After authorization from Anvisa, cruise passengers berthed in Rio disembark

After just over five hours of waiting, the 3,200 passengers of the MSC Preziosa, a tourist ship that docked around 8:00 am this Sunday (2), in Rio de Janeiro, disembarked.

The first tourists started leaving the ship around 1:30 pm, after the release of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). That’s because at least 28 cases of Covid-19 among passengers and crew have been confirmed.

Another 40 people had direct contact with those infected will be monitored by the Municipal Health Department.

In a statement, Anvisa reported that “in view of the sudden increase in cases of Covid-19 infection detected on vessels and national and world epidemiological data, especially on the appearance and transmission in national territory of the Ômicron variant, Anvisa has already recommended to the Ministry da Saúde, on December 31 (Friday), the temporary suspension of the cruise ship season, until the issues involving a possible resumption of operations are discussed.”

The agency also highlighted that “it reiterates the need for provisional suspension of cruise ship activities, until evidence of non-compliance with the sanitary protocols by the companies responsible for the vessels is 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 warns that failure to comply with sanitary measures, if confirmed, result in fines and suspension of activities.

The Agency also informed that this Monday (3) will include new data to the manifestation sent to the Ministry of Health in order to strengthen its position on the recommendation for the immediate provisional suspension of the season.

Images obtained by CNN show MSC Preziosa passengers sitting on the ship’s floor moments before disembarkation.

According to a passenger who declined to be identified, the travelers had no information at any time about what was going on and had to stay crowded in the lobby all day.

“A lot of people missed their flight, because people would get off the ship and go straight to the airport. I didn’t have any predictions about the times. Nobody knew when the landing will start. There’s chaos inside and everyone’s agglomerated,” he told CNN a passenger who did not want to identify himself.

In a statement, MSC states that Covid’s cases were identified on account of the health monitoring routine carried out on the ship, in which every day 10% of all guests and crew on the ship are tested as defined by Anvisa.

“The Center for Strategic Information on Health Surveillance (CIEVS) of the municipality has already received and analyzed the Onboard Medical Book and will carry out the epidemiological investigation together with ANVISA as soon as the vessel is properly docked, in order to determine the epidemiological scenario of the vessel and take preventive and control measures”, states the agency.

Anvisa issued the recommendation after two other Cruises presented confirmed cases of Covid-19: the Costa Diadema has its non-essential activities prohibited on board, and the sanitary safety protocols inside the vessel must be complied with until all travelers disembark; and MSC Splendida also had its operation interrupted on December 30, 2021 and the resumption of its operation depends on a new evaluation by the Agency.

Reference: CNN Brasil

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