Saúde says it will hold suspension of covid-19 cruises

After the National Health Control Agency (Anvisa) recommended the temporary suspension of the cruise season in the country, the Ministry of Health said, Saturday, 1, “it will evaluate the appropriate measures” to be taken. Two ships sailing along the Brazilian coast, the MSC Splendida and Costa Diadema, were hit by the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of the year.

Anvisa’s recommendation was published on Friday, 31st, based on the current epidemiological scenario, exacerbated by the arrival of the Ômicron variant in Brazil. In the document, the agency stresses that the data available so far indicates the possibility of a micron spreading, faster than other variables.

Anvisa also cited a decision US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which raised the alert level for Sars-Cov-2 virus infection during travel. “The CDC, as of yesterday, 12/30, has updated the COVID-19 Travel Health Notice level from 3 to 4, the highest possible level, reflecting the increase in cases on cruise ships since the variable was identified. Micron agency noted.

Anvisa’s recommendation also considered that, even in the face of operational plans to resume the cruise season across states and municipalities, “there were difficulties imposed by local entities in light of the need for the final disembarkation of positive cases.” The plans establish the conditions for health care of passengers disembarked on their territory and for the local implementation of epidemiological surveillance.

According to the Ministry of Health, future measures will be analyzed in conjunction with other files dealing with the topic. The resumption of cruises in Brazil was approved by a joint ministerial decree – the Civil House, Justice, Public Security, Health and Infrastructure – on October 5, which became effective on November 1.

“The authorization (…) and operation of ships carrying passengers, in national ports, is conditional (sic) with the previous issuance of the decree issued by the Ministry of Health, which should provide for the epidemiological scenario, and the definition of cases that were considered outbreaks of Covid-19 disease in ships And the conditions for compliance with the quarantine for passengers and ships,” according to the decree.

The two flights had 146 confirmed cases of the disease. At MSC Splendida, 51 crew members and 27 passengers have been identified as having the virus. On board the Costa Diadema, there were 68 cases – 56 crew members and 12 passengers.

Anvisa suspended the activities of the Costa Diadema, which docked in the port of Salvador, Thursday afternoon, the 30th. The measure was adopted after an epidemiological investigation by the agency and technicians from the Bahia and Salvador health secretariats indicated the community transmission of covid, level 4, on board the ship.

The cruise will end on Monday, 3rd, at Santos Port. Covid passengers will be quarantined in hotels provided by the cruise operator. El Salvador residents were allowed to disembark. The rest will go to Santos, where he will undergo new tests against Covid to leave the ship.

“The ship may proceed, subject to the restrictions on board, to the port of Santos. This means that all non-essential activities on the Costa Diadema must be interrupted and that health safety protocols must be complied with within the ship, up to its final destination in Santos,” informed Anfisa. “According to ship reports, of the passengers who have tested positive for COVID-19, the vast majority are asymptomatic, with only a few people experiencing mild symptoms.”

The MSC Splendida has been docked in the port of Santos since Thursday, the 30th. According to Anvisa, “Passengers will be disembarked in accordance with health safety protocols.”

The agency informed that “the positives must continue, on the ground, isolation has begun on the ship and will be monitored by the Strategic Information Centers in Health Surveillance (Cievs) for the destination cities.” “Other passengers will undergo tests for Covid-19 detection prior to disembarkation. These passengers will be transported in designated vehicles, under the responsibility of the cruise operator.”