Month: July 2021

Canadian health officials announced on Monday that American citizens who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed entry into Canada for non-essential travel, beginning next month. The Public Health Agency of Canada said in an official update that beginning Aug. 9, Americans who have completed regimens of approved vaccines can enter the country for discretionary travel if they can provide proof of vaccination and meet several other criteria. Unvaccinated American children under the age of 12 will also be allowed entry after Aug. 9 if accompanied by a qualified parent or adult guardian.

When the new rules are implemented, non-essential travel between the United States and Canada would be allowed to resume for the first time since the earliest stages of the pandemic in March 2020. The government said it intends to further open its borders starting Sept. 7 when it will allow fully vaccinated travelers from any country to enter Canada as long as they can show they had become immunized at least 14 days before entry.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters his government has been in “close communication” with the U.S. administration about the move, saying: “I can tell you that as we made decisions around reopening to the world in early September and to American travelers a few weeks before that we kept the American government fully apprised of exactly those issues,” adding, “every country makes its own decisions about its own borders.”

Ben & Jerry’s, which is owned by Unilever, will no longer sell ice cream in occupied Palestinian territories, saying it’s inconsistent with the values of the socially conscious brand. The ice cream company has been doing business in Israel since 1987. The Vermont-based company has aligned itself with liberal causes, including diverting some funds destined for police departments and investing “that money in community-driven solutions that foster real health, peacekeeping, and safety.” The company called on the United States to end white supremacy and launched a podcast on racism in America last year.

Customers have criticized the company for its business in Israel, particularly in West Bank settlements, arguing it doesn’t align with Ben & Jerry’s liberal image. In 2015, Ben & Jerry’s posted on its website that it was “keenly aware of how complex the local market can be,” and it believed it could affect positive change by maintaining a presence in the region. However on Monday, Ben & Jerry’s had a change of heart, saying it heard and recognized the concerns shared by its fans and partners. Ben & Jerry’s said it informed its licensee in Israel that its agreement will not be renewed when it expires at the end of 2022. After then, Ben & Jerry’s will no longer be sold in the Palestinian territories. The company’s ice cream will, however, continue to be sold in Israel, “through a different arrangement.”

Israel’s new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, criticized the decision and said that Ben & Jerry’s has decided to brand itself as the”anti-Israel ice cream.” Ayelet Shaked, Israel’s minister of interior, tweeted, “Your ice cream is not in line with our taste,” she said. “We will manage without you.”

Editorial credit: James R. Martin / Shutterstock.com

A federal appeals court has blocked a ruling that prevented the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) from imposing guidelines for cruise lines to return to operation. A panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to stay the order that stated cruise lines were not bound to the CDC’s “conditional sailing order” following a lawsuit filed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Middle District of Florida granted a preliminary injunction last month to suspend the mandatory guidelines for cruise ships through Sunday, which allowed ships to depart from Florida with the CDC requirements remaining “as only a non-binding ‘consideration,’ ‘recommendation’ or ‘guideline’ as in the case for other industries such as railroads and hotels.” The sailing order required cruise ships to ensure that at least 95% of crew and passengers were vaccinated or to commit to taking volunteers on a series of “test” cruises demonstrating how they would mitigate COVID-19 risks before resuming regular voyages with paying customers. Sunday’s ruling stayed the injunction, allowing the restrictions to remain in place.

Norwegian Cruise Lines filed an amicus brief in the case challenging a Florida law that prohibits cruise lines from requiring passengers to show proof of vaccination. The cruise line is set to resume operations on Aug. 15 and said in the suit that the only way it could “maintain its protocols and operations as currently planned is by abandoning Florida altogether.” On June 27, the Celebrity Edge became the first cruise ship to set sail from the United States with paying customers, departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at 36% capacity with all crew members and at least 95% of passengers fully vaccinated.

28 people were treated for chemical exposure from a water park in Texas; authorities say they were released on Sunday. The exposure took place in a children’s pool area at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown water park in Spring, Texas on Saturday afternoon when a lifeguard became sick, followed by dozens of guests. First responders decontaminated 86 people and officials said 31 people were transported to local hospitals.

Memorial Herman-Texas Medical Center treated 21 patients and seven were taken to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, with all 28 patients treated at the two hospitals later discharged in good condition. Some of the affected guests experienced difficulty breathing and skin irritation. Officials added that one of the most severely affected was a 3-year-old who experienced respiratory issues, and was reported in stable condition.

The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office said the chemicals involved a solution of 35% sulfuric acid and hypochlorite, both commonly used in pools. HAZMAT officials monitored air quality at the park and Hidalgo said there was no indication of air quality or chemical leaks in the surrounding area. Harris County Public Health officials ordered the park to remained close while an investigation into the cause of the incident was ongoing.

Editorial credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock.com