Jamaica Releases Interim Guidelines For Cruise Ships Docking There

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 3, 2020 (CMC) – Jamaica says it has drafted interim guidelines, in light of concerns from the cruise ship industry, as to the island’s requirements for admission to ports, here, in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) that has killed more than 3,000 people, mainly in China, South Korea, Italy, the United States and Japan.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness said the guidelines have been circulated to the Port Authority of Jamaica and relevant agencies, as the island moves to deal with preventing any outbreak of the virus.

According to the guidelines, any passenger or crew, who have travelled, within the last 14 days, to any country, for which a landing restriction is in place, will not be allowed to disembark.

“The decision to grant these privileges to other passengers or crew will be dependent on a review of ill persons on board, for a determination as to whether their symptoms include fever and/or respiratory illnesses, either at the time of arrival in Jamaican waters or during the cruise,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Media reports said there appears to have been a disagreement between Jamaica and Carnival Cruises, over the guidelines implemented, in wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

A report, published by Cruise Law News, said that Jamaica and the Cayman Islands had informed two Carnival cruise ships that they are prohibited from calling on ports in both countries, over concerns with COVID-19.

But it later reported that it was Carnival Cruise Lines, not these ports of call that decided that guests would not be allowed ashore, in these countries.

In its statement, the Health Ministry said that ships requesting to dock, here, must provide certain forms of information “for assessment and decision-making”.

Among the information being requested, includes a copy of the medical logs since the start of the voyage. In keeping with the “high risk” situation that the world now faces, with respect to COVID-19, noting that “cruise lines should insist that all persons with illness report to the ship’s medical facility for treatment. Jamaica requests that travel history, temperatures and the presence or absence of respiratory symptoms be recorded and submitted for review”, as well as a travel history for all persons in the Medical Log.

“A travel history must be taken for all persons presenting to the ship’s medical facility. Any person, who has a fever and/or respiratory symptoms, who has been in a country, where there is transmission of COVID-19, should be immediately isolated and quarantined.”

Jamaica said it was also recommending that persons with a travel history to countries with transmission of COVID-19, be monitored onboard, as if in home/self quarantine.

“These persons were at risk of exposure to the virus and may be in the incubation phase of the disease. The early detection of symptoms and isolation of persons is key to stopping transmission. Therefore, persons must be monitored onboard the ship, and all persons encouraged to visit the ship’s medical facility, if they are unwell. Jamaica requires that a temperature log be kept of all persons of interest and be submitted to the authorities in Jamaica.”