Anvisa registers 798 cases of Covid on cruises in nine days

Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) reported that in the last nine days, from December 26 to January 3, 798 cases of Covid-19 were registered on cruise ships.

Of this total, 502 cases were in crew, which represents 63% of infected people.

The number increased considerably considering that from November 1st, when the cruise season began, until December 25th, there were only 31 cases.

According to Anvisa, the sudden change in the epidemiological scenario is probably due to the emergence of the omicron variant.

According to the regulatory agency, data referring to the epidemiological scenario on board cruise ship vessels operating off the Brazilian coast during the 2020-2021 season reinforces the technical note from Anvisa that recommended the Ministry of Health to temporarily suspend the season.

“The agency’s recommendation was based on the vertiginous increase in Covid-19 cases aboard vessels in recent days, which indicates a radical change in the epidemiological scenario,” he said in a statement.

The regulatory agency also said that at a meeting held this Monday (3), with representatives of the Ministry of Health and Anvisa, the states and municipalities were unanimous in reiterating their position for the temporary suspension of the cruise ship season in Brazil, until that new data are obtained for a better assessment of a possible recovery scenario.

Before any decision by the federal government, Clia Brasil, the association that represents cruise ship companies in the country, announced the suspension of new operations in Brazilian ports until January 21st.

​​​Anvisa’s recommendation is still being evaluated by the government. At a meeting this Monday, ministry representatives decided not to change the rules on vessels, at least for now, under the argument that the cruise companies themselves anticipated and announced the suspension of new trips.

The Minister of Tourism, Gilson Machado, defends the relaxation of the rules governing Covid-19’s control on cruise trips to allow the resumption of vessels.

Machado claims that the government should adopt a milder protocol for the omicron variant, which, in the minister’s view, does not generate as much impact as other forms of the virus.

“It is necessary to adjust (the ordinance) with the omicron, because it is not generating pressure in hospitals. But the word belongs to the Minister of Health. I hope that this understanding exists,” he told the leaf this Monday (3).