Brazil introduces new guidelines to face COVID-19 in ports and on ships

Brazilian health oversight agency Anvisa and water transportation regulator Antaq introduced a series of measures to be adopted in ports and on ships to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following guidelines of the World Health Organization, the measures aim to intensify monitoring of suspected cases to define immediate procedures for isolation and reporting to epidemiological authorities.

While broad guidelines were released over a year ago, the new rules set out specific measures, and will enforce checks on those entering and leaving port terminals, according to the regulators.

Antaq’s acting head Francisval Mendes said it is essential to preserve the health and safety of people who work in ports and on vessels.

“It is important, for example, that port workers know when and how to use personal protective equipment. With simple attitudes like this, combined with other measures of the health agency to block the entry of coronavirus in our ports, we will guarantee the continuity of activities essential to water transport to promote the supply and functioning of the country,” Mendes said in a release.

"The measures of the health authority are key to stopping the spread of the virus and guaranteeing the continuity of waterway transport for all," said Antaq director Adalberto Tokarski.