Brian Morgenstern, the White House deputy press secretary, said that the administration’s cruise ship plans were not politically motivated. guidelines — despite objections from the agency’s own scientists — saying that people without symptoms did not need to be tested for the coronavirus. The cruise ship industry has considerable political influence in Florida, a state Mr. Trump is fighting hard to win in the election. The Cruise Lines International Association said that the industry generates $53 billion annually in economic activity. The Florida Ports Council said that state’s cruise industry, the largest in the nation, has been the hardest hit by the coronavirus.

Source: International New York Times September 30, 2020 16:38 UTC