruises in Recent Senate Hearing
The extension of the public health emergency can be seen then as confirmation from the administration that the cruise lines’ and politicians’ growing pressure have been unable to change the mindset of those in charge. Cruise ships will remain outside of the US, at least for now.
Did the cruise lines not give enough to the DNC that they are now to be put to death?
“With that, the pressure has been growing from a political side, as economies are starting to feel the absence of the cruise lines, especially in Florida.”
Do you think .GOV is doing this to hurt Governor DeSantis?
I have cruised from foreign ports before, and willing to do it again. It is so sad that American workers and businesses are being punished and singled out because of the leftist thinking that cruisers are mostly rich-old-white people.
Biden is looking to house the homeless/and or the newly arrived illegals in these idle cruise ships.
More control by the deep state. They aren’t going to give up control willingly. Ever.
The orchestrated reaction to Covid-19 has been the biggest threat against Western Civilization to date.
Do you think .GOV is doing this to hurt Governor DeSantis?
I believe that ,in the sense it hurts a potential future Republican presidential candidate, and Florida is a Republican state, and IMHO from my experiences, a lot of repeat cruisers from around the country are Republicans. -Tom
Do you follow the Florida suit to open cruising? What status is that in?
DeSantis, Trump, Rubio, etc.
According to wikipedia, the top cruise ports in the world (by passengers) from 2017 are:
The top 3 cruise ports in the world are in Florida.
#11 is in Texas.
The Democrats must know how much this is hurting the economies of those areas, but because it is Florida the ends justify the means.
Even though Broward and Dade counties are heavily Democratic, when the Godfather calls in his favor, you take the hit.
-PJ
The problem is that cruise lines are racist. It's a pastime for privileged whites.
NOTHING improves until government employees and lawyers start missing paychecks
BOOOOOO
The baddie in the Gladiator...
The Emperor who murdered his own father and blamed the hero...
Approx 14 million passengers out of Florida (if I tallied that correctly). That’s a ton of lost business!
Democrats are criminals.
There is a whole ecosystem of Florida workers and businesses that's been shut down by this in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Canaveral, and Tampa.
-PJ
Gov. DeSantis is sewing the CDC... he’ll win.
Bttt
Later reincarnated as Dr Fauci.
The DEVIL, Xavier Bacceras, needs to be removed from that position ....he wants NO REPUBLICANS to have ANY FUN!!!
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