Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) informed, this Sunday (2), that it is investigating any breaches of sanitary protocols on cruise ships operating on the Brazilian coast, and reiterated the guidance for the government to temporarily suspend the cruise season ahead of the number of cases identified on vessels in recent days. The guidance was issued last Friday (31).
The agency informed that if irregularities are identified, those responsible may be penalized with fines and suspension of vessel activities. “According to Anvisa Resolution, RDC No. 574, of 2021, the activities of vessels may be suspended, by determination of the agency, as a result of the identification of risks to public health or non-compliance with current sanitary regulations”, he informed.
Last Friday, two ships — the Costa Diadema, in Salvador, and the MSC Splendida, in the Port of Santos — had their activities interrupted due to cases of Covid-19. With the increase in infections among MSC crew, there was inspection by Anvisa and the Santa Catarina Health Department. In all, 51 crew and 27 passengers were identified with Covid-19, in addition to 54 people who had contact with the infected. All 132 people were landed.
In the case of Costa Diadema, 68 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on Wednesday (29), 56 among crew and 12 among passengers. The agency issued a technical note on the 31st, to explain that, during investigations carried out on the two ships, samples were collected “for genomic mapping and identification of possible variants”, and that, in the case of MSC Splendida, “there is a strong indication” of that it is the Ômicron.
Anvisa now reports that non-essential activities on the Costa Diadema are prohibited, “and the sanitary safety protocols inside the vessel must be complied with until all travelers disembark.” In the case of MSC Splendida, the operation was suspended on the 30th and the resumption depends on a new assessment by the agency.
“Therefore, for the time being, the Costa Diadema and MSC Splendida vessels are prevented from carrying out new operations. Anvisa continues to supervise other vessels operating on the Brazilian coast and has already intensified epidemiological and sanitary investigation actions to control the transmission of Sars-Cov-2 on board vessels and the spread of the disease. It is noteworthy that non-compliance with sanitary protocols and non-compliance with restriction measures imposed by the authorities constitute sanitary infractions that, if confirmed after investigation in an administrative process, result in fines and suspension of activities”, he explained.
In a statement, MSC Cruises said it has a “health monitoring routine, which includes frequent daily testing of 10% of all guests and crew on the ship” and that health authorities closely monitor “operations and all information regarding suspicions or confirmation of cases are officially informed to them”.
“The cases identified on board demonstrate the efficiency of our protocol, which even contributes so that people who are positive for Covid-19 are aware of its result and thus avoid circulating in their own communities or in tourist destinations, once that it is likely that many of these cases would not have been identified without adequate monitoring as carried out”, he defended.
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Recommendation
Given the increase in cases of Covid-19 on ships, Anvisa issued a recommendation to the Ministry of Health to suspend the cruise ship season. At the time, the agency informed that the decision was mainly due to the appearance and transmission of the Ômicron variant in national territory.
The decision is up to the government, considering that measures to restrict entry into Brazil by highways, ports or airports must be taken jointly by the Ministries of Health, Justice and Public Security and Infrastructure, but subject to a technical recommendation by Anvisa.
This Sunday, Anvisa reiterated the guidance and stated that the suspension measure is necessary “until signs of non-compliance with the sanitary protocols by the companies responsible for the vessels are verified, that there is an adequate federative articulation involving the municipalities that will receive the ships and, above all, the change in the epidemiological scenario”.
The agency reported that, next Monday (3), it will send more data to the ministry to “strengthen the recommendation for the immediate temporary suspension of the season”.
Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) informed, this Sunday (2), that it is investigating any breaches of sanitary protocols on cruise ships operating on the Brazilian coast, and reiterated the guidance for the government to temporarily suspend the cruise season ahead of the number of cases identified on vessels in recent days. The guidance was issued last Friday (31).
The agency informed that if irregularities are identified, those responsible may be penalized with fines and suspension of vessel activities. “According to Anvisa Resolution, RDC No. 574, of 2021, the activities of vessels may be suspended, by determination of the agency, as a result of the identification of risks to public health or non-compliance with current sanitary regulations”, he informed.
Last Friday, two ships — the Costa Diadema, in Salvador, and the MSC Splendida, in the Port of Santos — had their activities interrupted due to cases of Covid-19. With the increase in infections among MSC crew, there was inspection by Anvisa and the Santa Catarina Health Department. In all, 51 crew and 27 passengers were identified with Covid-19, in addition to 54 people who had contact with the infected. All 132 people were landed.
In the case of Costa Diadema, 68 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on Wednesday (29), 56 among crew and 12 among passengers. The agency issued a technical note on the 31st, to explain that, during investigations carried out on the two ships, samples were collected “for genomic mapping and identification of possible variants”, and that, in the case of MSC Splendida, “there is a strong indication” of that it is the Ômicron.
Anvisa now reports that non-essential activities on the Costa Diadema are prohibited, “and the sanitary safety protocols inside the vessel must be complied with until all travelers disembark.” In the case of MSC Splendida, the operation was suspended on the 30th and the resumption depends on a new assessment by the agency.
“Therefore, for the time being, the Costa Diadema and MSC Splendida vessels are prevented from carrying out new operations. Anvisa continues to supervise other vessels operating on the Brazilian coast and has already intensified epidemiological and sanitary investigation actions to control the transmission of Sars-Cov-2 on board vessels and the spread of the disease. It is noteworthy that non-compliance with sanitary protocols and non-compliance with restriction measures imposed by the authorities constitute sanitary infractions that, if confirmed after investigation in an administrative process, result in fines and suspension of activities”, he explained.
In a statement, MSC Cruises said it has a “health monitoring routine, which includes frequent daily testing of 10% of all guests and crew on the ship” and that health authorities closely monitor “operations and all information regarding suspicions or confirmation of cases are officially informed to them”.
“The cases identified on board demonstrate the efficiency of our protocol, which even contributes so that people who are positive for Covid-19 are aware of its result and thus avoid circulating in their own communities or in tourist destinations, once that it is likely that many of these cases would not have been identified without adequate monitoring as carried out”, he defended.
read more:
Recommendation
Given the increase in cases of Covid-19 on ships, Anvisa issued a recommendation to the Ministry of Health to suspend the cruise ship season. At the time, the agency informed that the decision was mainly due to the appearance and transmission of the Ômicron variant in national territory.
The decision is up to the government, considering that measures to restrict entry into Brazil by highways, ports or airports must be taken jointly by the Ministries of Health, Justice and Public Security and Infrastructure, but subject to a technical recommendation by Anvisa.
This Sunday, Anvisa reiterated the guidance and stated that the suspension measure is necessary “until signs of non-compliance with the sanitary protocols by the companies responsible for the vessels are verified, that there is an adequate federative articulation involving the municipalities that will receive the ships and, above all, the change in the epidemiological scenario”.
The agency reported that, next Monday (3), it will send more data to the ministry to “strengthen the recommendation for the immediate temporary suspension of the season”.