US no-sail order extended to 31 October

CDC data records "at least" 3,689 Covid or "Covid-like" cases of illness on cruise ships in US waters from 1 March to 29 September, with 41 reported deaths, although the CDC said these figures were likely to be an underestimate.

The CDC said recent outbreaks onboard cruise ships were evidence cruising "continues to transmit and amplify" the spread of Covid-19, "even when ships sail at reduced passenger capacities".

It added this would "likely spread the infection into US communities if passenger operations were to resume prematurely".

"The challenges described in the no sail order highlight the need for further action before cruise ships can safely resume passenger operations in the United States," said the CDC.

"Recent passenger voyages in foreign countries continue to have outbreaks, despite cruise ship operators having extensive health and safety protocols to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [Covid-19] on board and spread to communities where passengers disembark.

"When health and safety protocols were apparently observed, resuming passenger operations significantly burdened public health authorities by creating the need for additional testing, isolation of infected travellers, contact tracing, and quarantine of exposed people."

The CDC added: "The continued spread of the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide, risk of resurgence in countries that have suppressed transmission, ongoing concerns related to restarting of cruising internationally, and need for additional time to assess industry measures to control potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission on board cruise ships with passengers without burdening public health, support continuation of the no sail order at this time."

TTG is awaiting comment from Clia.