Texas files to join Florida's lawsuit against CDC over cruise shutdown

PHOTO: ROBERT MIHOVIL CRUISE_Carnival_ships_Galveston_Photo_Robert_Mihovil.jpg
The Port of Galveston welcome Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista
Texas on Wednesday filed a motion to intervene in Florida's lawsuit against the US federal government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the cruise shutdown.

Texas follows Alaska in doing so and has a 'significant stake in the outcome of this litigation,' the motion states.

It claims CDC's conditional sailing order has already cost $1.2bn in direct spending, 23,000 jobs and $1.6bn in lost wages across Texas.

The Port of Galveston, which handled nearly 1.1m passengers in 2019, has 'emerged as perhaps uniquely situated to address COVID-19 concerns,' according to the complaint.

Medical resources

The reasons cited: The port is located within a mile of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, one of the country's largest academic hospitals, which has implemented an infectious disease management plan. Also, the port has held a tabletop exercise preparing for possible COVID outbreaks aboard ship.

This week Galveston hosted COVID-19 vaccinations managed by UTMB for crew members from Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista in conjunction with a rally in support of cruising.