Miami:
Cruise ships may perhaps be capable to resume sailing from ports in Florida in mid-July just after getting shut down for more than a year by the coronavirus pandemic, according to new recommendations from US wellness authorities.
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) informed cruise firms on Wednesday of the specifications they would require to meet to start sailing once again.
At least 98 % of the crew and 95 % of passengers will require to be completely vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the letter obtained by AFP on Thursday.
“Ships may now bypass simulated voyages and move directly to open water sailing with passengers if a ship attests that 98 percent of its crew and 95 percent of its passengers are fully vaccinated,” the CDC stated.
Cruise lines had been asked to submit their plans “as soon as possible to maintain the timeline of passenger voyages by mid-July.”
The multi-billion dollar cruise sector employs thousands of folks in Florida and is important to a state that relies largely on tourism.
The 3 biggest cruise lines in the world — Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean — run operations out of south Florida.
Norwegian announced on April 5 that it would call for proof of vaccination for passengers and crew in the hope that the CDC would lift the sailing ban in July.
A Norwegian spokesman stated the firm “is encouraged by the ongoing constructive dialogue (with the CDC) that resulted in recent meaningful modifications to previously issued technical guidelines and the incorporation of vaccines.”
Jonathan Fishman, a Royal Caribbean spokesman, stated the firm was encouraged “that we now see a pathway to a healthy and achievable return to service.”
A Carnival spokesperson stated the firm is nonetheless reviewing the new CDC recommendations.
Cruise operations had been suspended on March 14, 2020 when the CDC issued a “no sail order” to protect against the additional spread of the coronavirus.
Several ships had currently had deadly outbreaks on board.
Some cruise ships resumed operations in Europe and elsewhere last year but the ban remained in location in the United States.
The CDC issued a roadmap in October for cruise ships to resume operations and updated it in April.
Didier Arino, head of the Protourisme consulting firm in Paris, told AFP this month that the pandemic has triggered $48.3 billion in losses to the cruise sector and he does not anticipate it to resume standard activity till 2025.
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