The collegiate board of Anvisa (Brazil’s health inspection agency) unanimously approved on Wednesday (8) a proposal that deals with sanitary measures for the operation and for the loading and unloading of platforms and cargo vessels in Brazilian ports. Anvisa’s proposal aims to reinforce actions to fight Covid-19 in the country, mainly because of the Omicron variant, with special attention to the embarking and disembarking of crew members in Brazilian ports. The proposal says that before giving access to vessels and platforms, legal representatives 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. 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) carried out 24 hours before the trip. After identifying a case on the vessels, everyone on board will be considered contacts of the confirmed case and will be monitored.
Sources: Agencia Brasil/Canal Rural (*Translated by Ia Niani)