CDC Extends No Sail Order for Cruise Ships

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late on Thursday extended its “No Sail Order” for cruise ship sailing in the U.S.

Since the CDC issued the first 30-day “No Sail Order” on March 14, it said there are still at least 10 ships that have reported crew members or passengers have COVID-19 or symptoms of the virus. At least 20 additional ships at port in the U.S. have COVID-19 cases among crew members.

“We are working with the cruise line industry to address the health and safety of crew at sea as well as communities surrounding U.S. cruise ship points of entry,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said in a statement.

According to the CDC, the order will remain in effect until one of three situations occurs: federal health officials determine COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency, the CDC director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health, or “100 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.”

Until then, the about 100 cruise ships in the Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf of Mexico must remain idle, either in port or at anchor, the CDC said.

“The measures we are taking today to stop the spread of COVID-19 are necessary to protect Americans, and we will continue to provide critical public health guidance to the industry to limit the impacts of COVID-19 on its workforce throughout the remainder of this pandemic,” Redfield added.

The CDC said it is working with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard to “determine the most appropriate public health strategy to limit the impact of COVID-19 at cruise ship ports of entry in the United States.”

Cruise lines have already voluntarily suspended operations through mid-May—CLIA announced on March 13 that all of its member cruise lines would suspend operations for at least 30 days. CLIA, at the time, said the move was made in cooperation with the U.S. Government to help stem the spread of coronavirus.