corona virus alerts - Latest cruising Information for vessels/locations/rules

[atoll]

I started this thread for corona virus alerts for cruisers with the first few islands being affected in the west indies.

please could you post if you have new relevant reports of outbreaks relevant to cruisers so we can keep information on one thread
this thread is a sticky on the emergency,disaster and distress notice board.

please supply source information and links when posting. The foregoing is actually a copy of the fifth post in this thread, re-posted here for your convenience, by the moderator team, at the request of the OP.

RESPONSE TO CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 ON FRENCH SAINT MARTIN

The Prime Minister Hon. Silveria Jacobs on Sunday morning activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in connection with two confirmed cases of the coronavirus COVID-19 on French Saint Martin. These persons are currently in isolation at the Hospital on the French side and will remain there for 14-days according to the Prefecture.

further info for cruisers and those on island
Listen to the Government Radio station – 107.9FM - for official information, statements and news updates or visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirusor and Facebook Page: Facebook.com/SXMGOV

[atoll]

apparently there is a case now in the Dominican republic.

perhaps a mod can start a sticky and change the title of this thread to corona virus alerts or something to that effect for new reporte as I fear the islands will start shutting ports of entry to cruisers

[atoll]

https://www.noonsite.com/news/novel-...try-worldwide/

Countries that have implemented extra precautions or screening for recreational yachts due to the Coronavirus include:

[atoll]

the best discourse I have seen so far on the virus from the independent investigation team who returned from china on the 25 feb if you have any doubts about how serious we should view the spread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o0q1XMRKYM

[atoll]

I started this thread for corona virus alerts for cruisers with the first few islands being affected in the west indies.

please could you post if you have new relevant reports of outbreaks relevant to cruisers so we can keep information on one thread
this thread is a sticky on the emergency,disaster and distress notice board.

please supply source information and links when posting.

[atoll]

cdc sitrep report and discussion for us citizens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX5bFqgD3Cs

[atoll]

Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic], Mar 02 (Sputnik/ANI): Dominican Republic on Sunday reported its first case of coronavirus.
"Laboratory tests have confirmed the first case of COVID-19 virus brought from abroad," health minister Rafael Sanchez Cardenas said at a televised press conference.
According to Cardenas, the first carrier of coronavirus in the country is a 62-year-old Italian national, who arrived in the Dominican Republic on February 22 without showing symptoms of the disease. The patient is stable in the military hospital in San Isidro Airbase.
The official also reported a second possible case of the disease -- a patient from France, who is now waiting for test results in a hospital.

https://in.news.yahoo.com/dominican-...9S5ghzFYpbpBqB

[Boatguy30]

You seem concerned.

[atoll]

info on cases in ST Barts and ST Martin

https://www.bfmtv.com/societe/corona...h-1867272.html

There are also two other possible cases with a couple of residents in Saint-Martin returning from holidays in the Oise, one of the hotbeds of contamination in the metropolis.
Three cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed as positive in St. Martin and St. Bartholomew, the northern islands of Guadeloupe, the Guadeloupe Regional Health Agency announced Sunday, making them the first cases of coronavirus found overseas.
A resident confined to his home
They are a resident of Saint-Barthélemy, who is confined to his home, and his parents, who are being supervised at the Saint-Martin hospital. On Friday, the parents bound for Paris from Juliana International Airport (located on the Dutch side of Saint-Martin) were handed over to the French authorities because they had symptoms of coronavirus. The analyses, carried out by the Pasteur laboratory in Guadeloupe, confirmed that they were positive.

The couple had come to visit their son residing on the nearby island of St. Bartholomew. He is currently confined to his home with daily supervision. His health is not a concern," according to the ARS. His parents are "in isolation at the hospital in Saint-Martin and are being closely monitored," the ARS adds, adding that "their health is not a concern".

[atoll]

text from noonsite
https://www.noonsite.com/news/novel-...try-worldwide/

Countries that have implemented extra precautions or screening for recreational yachts due to the Coronavirus include:
EUROPE
Italy:
Any boat/ship arriving in an Italian port from abroad must contact prior to arrival (6-12 hrs) the relevant USMAF (Border Maritime Health Office) to get health clearance.
You will be asked to fill in a Maritime Declaration of Health and send it to USMAF with a crew list. Ideally contact USMAF by phone or e-mail and complete all forms before leaving your last port.
A list of USMAF offices can be found here.
Ministry of Health Announcement (in Italian).
Italy Formalities
Ireland:
For ships entering Irish ports. Masters are required to:
1. Complete and submit a “Maritime Declaration of Health”, via the SafeSeasIreland portal, where:
A ship has called to China within the past 30 days, or
Crew members or passengers have joined the ship having been in China within the past 14 days, or
There is suspected contact with the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), or
There is a suspected Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case on-board,
and
2. Submit an updated Crew List via SafeSeasIreland.
This information, at points 1 and 2 above, is required to be submitted whether or not there is a suspected case on-board.
Queries regarding this Marine Notice can be forwarded to ehnationaloffice@hse.ie.
Additional guidance from the HSE is available here.
Note: SafeSeasIreland currently has a glitch, so for the time being use the e-mail ehnationaloffice@hse.ie to obtain the Maritime Declaration of Health.
Ireland Formalities
Information from Marine Notice #6 of 2020 by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Dublin, Ireland
NORTH INDIAN OCEAN
India – Cochin:
Any boat entering Cochin that has been in Thailand in the last 28 days will be subject to Quarantine and not allowed ashore for 14 days. Passage time will be counted in the 14 days.
Boats coming from Malaysia and Sri Lanka are not affected.
India Formalities
Information from the Red Sea Facebook group.
Sri Lanka:
The port authorities currently require medical documents confirming the health of passengers on board prior to permitting admittance to port, including immunization records. It is recommended to ask the agent to send the documents ahead of time and set up a system to be able to get internet in Sri Lanka while just offshore so you can fill out the document and email to the agents as you approach.
Documents you are required to complete include a “General Health Report,” “Health Status Report,” and “Maritime Declaration of Health”. Authorities will also ask if any passenger or crew fell ill or died while on passage.
Quarantine will board the boat for an inspection and to have a face to face interview prior to check-in.
Sri Lanka Formalities
Information from the Indian Ocean Crossing Facebook page.
SOUTH EAST & EAST ASIA
Indonesia: Sabang
Due to Coronavirus all arriving yachts must call the Harbor Master on approach to the harbor and he will organize Quarantine to be ready to receive you. You must not leave your boat until you are notified on VHF channel 14 that quarantine are ready for you to come ashore. Quarantine will scan all crew for temperature and if all good process you as normal.
Indonesia Formalities
Information from the Sail SE Asia Facebook Page.
Japan:
As it is currently winter in Japan, there has been no notifications of any new procedures for arriving recreational boats. If the Coronavirus scare continues to the spring, contacts in Japan estimate there might be new procedures, certainly for any boats that would come from China (which are few at the best of times). The cruise ship under quarantine in Yokohama and over a hundred cases of Coronavirus on board is most likely making Japanese quarantine officers nervous.
Japan Formalities
Information from Kirk Patterson of Konpira Consulting
Myanmar (Burma):
Chinese passport holders are not being given visas or trip permits for the Mergui Archipelago at this time.
Myanmar Formalities
Information from Agency MTT Kawthoung
Papua New Guinea:
Noonsite has received reports that due to the Coronavirus, PNG officials are not processing any visas on arrival. All yachts wanting to enter PNG must apply online for a Visa, well in advance of their intended arrival.
All travel between PNG and the Torres Strait Islands has also been banned.
Online Visa Application for Yachtpersons – PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority
Travel Ban between PNG and the Torrest Strait Islands – Information from The Guardian article
CARIBBEAN
Bahamas:
The Bahamas have announced a 20 day exclusion period for persons wishing to enter the Bahamas after they have been to China. It is not a problem for most cruisers, but it could be relevant to cruisers who are already in the Bahamas and are expecting family and friends to join them.
Bahamas Formalities
Information from Addison Chan
Cayman Islands:
Update on COVID-19 February 28th:
Visitors who have been in China in the preceding fourteen days will be denied entry. Border control measures to screen passengers on all flights and vessels from mainland China and for people who have been in, or transited through, mainland China in the past 14 days will be on-going.
Persons who arrive in the Caymans from an area where there is a risk of COVID-19, within the last 14 days, should advise Public Health immediately if they have a cough, or fever or shortness of breath. Public health officials are reminding visitors, if they have symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their healthcare provider, even if arriving from countries where fewer cases have occurred.
Cayman Islands Formalities
Information from the Ministry of Health, Environment, Culture & Housing, Cayman Islands Facebook Page.
Dominican Republic:
The DR Ministry of Health have restrictions in place for visitors from Italy it appears, however exact details are not clear at this time. We have contacted the Ministry for more information. See this press release for some details.
DR Formalities
Information from the Ministry of Health, DR
Jamaica:
Persons who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore in the last 14 days and who do not have permanent residency or marriage exemption in Jamaica will not be granted landing privileges at any of the country’s ports of entry. See further details at https://www.moh.gov.jm/expanded-travel-restrictions/
Jamaica Formalities
Information from the Jamaica Ministry of Health and Wellness
CENTRAL AMERICA
Panama:
In Colon and Balboa, currently merchant vessels coming from infected ports are inspected by the sanitary control department. Nothing has been implemented for yachts yet, but officials do check previous ports of call.
It is understood however that in Puerto Armuelles, close to Costa Rica on the border, sanitary inspectors are inspecting all boats that arrive.
Panama Formalities
Information from Erick Galvez of Centenario Consulting
SOUTH AMERICA
Colombia:
In Providencia yachts are now required to go alongside for a medical check before anyone leaves the boat or starts check-in.
In Santa Marta all new arrivals will be asked by the Port Authority on Channel 16 prior to docking if they have any crew member on board with flu-like symptoms. If affirmative, the yacht will not be allowed to enter the port until the local authority have been on board for a medical assessment.
Other ports in Colombia will make health checks on boats as they arrive, based on crew nationalities and last ports of call.
Colombia Formalities
Information from cruiser Brian Simm and agency Agenport
SOUTH PACIFIC
Australia:
The first thing to note is that the Australian Government does not have a quarantine period of 14 days. There are, however, travel restrictions in place for people who have been in mainland China within the last 14 days. As these are travel restrictions, the Australian Border Force is managing the response to these travelers.
All international yachts arriving in Australia are required to be inspected by a bio-security officer at their first port of entry. As part of this inspection, the vessel master will be asked questions about the human bio-security risks on board. These questions are designed to identify any people who might have symptoms of a Listed Human Disease and/or Coronavirus.
Australia Formalities
Australian Government Department of Health – COVID-19 Information for the Marine Industry
Fiji:
Fiji’s borders are closed to all foreign nationals who have been in mainland China within 14 days of their intended travel to Fiji. These same policies have been introduced in Singapore.
Fiji Formalities
French Polynesia:
The French Polynesian authorities have implemented new entry measures in response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These include temperature checks on arrival, and presenting before boarding a medical certificate issued within the previous five days certifying your health condition if you are arriving from China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand or Vietnam, whatever your port of embarkation.
A health control questionnaire is also being given to all passengers arriving in Polynesia either by air or sea, in which they must give their address for the following 14 days and their contact details.
French Polynesia Formalities
Information from www.tahiti-infos.com and TahitiTourisme
New Caledonia:
Quarantine agents are doing medical checks on all passengers arriving at the airport and quarantining anyone with a fever and they are checking people on cruise ships, too. There are no yachts arriving now as it is the middle of the cyclone season – so the current policy for yachts is uncertain.
New Caledonia Formalities
Information from Richard Chesher of the Rocket Guide to New Caledonia
New Zealand:
On February 29, 2020 the country recorded it’s first case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 is being handled by the Ministry of Health. All travellers arriving in New Zealand out of mainland China, or any travellers who have had exposure to a confirmed case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will be expected to self-isolate for a period of 14 days from the time they leave mainland China or were exposed to novel coronavirus.
New Zealand Formalities
Information from the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
Tonga:
Three cruise ships have been denied entry into Tonga and a fourth vessel, a super-yacht, was to call into Vava’u having sailed from Rarotonga. At this stage, no restrictions have been placed on recreational vessels arriving in Tonga, but it is early in the season for yacht arrivals.
Tonga Formalities
Information provided by Greg Just in Tonga and Radio New Zealand.
Samoa:
Strict new quarantine procedures have been implemented by Samoa for COVID-19 Coronavirus following the recent measles epidemic that affected the nation.
Although Samoa has not recorded a case, travellers are required to get a medical clearance at least three days before their arrival in Apia to confirm they are free of any infectious diseases.
All sea-port entries will be screened at the quarantine buoy before anyone is allowed to go ashore.
All Travelers entering Samoa FROM or TRANSITING through all ports (New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Hawaii and Tonga) will be required to undergo medical checks. See the Health Advisory Notice below for more information.
Government of Samoa Special Health Advisory – Effective March 2, 2020
Government of Samoa Health Travel Advisory
————————————————————————————————————-
A good summary of South Pacific Nations and procedures they are putting in place to protect their borders can be found here.
————————————————————————————————————–
NORTH PACIFIC
Federated States of Micronesia:
Persons travelling into the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) from countries, states or territory with confirmed cases of Coronavirus (other than mainland China) are not allowed to enter into FSM unless they have stayed in a country, state or territory with no confirmed cases of Coronavirus for a period not less than 30 days prior to their entry into FSM.
A government official told Noonsite ” We still welcome all yachts and are working with our government leaders to ease up the protocol our yacht community is facing.”
FSM Formalities
Information from Public Health Emergency Declaration – Office of the President.
Marshall Islands – Majuro:
The republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services require copies of all voyage itineraries of all vessels scheduled to arrive at any RMI port 2 weeks in advance of arrival. Voyage itineraries should be sent to the following people for verification:
Deputy Secretary for Public Health – Mailynn Konelios Langinlur: mailynnlang@gmail.com
Public Health Director – Dr Tom Jack: tjack0964@gmail.com
Surveillance and Epidemiology – Francyne Wase-Jacklick: wasejacklick@gmail.com
This requirement will stay in place as long as the Travel Advisory for the prevention of the spread of the 2019-nCoV (coronavirus) and for the measles restrictions in the RMI that are currently in effect.
CORONAVIRUS (2019-nCoV) RESTRICTIONS:
There is a Suspension of all persons, travelling via air or sea, from affected countries listed below for a period of 30 days:
People’s Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Iran and Italy.
This means any and all sea vessels/travelers that have originated from –or that have traveled through– any of these above countries after December 31, 2019, are prohibited from docking, and the crew from disembarking, in the RMI.
These are interim travel restrictions, which have been introduced by the Government of the RMI as part of current health emergency preparedness measures for COVID-19. These restrictions will be reviewed and updated as needed and communicated to the public.
Marshall Islands Formalities
Information from Republic of Marshall Islands Proclamation Declaring State of Health Emergency (passed on by cruiser Jo Birch).
————————————————————————————————————
Arrive prepared:
The following documents should be kept on board should they be needed:
Past itinerary and previous ports of call (up to 14)
Recent crew member and passenger travel history
A record of signs of symptoms on passage for all crew
Health clearance from the last port
Crew medical records
Crew immunization cards

[atoll]

some links for tracking latest country information

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

https://www.who.int/emergencies/dise...ronavirus-2019

https://experience.arcgis.com/experi...beeeee1b9125cd

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...ers/index.html

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019–2...virus_outbreak

[atoll]

Epidemiology 101 for cruisers, in words less than 6 syllables!.
with relevance on what to expect in the very near future if planning on travel between ports, national boundaries or island nations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRJ7qc6Af8

[atoll]

WHO reccomendations from joint WHO- china report and Epidemiology 101 for cruisers, in words more than 6 syllables!

https://www.who.int/docs/default-sou...nal-report.pdf

intro to body of text in the above link

The overall goal of the Joint Mission was to rapidly inform national (China) and international planning on next steps in the response to the ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-191) and on next steps in readiness and preparedness for geographic areas not yet affected.

The major objectives of the Joint Mission were as follows:
• To enhance understanding of the evolving COVID-19 outbreak in China and the nature and impact of ongoing containment measures;
• To share knowledge on COVID-19 response and preparedness measures being implemented in countries affected by or at risk of importations of COVID-19;
• To generate recommendations for adjusting COVID-19 containment and response measures in China and internationally; and
• To establish priorities for a collaborative programme of work, research and development to address critical gaps in knowledge and response and readiness tools and activities.

[GordMay]

The virus has spread to more than 60 countries, and more than 3,000 people have died from the COVID-19 illness it causes.
Australia and Thailand reported their first deaths Sunday, while the Dominican Republic and the Czech Republic recorded their first infections. South Korea has the world's second-highest number of cases with 4,212, mostly in and near the southeastern city of Daegu. It has reported 22 deaths.
Iran's death toll climbed to 54 as the number of confirmed cases jumped overnight by more than half, to 978.
Algeria confirmed two new cases of coronavirus infections, in a woman and her daughter aged 53 and 24 years respectively.
Ecuador confirmed five cases in patients who all had direct contact with an elderly woman who brought the virus to the country from Spain.
Mexico's Secretary of Health in Chiapas state reported the nation's fifth case on Sunday, describing the patient as an 18-year-old girl who had been studying in Milan, Italy.
Italian authorities announced that the number of people infected in the country soared 50 per cent to 1,694 in just 24 hours, and five more had died, bringing the death toll there to 34.
France raised its number of reported cases to 130, an increase of 30 from the day before, and said it has seen two deaths.
Source ➥ https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coron...b-29-1.5481500

[slug]

The Caribbean will get hit hard

Cruise ships are like gigantic bee hives , when they dock they disgorge thousands of sickly passengers to pollinate the island with their virus