:strip_icc()/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2021/Z/z/ra3Jf8Q5enzdB01KckZg/costa-diadema.jpeg)
The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has recommended the Ministry of Health to temporarily suspend the cruise ship season. The decision to issue the recommendation comes after dozens of Covid-19 cases were recorded on the MSC Splendida and Costa Diadema vessels. Their activities were suspended on the two ships.
According to the agency, the recommendation, made on Friday (31), comes in light of the sudden increase in cases of Covid-19 virus detected on ships that cruise along the Brazilian coast and national and global epidemiological data, especially with regard to appearance and micron-variable transmission. in the national territory.
After epidemiological investigations by Anvisa and local health authorities, two ships were suspended on Friday, the Costa Diadema, which is docked in Salvador, and the MSC Splendida, located in the port of Santos, on the coast from Sao Paulo.
The recommendation of the regulatory authority follows the provisions of Law No. 13979 of 2020, which specifies that exceptional and temporary restriction measures for entry into the country, by highways, ports or airports, and movement between countries are subject to the joint jurisdiction of the UAE ministers. health, justice, public safety and infrastructure in the state, and that the adoption of the measure must be preceded by a technical and reasoned recommendation from Anvisa.
It is planned to resume cruise ship operations for the 2021/22 season by Ministerial Order CC-PR / MJSP / MS / MINFRA No. 658, October 5, 2021, in an epidemic setting prior to the global notification on the identification of the new variant of concern, the micron, which was first reported to the World Health Organization on November 24.
According to Anvisa, the data available to date indicates that the Micron variant has the potential to spread faster than other variants and that it may bypass part of the immune protection of pre-Covid-19 vaccines and cases.
In this scenario, the regulatory agency highlights that on Thursday (30) the CDC updated its “COVID-19 Travel Health Notice” level from 3 to 4, the highest possible level, reflecting the increase in cases over the Board cruise ships since specifying a micron variable.
The agency’s recommendation, as it was revealed, considered that even in light of the preparation of operational plans for the resumption of the cruise season within municipalities and states, the difficulties imposed by local entities were noted in light of the need for eventual landings of positive cases of Covid-19 in their lands.
Anvisa’s statement was based on the precautionary principle, by prioritizing the prevention of harm to health by taking measures to protect it.
The recommendation made by Anvisa, as indicated, does not, for the time being, affect cruise ship operations. Until a final decision of the group of ministers, the operations are, as a rule, authorized, subject to current health rules and under the supervision of the agency, which can act – as it was doing – to implement protocols and protect people’s health.
Finally, Anfisa asserts that, given the legal powers, the Ministry of Health has to give its views on the epidemiological scenario, pursuant to Ministerial Decree No. 663 of 2021 and GM/MS Order No. 2.928 of 2021.
