A third cruise on the Brazilian coast reported Covid-19 cases this Sunday (2). Docked at the port of Rio de Janeiro, the ship MSC Preziosa has 28 cases -2 in crew and 26 in passengers, according to Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency).
The disembarkation of passengers was initiated after the health authorities’ assessment of the epidemiological situation on board.
MSC Cruises said that people with Covid represent 0.6% of the total population on the ship and that all cases are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.
“According to the protocol, confirmed cases are safely disembarked so that they can return to their homes or stay in hotels for the necessary isolation period,” the company said, adding that the MSC Preziosa’s trip continues normally to Ilheus, in Bahia.
As on the ship, other cruises are also experiencing a Covid outbreak. On Thursday (30), Anvisa interrupted the activities of Costa Diadema after 68 cases of the disease had been confirmed, 56 among crew and 12 among passengers. The trip was scheduled to be completed on January 3rd.
The MSC Splendida cruise, which was destined for Rio de Janeiro, had to dock at the port of Santos on Wednesday (29th) after an increase in Covid cases observed among the crew. In total, 51 crew and 27 passengers tested positive.
According to Anvisa, the vessels Costa Diadema and MSC Splendida are prevented from carrying out new operations. The regulatory agency continues to supervise other vessels operating on the Brazilian coast and has already intensified epidemiological and sanitary investigation actions to control transmission
In addition, he added that he will investigate possible breaches of sanitary protocols by vessels operating cruises.
“It is noteworthy that non-compliance with sanitary protocols and disobedience to 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 said in a statement.
On social networks, passengers, who had to be confined on the ship, said that the vessel would be short of food and cleaning. “Food, if not requested (extension always busy) is not reaching us. When it does, it is cold. This morning I received this breakfast. We have no choice. Either we eat it or we don’t eat anything”, he wrote on Friday. fair (31) the passenger Viviane Cardoso.
Passenger Thalita Leme, who tested positive on the ship and has already disembarked, wrote in a Facebook group that passengers are not receiving adequate medical care.
“The guy in the cabin next door, burning with fever, asked for a dipyrone, it took more than five hours, they only gave it after a lot of scandal, we didn’t have a single doctor’s observation, they didn’t even call to ask if we were okay, we ate the time when they decided to give and what they decided to give, everything cold, the rest… It was a nightmare”, he wrote.
In a statement, the company stated that the cruise was canceled due to the impact on the scheduled itinerary, due to the ship’s return to Santos. MSC Cruises also said that “it is supporting the guests, including logistics and accommodation, as needed and demanded”.
The company did not clarify what might have triggered the Covid-19 outbreak on the vessel and said it had identified “a limited number of cases”. MSC Cruises also did not comment on claims of negligence among passengers.
Anvisa said, also in a statement, that it contraindicates the boarding of passengers who have trips scheduled on cruise ships for the next few days, especially given the vertiginous increases in Covid-19 cases with identification of outbreaks on board vessels operating in the Brazilian coast.
“The agency’s recommendation takes into account the rapid change in the epidemiological scenario, the risk of damage to the health of passengers and the unpredictability of operations at this time,” he said.
The regulatory agency reported that in the case of the MSC Splendida vessel, for example, more than 3,000 passengers were prevented from boarding this Sunday, due to recognition by local health authorities and by Anvisa, of the existence of sustained transmission of Covid-19 between crew members.
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