MIAMI, Fl - The Coast Guard has stayed busy over the past month, helping to remove hundreds of thousands of passengers from cruise ships during the coronavirus pandemic.
Figures released by the Coast Guard show that they've processed more than 120 cruise ships over the past month, removing 250,000 passengers due to COVID-19 concerns.
"We commend the decision by the cruise industry to cease operations. However, pausing a global tourist industry does not happen instantaneously or easily," said Vice Admiral Dan Abel, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations, in a statement. "The Federal, state, local and industry cooperation to achieve this feat truly represents the whole-of-nation approach directed by the President and is essential to fighting the spread of this virus and working to minimize the loss of life."
As of Saturday, the Coast Guard reported 114 cruise ships, with 93,000 crew members still aboard, were either in or or near United States ports and waters.
The Coast Guard has conducted more than two-dozen life-saving medevacs from cruise ships since March 7th when COVID-19 cases began escalating on cruise ships around the U.S.
