Brazil's national Health Oversight Agency recalls cruise requirements

Brazil's National Health Oversight Agency (Anvisa) has released a note reminding of the medical protocols to be followed by travelers while cruising. It presents the basic requirements for boarding ships that have recently been reopened with the publication of the Inter-Ministerial Decree 658 of 2021. Reported by Rede TV!, a partner of the TV BRICS network.

Upon reopening, Anvisa had to define sanitary protocols for this activity to reduce the risk of infection and spreading the COVID-19 virus on cruises. “All travelers must carefully follow the rules, paperwork and deadlines required for them to obtain boarding clearance from companies that are responsible for enforcing standards,” – the statement said.

According to the agency, at least 25 cruise ship passengers have been unable to board since last Friday (November 5) because they did not prove they were fully vaccinated against coronavirus infection, or because they did not meet the 14-day period necessary for the vaccine to develop immunity in the human body.

This 14-day period has been identified by the National Immunization Program as necessary to achieve the best possible immunization. For confirmation, you must present a national certificate of vaccination against COVID-19.

Also among the requirements for boarding a ship are the mandatory submission of a negative RT-PCR test done 72 hours before boarding, or an antigen test done 24 hours before boarding, and filling out a form containing information about the traveler's health status.

It is also necessary to test daily 10% of passengers on board and 10% of the crew. In addition, the maximum passenger capacity of vessels is limited to 75%, and the distance between groups of travelers (family or group of people traveling together) on board must be 1.5 meters.