Cruise ships with 250+ people will test all passengers, crew for COVID- 19, worldwide
cruise lines around the world have committed to testing every passenger and crew member for coVId- 19 prior to boarding, the industry’s leading trade group, cruise lines International association, said tuesday.
“clIa ocean cruise line members worldwide have agreed to conduct 100% testing of passengers and crew on all ships with a capacity to carry 250 or more persons – with a negative test required for any embarkation,” bari Golin- blaugrund, vice president of strategic communications for cruise lines International association, told USA Today in a statement.
“the global policy applies to ships capable of carrying 250 or more people, which is consistent with the policy in place as it relates to ships sailing from uS ports,” Golin- blaugrund confirmed.
the cdc’s “no- sail” order bars ships that can carry at least 250 passengers from cruising in uS waters until november 1. the testing requirement is “effective immediately worldwide,” Golin- blaugrund said.
clIa’s member lines carry 95% of the world’s oceangoing cruisers.
the cruise industry is the first in the travel and tourism sector to commit to worldwide, pre- embarkation testing of all passengers and crew. Several airlines have announced testing initiatives but not on an industry- wide basis.
“We see testing as an important initial step to a multi- layered approach that we believe validates the industry’s commitment to making health, safety, and the well- being of the passengers, the crew, and the communities we visit our top priority,” Golin- blaugrund continued.
clIa did not specify whether it will use rapid or pcr ( nasal swab) testing or whether passengers will be tested several days in advance or when they arrive at the port.
cruisers reacted to the news when posted on social media.
cruise youtuber couple cruise with ben & david responded positively, noting
they hope to get back to sea soon with a retweet of clIa’s news.
“Great to see but why are cruise being made to do things other forms of travel don’t have to?” they wrote on twitter. “We could literally get on a 4- hour flight and sit 3 inches next to a complete stranger with no test or even temperature check! crazy days, we just hope cruise & travel will be back soon!”
Stuart Falk responded to the duo with skepticism.
“Such quick result tests in any case are proven to be unreliable and don’t pick up coVId- 19 in its first several days of infection,” Falk wrote. “bottom line: no one should travel, particularly unnecessary leisure travel, until the cdc and their personal physicians tell give the all clear.”
another cruiser responded to clIa’s Instagram post that shared the news.
“Fantastic! We look forward to feeling more comfortable on our upcoming caribbean holiday cruise on # Seabourn,” wrote michelle m reavis.
clIa announced mandatory health protocols for ships subject to the cdc’s
“no- sail” order at the end of September. however, the other elements such as masks and physical distancing that were previously announced will not apply to ships worldwide.
although cruise lines are allowed to resume sailing as soon as november 1, many companies aren’t rushing back out to sea.
on monday, norwegian cruise line and its sister companies canceled all november sailings. carnival has scrubbed all remaining 2020 cruises except those sailing out of its home ports in Florida, and would not even commit to those. princess cruises, a carnival subsidiary, has extended its operational suspension through december 15. Virgin Voyages, which debuted in 2020, has also canceled all of its november sailings, spokesperson michelle estevam confirmed to USA Today.
however, carnival, royal caribbean and norwegian have all indicated on earnings calls that booking numbers for 2021 remain strong as customers look forward to taking the cruises they missed out on this year. ( uSa today/ tnS)
in accordance with the coalition agreement both parties signed to establish the current government.
“If the Likud wants to initiate elections at the expense of unemployed and ill citizens, we will not only not allow it, Netanyahu will also not be prime minister.”
Shai added that there are members of the right- wing parties who would cooperate with Blue and White in an effort to topple Netanyahu.
“There are tools and there are people who will stop him from determining a new round of elections. There are also people on the right who will do this.”
Zohar said in response that Shai’s threats were empty and that an alternative government in the current Knesset was not realistic.
“Blue and White has no public legitimacy to take the leadership of the country.
They would get six Knesset seats on a good day, if they would even pass the electoral threshold.”
Likud MK Gideon Sa’ar, an opponent of Netanyahu who ran against him in the most recent Likud primary, resigned from his membership of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Saturday night, due to what he said was its lack of oversight capabilities over the government’s COVID- 19 decisions.
Saar said he had objected in particular to restrictions on small businesses which employ less than 10 people, when gatherings of up to ten people are permitted.
In protests against Netanyahu, tens of thousands of protesters went to the streets on Saturday night, each closer to home than Balfour Street in Jerusalem due to the current coronavirus restrictions.
Expressing their continued dissatisfaction with the prime minister’s leadership and government corruption for the 16th straight week, demonstrators nationwide at over 1,000 locations cried out, “This is Balfour, too,” arguing that their lack of proximity to Netanyahu’s official residence does not make a difference to the movement.
The largest and “central” protest took place in Habima Square in Tel Aviv with hundreds and possibly thousands of protesters in attendance. Hundreds of protesters also attended the demonstrations in Mevaseret Zion.