Norwegian Cruise Line can require Florida passengers to show proof of Covid vaccination, federal judge rules – By Nadine El-Bawab (CNBC) / Aug 8 2021
- A federal judge granted Norwegian Cruise Line’s request for a preliminary injunction.
- The court’s decision clears the way for Norwegian Cruise Line to require customers to show proof they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
- The cruise operator is challenging a Florida law that bans businesses from asking customers to document to their vaccination status.
Norwegian Cruise Line said Sunday that a federal judge ruled to temporarily halt enforcement of a Florida law prohibiting businesses from requiring customers to show proof of vaccination.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams granted the preliminary injunction, allowing Norwegian to require vaccine documentation from customers while the case heads to trial. The Norwegian Gem is scheduled to depart Miami on Aug. 15. It is the cruise line’s first trip from the state since the pandemic halted the cruise industry’s operations more than a year ago.
Infection levels in Florida have risen 51% in the last seven days, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The state reported 134,506 new Covid cases from July 30 to Aug. 5, more than any other 7-day period tracked by JHU, and new case positivity is at 18.9%.
