Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In Win For CDC, Court Says Cruise Ship Guidelines Are Rules, Not Suggestions
Miami Herald: Appeals Court Sides With CDC, Norwegian Cruise Lines Over DeSantis On Vaccination Rules
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 guidelines for cruise lines returning to operation are rules, not suggestions, a federal appeals court ruled Saturday night, reversing a lower court decision in favor of the state of Florida. The 2-1 decision by the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals judges was a win for the CDC and, by extension, Norwegian Cruise Lines, which filed an amicus brief in this case. (Neal, 7/18)
South Florida Sun Sentinel: Court Sides With CDC On COVID-19 Cruise Ship Regulations
In its request for the stay of the injunction, the CDC said that by keeping its safety protocols for cruises in place, it was not shutting the cruise industry down but rather providing a framework for them to continue operating safely during the pandemic. The CDC has battled the state of Florida over the department’s regulations for cruise ships for the past few months. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis originally filed the lawsuit against the CDC in April. (Randall and Svekis, 7/18)
The Wall Street Journal: CDC’s Covid-19 Cruise Guidelines To Stay In Place For Now
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has highlighted his battle against the federal government over restarting cruises, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The CDC also didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. (Lovett, 7/18)
In related news about vaccine passports —
Newsweek: Vaccine Passport: The Government Can't Share Your Data, But Airlines Can
While these passports continue to garner visceral political reactions, differing from state to state, public companies and nongovernmental organizations have quietly rolled out passports of their own. American Airlines, United, and The Commons Project Foundation, a digital health non-profit, have all created their own passports. In accordance with the privacy policies of these passports, the companies and organizations that collect and store data pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccination status of individuals can share that information with third-party companies, including customs and border officials, business affiliates, contractors, and marketing providers—often for profit. (Rouhandeh and Green, 7/16)
