Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. said it has temporarily extended the framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) until January 15, 2022, with minor modifications.

The temporary extension is effective upon expiration of the current CSO on November 1, 2021, it said in a statement.

With the exception of cruise ships operating in Florida, all cruise ships operating in U.S. waters, or seeking to operate in U.S. waters, must comply with the requirements of CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) and Technical Instructions, even when outside of U.S. waters.

Additionally, as of November 1, 2021, the CSO will apply to only foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in U.S. waters, or outside of U.S. waters if the cruise ship operator intends for the ship to return to operating in international, interstate, or intrastate waterways, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. U.S-flagged cruise ship operators previously covered by the CSO may continue to participate on a voluntary basis.

As of July 23, 2021, the CSO and accompanying measures, such as technical instructions, are currently nonbinding recommendations for cruise ships arriving in, located within, or departing from a port in Florida. However, CDC will continue to operate the CSO as a voluntary program for such ships should they choose to follow the CSO measures on a voluntary basis.