At the end of October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted the ban on cruise ship passenger operations by issuing a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. At the same time, they are recommending people to avoid going on a cruise for now, especially with the recent record-breaking 100,000 new positive Covid-19 cases in a single day.
In July, the CDC released a report describing Covid-19 transmission on cruise ships. The study revealed an outbreak of the disease on the ship Diamond Princess in February. Initially, there were 10 cases in January, which grew to over 600 cases out of 3,700 passengers a month later.
By early July, nearly 3,000 cases were associated with cruise ships where 80% of the ships were under United States jurisdiction. Many that have disembarked the cruise ships have gone home or stayed in other countries without self-isolating for 14 days of quarantine.
Risk of Traveling Via Cruise Ship
Researchers wrote the transmission rate onboard was four times higher than the R-naught value in Wuhan, where the virus outbreak started. However, isolation and quarantine prevented nearly 2,300 positive cases.
The new framework, said CDC Director Robert Redfield, is a guide for safe and responsible sailing to resume. The risk of coronavirus spreading between passengers, crew members, and communities can be avoided.
Passengers planning to travel via cruise ship are recommended to contact the cruise line companies for specific requirements. In March, the CDC also reminds travelers that they issued the Level 3 Travel Health Notice "with a clear recommendation to avoid all cruise travel" due to high levels of transmission just days after the No Sail Order was issued.
Health officials are anticipating that America may struggle through December with coronavirus cases. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation forecasted that during fall and winter, the daily death toll maybe three times higher than the current rate.
Resuming Cruise Ship Operations
The cruise industry and CDC share a common goal to protect everyone involved with cruise ships where public health procedures are in place before cruise ships sail with passengers on board. At the same time, their report on helping cruise ship travelers during the pandemic was also updated. Outbreaks spread rapidly on cruise ships since people spend time together within proximity from around the world.
The initial phases of resuming passenger operations will include testing crew members with additional safeguards. This will be followed by simulated voyages where volunteers will play the role of passengers for a realistic scenario of the cruise ship resuming operations with new safety requirements.
Originally, the No Sail Order was supposed to be extended to at least February 2021. However, the extension was overruled by VP Mike Pence who also leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
The CDC will also be helping cruise line companies establish a laboratory team dedicated to cruise ships. The existing color-coding system indicating ship status will be updated as well. For passenger surveillance, they will be provided the "Enhanced Data Collection (EDC) During COVID-19 Pandemic Form."
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