
Why Should Corporate Businesses Focus on Sustainability?
For all businesses in all sectors, paying attention to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges is becoming increasingly …
August 10, 2021: -On Sunday, Norwegian Cruise Line said 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 customer vaccine documentation while the case heads to trial. The Norwegian Gem is scheduled to depart Miami on August 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.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, infection levels in Florida have risen 51% in the last seven days. The state reported 134,506 new Covid cases from July 30 to August 5, more than any other 7-day period tracked by JHU, and new case positivity is at 18.9%.
“It’s scary what’s happening in Florida,” Derek Shaffer, an attorney for Norwegian Cruise Line, said during a court hearing held Friday to request the injunction.
Norwegian CEO Frank Del Rio said the company is trying to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
“The health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit is our number one priority, today, tomorrow, and forever,” Del Rio said in a statement Sunday. “It’s not a slogan or a tagline; we fiercely mean it, and our commitment to these principles is demonstrated by the lengths our Company has gone through to provide the safest possible cruise experience from Florida.”
On Friday, Florida attorney Pete Patterson said the law protects customer’s civil liberties and prevents businesses from discriminating against the unvaccinated.
“You can’t discriminate against customers based on their refusal to give you information,” Patterson said.
Suppose the cruise line had not received the injunction and continued to request proof of vaccination for the upcoming voyage. In that case, it could have been subject to prosecution and fines of up to $5,000 per passenger under Florida law.
In his argument, Shaffer said, “no cruise line in Norwegian’s position can afford to withstand” a fine of that amount. Shaffer claimed the Florida legislature wants to “score political points” in the vaccination debate.
If the law stays in place, the cruise operator could be forced to cancel upcoming cruises or “sail in ways that are worse for our passengers and crew,” Shaffer said.
The company, which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, filed suit against the Florida surgeon general in July, challenging the law.
The cruise operator plans to require all guests and crew on its voyages to be completely vaccinated and will require them to take Covid-19 tests before embarkation.
On Friday, Norwegian said its second-quarter loss grew to $717.8 million, or $1.94 per share, on $4.37 million. The company expects it will continue to post losses until the cruise line can resume regular voyages.
For all businesses in all sectors, paying attention to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges is becoming increasingly …
As we approach 2023, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest trends and developments in the business world. According to recent statistics, there …
The way technological solutions are operated in the cloud is different. It is more about developing and implementing business rules than it is about technological …
What advantages do social media platforms offer to businesses? Think about the fact that there are already more than 4.2 billion active social media users …
A new year is around the corner, and it is high time we bid goodbye not only to old habits but also to old trends which become outdated and …
Organisations are stepping up their efforts to promote their workforce’s welfare and mental health. Employers frequently see an employee’s …
Immunogen, Inc. (IMGN) announced Thursday that biopharmaceutical giant AbbVie (ABBV) has agreed to be acquired in a deal worth …
According to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book released Wednesday, the U.S. economy showed signs of slowing down in recent weeks, with …
BlackCat, a notorious ransomware group, has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Fidelity National Financial, a leading financial services technology …
In a significant step towards achieving its ambitious sustainability goals, Google has announced the successful operation of its first geothermal …
Leave us a message
Subscribe
Fill the form our team will contact you
Advertise with us
Fill the form our team will contact you