Friday's order applies to cruise ships with the capacity to carry at least 250 passengers. Crew members firstThe British cruise ship MS Braemar was one of numerous cruise ships around the world that desparately searched for a port in March as pandemic lockdowns swept the world. The phased return begins while cruise ship operators build lab capacity to test crew members and future passengers. CDC: Safety firstThe CDC notes that recent outbreaks on cruise ships overseas show that even when passenger capacity is reduced, cruise ship travel amplifies transmission. A phased approach will allow the cruise industry to test the effectiveness of mitigation measures on cruise ships without burdening public health, the CDC said.

Source: The Nation October 30, 2020 22:41 UTC