As the Delta variant of the covid-19 virus causes infection rates to increase globally, some big businesses, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, have responded by establishing vaccination requirements. This has prompted legal challenges from civil libertarians and vaccine sceptics.
Norwegian plans to make its first departure in many months on August 15 from Miami. However, its requirement for all passengers to provide proof of their vaccine status, with plans to turn away anyone who refuses to prove their vaccine status, will go against Florida’s law. Florida has forbidden any businesses, government entities and schools from requiring proof of vaccine status in exchange for a service, with exceptions for the healthcare sector. The state’s ban on “vaccine passports” came into effect on July 1. For each violation of the ban, Norwegian will face a fine of up to $5,000.
In court papers, the American cruise company said that enforcing Florida’s law would have a devastating impact on its employees, passengers, and suppliers as it would have no choice but to cancel the cruise. Norwegian has vouched to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it would confirm at least 95% of passengers had been vaccinated against covid-19.
