The legal battle between Florida and the Cruise Industry continues, the CDC updates it's high risk list, and there are updates on vaccination requirements and the Air Travel industry.
Cruise Industry v. Florida
The legal battle continues between Florida and the Cruise Industry. A U.S. judge recently allowed Norwegian Cruise Line’s to require passengers to show written proof of vaccination before boarding. This is a result of a lawsuit brought against the State of Florida over a law, signed by the Governor in May, that would ban cruise ships from requiring proof of vaccination. Norwegian Cruise Line plans to start sailing out of Florida starting August 15th. The law would have put Norwegian at odds with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention which requires that at least 95% of passengers are vaccinated.
The order, if it stood, could also interfere with Cruise ships sailing from Florida. Any foreign flagged ship leaving or arriving in a U.S. port are required by U.S. law to dock in at least one foreign port. By allowing unvaccinated passengers to board, most or all foreign ports could be closed, effectively ending the sailing before it begins. Most larger cruise ships are foreign flagged.
CDC Updates High Risk List
On Monday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added 7 destinations to it’s “Level 4: COVID-19 Very High” risk level. Those destination are:
The CDC advises people to avoid travel to any destination listed as level 4, and recommends that anyone traveling to these locations be fully vaccinated. And of course the CDC has been recommending that you avoid any international travel until you are fully vaccinated.
Visit the CDC’s website for an up-to-date list.
Vaccine & Air Travel
The CEO of United Airlines, and the CEO of Delta Airlines have said that they doesn’t anticipate a vaccination requirement for travel within the U.S., but that it is a future possibility for international travel. Now this is just opinion, granted given their positions their opinions do carry weight. United Airlines requires that all of its employees in the U.S. get vaccinated before October 25, 2021 or risk termination. However SouthWest Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines have no such requirement in place. Though these airlines have been strongly encouraging their employees to get vaccinated.