COVID-19 AND CRUISE LINES
On or about January 20, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) reported cases of COVID-19 in Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. China’s central government created an emergency task force at the epicenter of the outbreak, in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province.
By January 22, 2020, the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak was widely known, and the city of Wuhan was locked down. By the end of January, dozens of individuals had died in China from COVID-19. More than 1,400 people had become infected across the world. China had restricted travel for more than 30 million people.
By January 31, 2020, , it was estimated that approximately 75,000 people in Wuhan were infected with the coronavirus and/or stricken with COVID-19. WHO declared a global health emergency. The United States declared a public health emergency. U.S. citizens who had been in China’s Hubei Province during the prior 14 days were subject to two weeks of mandatory quarantine. Major airlines suspended flights to and from mainland China. Within days, Taiwan’s Health Authority would ban all international cruise ships.
Were you on one of those cruise ships?
An estimated 30 million passengers are transported on approximately 300 cruise ships worldwide each year. Cruise ships bring individuals from diverse backgrounds into close proximity with each other for many consecutive days.
Domestically, defendants and other cruise lines are required to comply with the Centers for Disease Control’s (“CDC”) Vessel Sanitation Program, which tracks gastrointestinal outbreaks affecting 3% or more of a ship’s crew and passengers. It is estimated that between 2010 and 2020, Princess Cruises experienced 26 ship-wide outbreaks that affected at least three percent of the passengers. Nonetheless, receiving compensation for injuries suffered as a result of a coronavirus outbreak on a vessel presents unique legal and factual challenges.
Urbanic & Associates is leading the fight against cruise lines who failed to take precautions against the coronavirus and/or address outbreaks on their ships. If you were a passenger on a cruise line between January and March, 2020, you should be aware of your rights. Contact us immediately.
START PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS NOW
If you think that you have been the subject of COVID-19 violations, it’s time to take action. Let’s talk about your options for justice. To speak directly to Urbanic & Associates, call (310) 216-0900 or send our firm an email using the contact form on this page.
From our offices based in Los Angeles, Urbanic & Associates provides superior representation to clients throughout Los Angeles County and southern California.
