The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer report COVID-19 levels aboard cruise ships in U.S. waters.
In a notice posted on the CDC website for cruise ship travel advisories, the agency said it ended its pandemic program as of Monday.“CDC has worked closely with the cruise industry, state, territorial, and local health authorities, and federal and seaport partners to provide a safer and healthier environment for cruise passengers and crew,” the agency stated. “Cruise ships have access to guidance and tools to manage their own COVID-19 mitigation programs.
The CDC said it will no longer update its cruise ship program webpage. It has also removed its color-coded chart indicating the level of spread on board each ship due to cruise lines not having “the same COVID-19 screening testing standards.”“While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers will make their own risk assessment when choosing to travel on a cruise ship, much like they do in all other travel settings,” the CDC said in a statement.