11/02/2020
Cruise ships may resume voyages under new CDC rules
Large cruise ships will soon be able to start sailing again in U.S. waters. The CDC issued new rules on Friday that will require ship owners to test all passengers and crew for covid-19 twice at the start and at the end of all voyages, which will be limited to seven days. The no-sail order's latest renewal was set to expire Saturday. The CDC wanted to extend the order until February, but the White House blocked the attempt because of its effect on Florida's tourism industry.
■Class discussion: Would you be willing to sail on a cruise ship under the rules requiring coronavirus testing? Do you think testing alone can stop the spread of covid-19 when many people are gathered together in restricted spaces? Cruise ships usually make stops in various vacation ports. Could passengers become infected during a stop and spread the coronavirus when they return to the ship? Are the health risks worth saving the tourism industry and its jobs?