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A Miami federal judge on Sunday night granted Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit challenging Florida’s ban on vaccine passports.
Why is this important: According to a statement from Norwegian, the order from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams will allow the cruise giant to “operate in the safest manner possible with 100% vaccination of all guests and crew when they sail from Florida ports “.
- Its ship Norwegian Gem is due to leave Miami on August 15 – marking the company’s first trip from Florida since the pandemic disrupted the cruise industry’s operations last year.
- U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ ruling is a blow to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) – who signed a bill in May banning businesses from requiring customers to prove they have received COVID-19 vaccines, saying getting the shot should be a “personal choice.”
- Florida’s ban went into effect July 1, and Norwegian faces a fine of up to $ 5,000 for each violation.
What they say : Williams wrote in her order that she made the decision because Florida failed to “provide valid legal evidence, facts or predicates” for the ban.
- Williams also noted that “Scientific research shows cruise lines are hotbeds of COVID-19 transmission” and that Norwegian “has demonstrated that public health will be compromised if it is forced to suspend its vaccination requirements.”
The big picture: Hospitalizations and coronavirus cases are increasing in Florida. DeSantis blamed the peak on a “seasonal pattern” and “media hysteria.”
- In another case, the Florida attorney general asked the Supreme Court to block CDC protocols requiring cruise lines to meet specific conditions before returning to sea.
What to watch: Peter Patterson, representing Florida and State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees at a hearing Friday, said the state could take the Norwegian case to the United States Supreme Court, Politico notes.
- The Florida Department of Health and the Florida governor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Read Williams’ Order, first obtained by Politico, in its entirety via DocumentCloud:
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