![]() “To reduce likelihood of onboard transmission, cruise ship operators should consider requiring travelers to get tested for current infection with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days before travel) and present their negative test result prior to boarding,” the CDC’s new update says. ![]() “In addition to the protection COVID-19 vaccines provide to individual travelers in preventing severe illness or death from COVID-19, having a high proportion of travelers on board who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines reduces the likelihood that cruise ships’ medical centers are overwhelmed by cases of COVID-19,” the CDC wrote in its new update.Ĭruise lines no longer have to require guests to test before embarkation, but the CDC is still recommending it, too. However, its new update is still recommending that “all eligible travelers be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC is no longer requiring cruise ships to operate vaccination-only voyages. Lines should consider denying boarding to those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 before boarding (unless they are testing negative), and those who have had close exposure within 5 days of embarkation should only be allowed onboard if they are up to date with their vaccines, asymptomatic, and have a negative viral test taken the day of embarkation. “Cruise ship operators should screen passengers for signs or symptoms of COVID-19, known close contact exposure to a person with COVID-19 within the 10 days before embarkation, or a positive COVID-19 viral test within 10 days before embarkation,” the CDC wrote in its new update. Here is just some of what the CDC is now recommending cruise operators do ( the full set of recommendations can be found here): Plans should include triggers for a graduated approach to outbreak management in response to increasing case counts or other public health concerns,” it added. “Cruise ship operators should carefully consider and incorporate these recommendations in developing their own health and safety protocols. The CDC said the guidelines were published “to assist cruise ship operators in establishing health and safety protections to reduce the risk of introduction and spread COVID-19 during passenger operations and preserve onboard medical capacity.” ![]() On Thursday, the CDC posted a new set of guidelines, which are not mandatory for cruise lines operating U.S.-based sailings. The CDC made the announcement on Monday, writing on its website that, “as of July 18, 2022, CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect” and it will no longer update pages that tracked cases onboard ships. Some cruise lines, like Virgin Voyages, moved to drop some COVID-era restrictions after the news came down this week. Waters effective immediately, opting for a new set of guidelines for public health operations on cruise ships. This week, news came out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was sunsetting its Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |