Information for the cruise industry - Department of Health



Information for the cruise industryThis fact sheet applies to all international voyages entering Australia.Additional immigration, reporting requirements and isolation recommendations may apply to vessels and travellers who have been in mainland China, Iran, the Republic of Korea or Italy.What are the symptoms of COVID-19?Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue and difficulty breathing. Difficulty breathing is a sign of possible pneumonia that requires immediate medical attention.What is Australia doing?Australia has put in place additional border measures and isolation recommendations for people and vessels travelling to Australia from mainland China, Iran and the Republic of Korea. In addition, Australia has announced enhanced health screening for travellers from Italy.Australia will deny entry to anyone who has left or transited through mainland China in the previous 14 days, left or transited Iran on or after 1 March 2020, or the Republic of Korea on or after 5 March 2020. Exceptions include Australian citizens and permanent residents (and their immediate family). Travellers from mainland China, Iran or Republic of Korea are required to isolate themselves if the traveller:has left or transited through mainland China or Iran in the last 14 days;has left or transited through the Republic of Korea on or after 5 March 2020; orhas been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus.The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is in contact with international vessels to ensure they understand the requirements and comply with pre-arrival reporting of ill travellers. Australia requires all cruise vessels arriving in Australia to deliver verbal announcements to encourage self-reporting of ill health by travellers, and to inform travellers of their obligation to declare whether they are experiencing specific rmation is being provided to travellers at international ports explaining the symptoms of COVID-19 and encouraging them to report to biosecurity officers if they have symptoms while in the port. What happens to vessels subject to the COVID-19 requirements?Crew and passengers on board these vessels may be subject to self-isolation requirements when disembarking in Australia. What is the cruise industry required to report?As per the normal pre-arrival reporting requirements, all cruise vessels entering Australian territory are legally required to report ill passengers and crew on the pre-arrival report via the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS). The pre-arrival report has been updated to include questions around travel history to mainland China, Iran, Republic of Korea and Italy.If an ill traveller is reported through MARS, a biosecurity officer will liaise with the vessel to screen for COVID-19 and other serious infectious diseases. Biosecurity officers do this by administering the Traveller with Illness Checklist (TIC) to the ill passenger or crew member, or by discussing case diagnoses with the ship’s doctor. A biosecurity officer or human biosecurity officer may then issue directions for the management of a suspected case of COVID-19 which are legally required to be followed. All international cruise vessels are required to deliver on-board announcements to travellers prior to the vessel docking at an Australian seaport to encourage self-reporting of ill health. DAWE will provide internationally operating cruise ships with pre-recorded messages for the on-board verbal announcement in a number of languages.What if someone requires medical attention?As per the normal process, all ill passengers and crew should be referred to the ship’s doctor for assessment. The ship’s doctor will be informed of the current status of COVID-19 and will be able to assess the risk based on travel history and exposure. For passengers or crew presenting with influenza-like illness:Where point of care testing for influenza is available, two samples should be collected using droplet precautions. The point of care influenza test should be performed on one sample, and the second sample (nasopharyngeal swab or sputum) should be placed in a sheath or tube (e.g. with viral transport medium/dry rayon) and stored in a refrigerator, if able, for later SARS-CoV-2 testing.The second sample should be provided to state or territory health personnel on arrival at the next port of call in Australia for COVID-19 testing.Clinical factsheets are also available to assist in the management of suspected cases of COVID-19. If a person is very ill and needs further medical attention, the operator of the vessel is responsible for requesting medical or ambulance services. The operator should inform medical or ambulance services if anyone on board is a suspected COVID-19 case or been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, and the travel history of the ill traveller and the vessel over the past 14 days.Notifying a biosecurity officer of an ill traveller(s) will not interfere with a vessel being met by medical or ambulance services.What is self-isolation?If any crew and passengers are entering Australia and are required to self-isolate, they must self-isolate in their intended residence or accommodation. Self-isolation means they should not attend public places, in particular work, school, childcare or university. Also, they should not have visitors to their residence or accommodation. Detailed information can be found at .auCan disembarking crew or passengers who are required to self-isolate fly home within Australia or take public transport?Yes. Providing they have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19, people can fly domestically in Australia to reach their home, and can take public transport or taxis. However, they must wear a surgical mask until they reach their home. Is there information available for passengers and crew?The Department of Health is providing additional communication material for travellers (including passengers and crew) at Australian international airports and seaports. This material informs travellers about COVID-19 and what to do if they have come from a risk area and are ill. The information sheets are updated regularly and are available at How can cruise providers reduce the risk to passengers and crew?Vessels should actively encourage passengers and crew to seek immediate medical assessment for any respiratory illnesses. Crew should be advised to continue to follow existing employer infection prevention work instructions when in contact with ill passengers, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when recommended by employer work instructions. Person to person spread of COVID-19 can occur, but it is not yet understood how easily this happens. The following measures will help reduce the risk of illness on board cruise vessels:Crew and passengers should be encouraged to practise good hand hygiene and good sneeze/cough hygiene:Wash hands often with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser, before and after eating as well as after going to the toilet; andCough and sneeze into the elbow or a clean tissue, dispose of the tissue and use alcohol based hand sanitiser.Crew and passengers should be encouraged to avoid touching the face (mouth, eyes, and nose) with unwashed or gloved hands.Crew should use appropriate PPE if close contact with an ill passenger is required.If PPE is used, it should be fitted and worn properly.Cruise ships should ensure appropriate cleaning and disinfection activities are undertaken. What PPE are crew required to wear? Vessel crew are not routinely required to wear any additional PPE while embarked. If a crew member is required to assist a passenger (and their close personal contacts) who is unwell, the crew member should:wear a surgical mask, disposable full-length gown, gloves and eye protection;remove any PPE carefully (without touching the front of mask, gown or outside of gloves) to avoid self-contamination; dispose of used PPE carefully in biohazard bags and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser immediately after tying the bag tightly closed; andwear clean gloves to clean and then disinfect surrounding surfaces with a broad spectrum disinfectant which is effective against human norovirus.When cleaning toilets used by unwell passengers or surfaces visibly contaminated with body fluids, crew members should: wear a surgical mask, disposable full-length gown, gloves and eye protection;clean and then disinfect surrounding surfaces with a broad spectrum disinfectant which has effectiveness against human norovirus;remove any PPE carefully (without touching the front of mask, gown or outside of gloves) to avoid self-contamination; anddispose of used PPE carefully in biohazard bags and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser immediately after tying the bag tightly closed. What cleaning and disinfection activities are appropriate? Cruise ships should follow existing protocols for cleaning and disinfection. In response to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, cruise ships should follow existing protocols for cleaning and disinfection for outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness/gastroenteritis outbreaks. Protocols targeted at managing human norovirus outbreaks are sufficient. Baggage and packages: No additional precautions are recommended for baggage and packages that accompany ill travellers. Routine precautions are recommended.Handling linen, dishes, cutlery:No additional precautions are recommended. Routine practices and precautions for handling potentially contaminated articles are sufficient.Waste management:No additional precautions are recommended for the handling of standard waste. All personnel handling waste should use standard precautions and perform hand hygiene after removing PPE. Medical waste and PPE potentially contaminated with SARS-COV-2 should be disposed of in a biohazard bag and tied tightly. Waste disposal and destruction should be conducted according to standard protocols, legislation and regulations.Other informationWhile COVID-19 is of concern and we remain vigilant, it is currently influenza season in the northern hemisphere. It is more likely that travellers displaying infectious symptoms have a common respiratory infection, rather than COVID-19.The Department of Health is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with the World Health Organization and Australian states and territories. Where can I get more information about COVID-19?For human biosecurity questions:Contact the Maritime National Co-ordination Centre 1300 004 605 operating hours 6am-6pm Australian Central Standard Time, for urgent after hours enquiries call +61 417 666 648.For general COVID-19 questions: Visit .auCall the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need to communicate with a non-English speaking person, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National). Telephone interpreters are available immediately on 131 450. ................
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