Brazilian health agency Anvisa is monitoring two cruise ships after a COVID-19 outbreak on board off the Brazilian coast.
Currently, nearly 4 people are on board each of the ships monitored by the agency.
Brazil Agency – The cruise ships MSC Splendida and Costa Diadema are under the supervision of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) following an increase in Covid-19 cases on board. Currently, almost 4 people are on board each ship. In a statement, the agency informed that it is monitoring the vessels and will adopt the measures foreseen in the regulations, which may include quarantine or even suspension of activities.
The MSC Splendida docked at the Port of Santos this Wednesday (29) after reporting new positive Covid-19 tests. 51 crew members and 27 passengers were identified with the disease. 54 contacts were also identified, that is, people who had contact with those who tested positive for the disease.
The case began to be analyzed by Anvisa on the 28th in a joint inspection with the Santa Catarina State Health Department, after an increase in cases among crew members was observed. The agency's investigative report on the outbreak indicates that the company was notified to test 100% of the crew.
According to Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency), all 132 infected individuals and their contacts are being disembarked, as stipulated in the agency's resolution and the operational plan developed by the municipality of Santos and the state of São Paulo. They will be transported in specific vehicles. After disembarking, the travelers will be monitored by a Strategic Health Information Center (Ciev).
Currently, no new disembarkations or embarkations are authorized. Ships must remain docked in Santos until the analysis of epidemiological data by health authorities is completed.
The Costa Diadema, from the Costa Cruises company, is docked in Salvador. In the last 24 hours, 68 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, 56 among crew members and 12 among passengers. According to Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency), the ship's operation in the capital of Bahia was not authorized by the agency, "and the embarkation and disembarkation of travelers is prohibited until the ongoing investigation is completed."
There are currently 3.836 passengers on board, including 1.320 crew members. The ship began its journey in the Port of Santos and its next destination was the Port of Ilhéus, in Bahia.
Agência Brasil reached out to MSC and Costa Cruises, but received no response by the time of publication.