The collegiate board of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved this fourthon Thursday (8), unanimously, a proposal that deals with sanitary measures for the operation and for the loading and unloading of platforms and cargo vessels in Brazilian ports.
Through a statement, Anvisa informed that the objective is to reinforce actions to fight covid-19 in the country, especially in view of the circulation of the Ômicron variant, with special attention to the embarkation and disembarkation of crew members in Brazilian ports.
proof of vaccination
According to the approved text, before giving access to vessels and platforms, those in charge of law must require crew, suppliers and professionals from the port community to comply with various health requirements, including the presentation of proof of complete vaccination against covid-19 .
For the reporter on the matter, director Alex Machado Campos, the agency considered immunization as “the guiding principle of sanitary measures for the operation and for the embarkation and disembarkation of platforms located in Brazilian jurisdictional waters and of cargo vessels”.
Testing and Symptoms
Proof of the performance of a laboratory test such as RT-PCR or RT-LAMP (molecular tests used for diagnosis) with a negative result, performed 72 hours before the time of shipment, must also be required. Non-reactive results may be accepted by rapid antigen test (IgG and IgM) performed 24 hours prior to travel.
In addition, the standard provides for pre-shipment screening to identify symptoms of the disease.
sanitary measures
The proposal also deals with preventive measures against covid-19 that have already been widely publicized, such as hand hygiene, social distance and the use of face masks. There are also items related to cleaning, disinfection and solid waste management protocols on vessels.
case notification
The text provides for the establishment of contingency plans and the notification of suspected and confirmed cases of the disease to Anvisa. According to the rule, after identifying a case on the vessels, everyone on board will be considered contacts of the confirmed case and will be monitored.
Crew change and quarantine
Anvisa’s proposal annex provides options involving crew change, work quarantine or vessel quarantine to manage vessels with one or more cases of covid-19.
The items will be chosen by the person legally responsible for the vessel, who must take into account the location of the port, the itinerary, the availability of an alternative crew and the necessary operational and logistical capacity. The chosen option must be previously approved by the agency’s unit responsible for the port.
