Delayed Paradise In The Pacific & Cruising In The USA
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger
If you’re searching for paradise in the Pacific or on any waters around the United States, then put off those travel plans for a while.
Hawaii has extended its quarantine for travelers until Sept. 1. It was originally due to expire Aug. 1
Also, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has banned all cruises in U.S. waters until Sept. 30. That was originally set to expire on Sept. 15.
Both are a blow to both the tourism industry and to tourists. But both are used to it by now in this coronavirus era.
Hawaii had planned to let tourists back onto the islands without having to quarantine for 14 days, as long as they had proof they had not tested positive within three days of departure.
While that’s a pretty tough hoop to jump through – let’s say you got tested within three days but your results did not come back until after your scheduled departure – it was still a step to having people travel to Hawaii without having to sit in your hotel room for two weeks.
Now that is being delayed until Sept. 1. And if outbreaks continue into mid-August, it will no doubt be extended until October.
Cruises Put On Hold – Again
Cruise ships keep booking and then refunding passengers, or giving them credit for future sailings, and that’s going to continue thru the summer.
That is because CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, citing data that shows at least 2,973 Covid-19 infections or Covid-like illnesses as well as 34 deaths came from cruise ships since the CDC started tracking the data earlier this year, halted all cruising in U.S. waters thru September.
“These data have also revealed a total of 99 outbreaks on 123 different cruise ships, meaning that 80% of ships within U.S. jurisdiction were affected by COVID-19 during this time frame,” Redfield wrote in the letter. “In addition, 9 ships still have ongoing or resolving COVID-19 outbreaks on board.”
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