The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has rejected a new request to lift its no-sail order that would allow ships to hit the waters by July, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
- The CDC said it will stand by its current no-sail order, which ends on Nov. 1, according to the AJC.
When did the CDC reject the request?
The Cruise Lines International Association called on the CDC to lift its no-sail order that was originally issued back in October 2020, USA Today reports.. The CLIA wanted ships to hit the seas again by July.
The CLIA said that CDC has been slow to make any changes to its sail order.
- “The lack of any action by the CDC has effectively banned all sailings in the largest cruise market in the world,” the cruise line association said in a statement Wednesday, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
However, the CDC reportedly rejected the idea and decided to keep the order until at least Nov. 1.
- “Returning to passenger cruising is a phased approach to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19,” said Caitlin Shockey, spokesperson for the CDC, according to USA Today. “Details for the next phase of the CSO are currently under interagency review.”
Why is there still a no-sail order?
Dr. Martin Cetron, director for the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine for the CDC, told USA Today that cruise ships could lead to more spread since people continually leave ships to visit specific locations, which could increase spread of the virus.
- “Now the virus is amplified ... and scattered,” Cetron told USA Today. “It’s quite clear this is a formula for accelerated introduction, transmission and then accelerated spread.”
Are any cruise ships running?
Disney Cruise Line recently announced its own itineraries and destinations for the summer 2022 cruise season, a sign that cruise lines could return by 2022, as the Deseret News’ Nate Schwartz reported.