WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent a letter to major cruise line companies asking for their plans of action in response to the rapidly spreading coronavirus (or SARS-CoV-2, abbreviated as COVID-19).  

“Through this letter, we hope to ascertain how the cruise line industry is preparing and responding COVID-19, including the specific steps that are being taken by the industry and the Federal government to fully understand and mitigate risk to the traveling public, as well as cruise ship crews, port employees, and the public,” Ranking Member Cantwell wrote. 

In her letter, Ranking Member Cantwell requested specific information regarding pandemic response plans, cleaning policies, existing protocol for notifying passengers when any serious communicable disease is detected, and cancellation policies. The CDC recently confirmed that the virus can live on surfaces for up to a full day. 

Previously, Ranking Member Cantwell sent letters to every major airline and airport in the United States, requesting specific information on their plans of action regarding the outbreak and how it will affect the traveling public. She also wrote to Amtrak and the Department of Transportation about the potential spread of coronavirus via train travel. In a March 4^th Aviation and Space Subcommittee hearing, Senator Cantwell questioned officials from the Department of Transportation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how agencies will work with the private sector to provide accurate and ample testing for people who want and need to get tested. 

Ranking Member Cantwell’s letter can be found HERE.