A federal court granted a preliminary injunction against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its conditional sail order that has shut down the cruise industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has delayed that injunction for a month to let the CDC propose some changes.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday is part of a larger lawsuit brought by the state of Florida that contends the CDC has overstepped its authority through its orders that have limited cruise lines’ ability to return to business.
By granting the injunction, the court deemed that Florida was likely to succeed in the overall case on its merits, demonstrating the state would be harmed if the order continues, but also sent both the state and CDC back to mediation.