Appeals court sided with CDC on COVID-19 rules for cruise ships

A U.S. appeals court issued an order temporarily blocking a decision by a Florida federal judge last month that barred the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from enforcing coronavirus-era navigation orders.

A panel of the 11th United States Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to grant the temporary stay shortly before the previous order of Judge Steven Merryday of the Middle District of Florida was made on Sunday, Reuters reports .

The decision comes months after the governor of Florida. Ron DeSantisRon DeSantis Cuba and Haiti pose major challenges for Florida Democrats Florida’s Crist urges Biden to provide direct federal aid to Cuban people White House: Florida accounts for 20% of all new COVID-19 infections PLUS (R) announced the state’s lawsuit against the federal government, arguing the CDC was overstepping its authority with navigation orders and health requirements for cruise lines.

Under the agency’s orders, cruise passengers were required to adhere to a set of tests and safety measures before taking to the water after a number of COVID-19 outbreaks were recorded during the cruises. last year.

In Merryday’s decision siding with Florida on the matter last month, the judge said the state “is very likely to prevail over the merits of the contention that the conditional navigation order of the CDC and enforcement orders go beyond delegated authority “to the agency.”

“Never has the CDC conditioned practice in such a broad and cumbersome way as the conditional starting order; and never has the CDC imposed restrictions that summarily rejected the effectiveness of state regulation and shut down for a long time an entire multi-billion dollar industry nationwide, ”he said. written in order, which DeSantis then praised.

“In short, the CDC has never implemented measures as extensive, crippling and exclusive as those examined in this action”, also wrote the judge.

But the Department of Justice (DOJ) rejected the case in a case filed with the appeals court last week, Reuters noted.

The department reportedly said on the record that “there is no basis for lifting the COVID-19 health and safety protocols that have been developed by (CDC) in conjunction with the cruise ship industry.”

In its decision on Saturday night granting the federal government its motion to stay the previous order, the court said the appellants “have made the necessary show” and that its views on the decision will follow soon.