With the coronavirus death toll increasing, countries are taking precautions to prevent those exposed to the virus within their borders. However, what steps are being taken to screen passengers who arrive via cruise ships?
Chairman of the National Cruise Council and Mayor of St Ann Michael Belnavis says cruise passengers are already screened before ships dock in Jamaica. As doctors scramble to find the cure for the coronavirus, all eyes remain on china as the number of deaths continues to climb. Countries have taken drastic steps to ban travel to and from the country hoping that this will prevent the spread of the virus.
Locally, a travel advisory remains in place and Jamaicans living in China -while they call for steps to be taken for their return home – will not be allowed access until the virus is controlled. Questions are however still being raised about jamaica’s readiness particularly due to cruise ships that come to our ports on a daily basis.
Michael Belnavis, the Chairman of the National Cruise Council goes further to explains that local screening is still carried out as a precaution. Belnavis says there is also a quarantine area on these cruise ships and at the St. Ann’s bay hospital where doctors are able to handle any emergency related to a coronavirus case.
He says screening is being carried out at all ports across the country.
KHADIJAH THOMAS
