CDC seeks input on cruise resumption

THE United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a public Request For Information (RFI) related to cruise ship planning and infrastructure and the resumption of passenger operations.

Submissions are being sought from any interested persons or organisations by 21 Sep, commenting on a series of questions such as “what methods, strategies and practices should cruise ship operators implement to prevent COVID-19 transmission when operating with passengers?”

The CDC is also asking for input on the frequency of coronavirus testing of all passengers and crew, the feasibility of conducting diagnostic testing on board a cruise ship, and methods of encouraging reporting of cases to the CDC.

Shoreside quarantine facilities, plans to repatriate passengers and crew in the event of an outbreak, and onboard innovations to decrease or prevent the spread of COVID-19 on board cruise ships are also part of the discussion.

Once passenger operations resume, the CDC asks whether operators should deny boarding to passengers with COVID-19 symptoms, or to those with known exposure to an infected person during the prior 14 days and what if any compensation or incentives should be provided to encourage self-reporting by pax.

Other questions include whether boarding should be denied to passengers coming from areas with high incidence of COVID-19, and whether it should be a requirement that passengers and crew be tested before embarkation.

The CDC also asks if pax and crew loads should be reduced to decrease the risk of transmission, and if so then to what extent and for how long - and what the impact of that would be on the economic viability of cruise lines.

Operating shorter voyages, a possible requirement for single-occupancy rooms with private bathrooms for crew, and the provision of mental health services to crew and passengers during quarantine or isolation are also canvassed by the CDC.

The RFI also asks for input on protocols for on-board dining, embarkation and disembarkation, entertainment, safety drills and shore excursions.

The CDC also asks about the benefits of any measures, in terms of averted deaths and illnesses, and how that compares to the expected financial costs.

The full CDC document is available at federalregister.gov.