The MSC Preziosa cruise docked this Wednesday (5) at the port of Rio de Janeiro with 33 confirmed cases of Covid-19, 25 among the crew and 8 among passengers, according to Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency).
The vessel, which has a capacity for 3,016 people, was on the coast of the Northeast and arrived in the early morning at the city’s port, where passengers began to disembark.
In a statement, Anvisa says it is monitoring the landing and carrying out health assessments on the vessel. “Positives and contacts are oriented to quarantine, with the signing of a term of commitment to continue the quarantine, observing the appearance of possible symptoms”, says the agency, adding that people whose tests were negative are also oriented towards isolation. Sought, the Municipal Health Department of Rio has not yet responded.
On Sunday (2), the ship had already docked in the city with an outbreak of Covid-19. At the time, 28 cases of the disease were reported, 2 in crew and 26 in passengers. At the time, MSC Cruises said that people with Covid represent 0.6% of the total population on the ship and that all cases were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.
Other vessels were also the scene of Covid-19 outbreaks. On the 30th, 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.
Due to the increase in cases of Covid in cruises, Clia Brasil, an association that represents cruise ship companies in the country, announced the suspension of operations in Brazilian ports until January 21st. The statement was made this Monday (3) on behalf of MSC and Costa Cruises.
The suspension is valid for new departures, that is, there will no longer be guests boarding until the 21st.
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