Representatives of ANVISA (the national health surveillance agency) in the Port of Santos detailed the expanded protocols for preventing the Indian Covid-19 variant. The measures were discussed at the headquarters of the Santos Port Authority (SPA) on May 24th in a meeting requested by the state-owned company and by the São Paulo state port authority. There is no record of any ship in – or arriving at – the Port of Santos complex that has the new strain. So far, the confirmed cases in Brazil are of crew members on a ship at anchor off the coast of the State of Maranhão. Faced with detecting the Indian strain, the federal government extended the scope of the exceptional and temporary entry restrictions into the country of foreigners whose travels originate or pass through the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, South Africa, and India. Travelers coming from these countries must remain in quarantine for 14 days. Therefore, the vessel will only be released by ANVISA after satisfactory verification of the requirements already adopted by the agency, as defined in Ordinance 653, of May 14, 2021. Regarding the vaccination of port workers, after the announcement by the Ministry of Infrastructure on the re-prioritization of the category in the National Immunization Plan (PNI), the municipal agencies discussed the logistical strategies to accelerate vaccination as soon as the doses are available. The port community is committed and united around the application of vaccines.
Source: Datamar News