CDC Lowers Covid Treat Level for Cruising

As we approach the resumption of sailing from U.S. ports of call, the CDC has lowered the threat level for vaccinated guests and provided recommendations for all travelers. 

Key Information for Cruise Ship Travelers Who Are Not Fully Vaccinated 

• CDC recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide. Since the virus spreads more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships, the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high. It is especially important that people who are not fully vaccinated with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises. 
• Cruise passengers who are not fully vaccinated are more likely to get COVID-19, which spreads person-to-person, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships. 
• People who decide to go on a cruise should get tested 1–3 days before their trip and 3–5 days after their trip. 
• In addition to testing, passengers who are not fully vaccinated should self-quarantine for 7 days after cruise travel, even if they test negative. If they do not get tested, they should self-quarantine for 10 days after cruise travel. 
• See recommendations for cruise ship travelers.

There still is no outcome on the battle between Florida and the CDC regarding requirements for vaccinations.  That suit is still pending.  Also, there is no clear answer on how cruise lines will be able to enforce the current vaccination requirement with the ban in Florida for businesses to require vaccines.  Celebrity Edge sails June 26th, so we should know soon.

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CDC Update on Masks and Shore Excursions

 

Today the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) made updates to its COVID-19 Operations Manual for Simulated and Restricted Voyages under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order.

With these updates from CDC, the cruise lines are closer to having their clarifying questions answered.

Mask Use - Fully Vaccinated Travelers:

• Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may gather or conduct activities outdoors, including engaging in extended meal service or beverage consumption, without wearing a mask except in crowded settings.

 

Shore Excursions - Fully Vaccinated Travelers:

• Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors. The cruise ship operator is additionally advised that foreign jurisdictions may have their own requirements.

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CDC Releases Next Phase to Resume Cruising

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the next phase of technical guidance under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) requiring cruise lines to establish agreements at ports where they intend to operate, implement routine testing of crew, and develop plans incorporating vaccination strategies to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19 by crew and passengers.  

This phase, the second of the CSO issued in October 2020, provides technical instructions on: 

• Increasing from weekly to daily the reporting frequency of COVID-19 cases and illnesses.
• Implementing routine testing of all crew based on each ship’s color status. 
• Updating the color-coding system used to classify ships’ status with respect to COVID-19.
• Decreasing the time needed for a “red” ship to become “green” from 28 to 14 days based on the availability of onboard testing, routine screening testing protocols, and daily reporting. 
• Creating planning materials for agreements that port authorities and local health authorities must approve to ensure cruise lines have the necessary infrastructure in place to manage an outbreak of COVID-19 on their ships to include healthcare capacity and housing to isolate infected people and quarantine those who are exposed. 
• Establishing a plan and timeline for vaccination of crew and port personnel. 

The next phase of the CSO will include simulated (trial) voyages that will allow crew and port personnel to practice new COVID-19 operational procedures with volunteers before sailing with passengers. 

CDC is committed to working with the cruise industry and seaport partners to resume cruising when it is safe to do so, following the phased approach outlined in the CSO. 

COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical in the safe resumption of passenger operations. As more people are fully vaccinated, the phased approach allows CDC to incorporate these advancements into planning for resumption of cruise ship travel when it is safe to do so. CDC recommends that all eligible port personnel and travelers (passengers and crew) get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to them. 

Cruising safely and responsibly during a global pandemic is difficult. While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, following the phases of the CSO will ensure cruise ship passenger operations are conducted in a way that protects crew members, passengers, and port personnel, particularly with emerging COVID-19 variants of concern. 

CDC will continue to update its guidance and recommendations to specify basic safety standards and public health interventions based on the best scientific evidence available. For more information about COVID-19 and cruise ships, please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/cruise-ship/what-cdc-is-doing.html and www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise.

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CDC Publishes Conditional Sailing Order

Framework for Conditional Sailing Order for Cruise Ships

On October 30, 2020, CDC issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. This Order is effective upon signature and will soon be published in the Federal Register. 

This Order shall remain in effect until the earliest of the expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency, the CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or November 1, 2021.

Phased Approach for Sailing Resumption

Since COVID-19 is still a global threat, CDC indicated that a careful approach is needed to safely resume cruise ship passenger operations.  They are creating a phased approach to mitigate the risk to passengers and crew, prevent the further spread of COVID-19 from cruise ships into U.S. communities, and protect health and safety.  This approach will be implemented after the existing No Sail Order expires on October 31, 2020.

“During the initial phases, cruise ship operators must demonstrate adherence to testing, quarantine and isolation, and social distancing requirements to protect crew members while they build the laboratory capacity needed to test crew and future passengers," CDC explained.

Subsequent phases will include simulated voyages to test cruise ship operators' ability to mitigate COVID-19 risk, certification of ships that meet certain requirements, and a phased return to cruise ship passenger voyages in a manner that mitigates risk to passengers, crew, and U.S. communities.

COVID-19 Testing of All Crew

Within 60 days of the effective date of this Order, cruise ship operators must collect clinical specimens of all crew currently onboard ships and have those specimens tested in onshore CDC-approved laboratories.

CDC will provide guidance, including best practices for obtaining and transporting the specimens.  They may also observe the collection of specimens remotely to oversee the operations.

Cruise ship operators will report the results in aggregate to the CDC.

Diagnostic Testing Capability for Symptomatic Travelers 

(Crew & Future Passengers)

During this 60 day period, cruise ship operators, in conjunction with the CDC, must develop onboard testing capabilities for symptomatic travelers (crew and future passengers) for COVID-19 and close contacts.  After the 60 day period, laboratory testing will be required of all crew on a weekly basis (or other interval as directed by the CDC).  

All cruise ships must procure approved rapid RT-PCR point-of -care equipment to test symptomatic travelers.  This is the preferred testing method over the less-sensitive antigen testing methods.

Onboard medical clinic staff must be competent in specimen collection,  be able to use the equipment, follow manufacturer's guidelines, and have access to personal protection equipment (PPE) for specimen collection and handling.   CDC will remotely oversee operations.

Shoreside Testing of Embarking Crew

On the day of land-based crews' embarkation, specimens must be obtained and immediately transported to an approved onshore laboratory for testing using RT-PCR equipment.

All embarking land-based crew must be quarantined onboard for 14 days.  Those who test positive must be isolated until criteria are met to discontinue isolation according to current CDC guidelines. Once again, CDC may remotely oversee the operations.

Paramount Objectives of Order

• Preserving human life
• Preserving the health and safety of cruise ship crew members, port personnel and communities
• Prevent the further introduction, transmission, and spread of COVID-19 into and throughout the United States
• Preserving the public health and other critical resources of Federal, State, and Local governments
• Preserving hospital, healthcare, and emergency response resources within the United States
• Maintaining the safety of shipping and harbor conditions

 

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