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

[Montanan]

As coronavirus spreads, CDC warns Americans about traveling within the U.S.

Published: March 12, 2020 at 1:34 p.m. ET
By Jacob Passy
‘If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be at higher risk of exposure if you travel there’

With the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continuing to grow, public health officials have issued a warning to people thinking about traveling within the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted a new guide Wednesday answering common questions about the risks the novel coronavirus pandemic poses to Americans traveling domestically.

“CDC does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the United States,” the agency said on its website. “However, cases of COVID-19 have been reported in many states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease.”

Health officials warned that travelers are at high risk of contracting the illness in crowded places, including conferences, public events, religious gatherings, public spaces like movie theaters and shopping malls, and public transportation. The CDC also noted that going to an airport raises your risk of contracting the coronavirus if another traveler there has COVID-19.

The CDC noted that travelers should consider whether their home town or the destination they’re planning to visit has a high number of cases. “If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be at higher risk of exposure if you travel there,” the CDC said. “Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition.”

Additionally, the public health agency warned that those who do decide to travel may be asked by their employer or school to stay home for up to 14 days after traveling to avoid spreading the illness.

[fivecapes]

FDA grants emergency approval of a new coronavirus test developed by Roche that's 10x faster in testing potential cases run on automatic machines already installed in >100 labs across the US.

[GordMay]

FDA Issues EUA for Roche SARS-CoV-2 Test
The Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test is a real-time, reverse transcriptase PCR test. The single-well, dual target assay includes specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 and pan-sarbecovirus detection for the sarbecovirus subgenus family that includes the novel coronavirus that has infected nearly 133,000 people worldwide.
The widely available Roche’s cobas 6800/8800 Systems, which are used to perform the cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test, provide test results in three and half hours and offer improved operating efficiency, flexibility, and fastest time-to-results with the highest throughput providing up to 96 results in about three hours and a total of 1,440 results for the cobas 6800 System and 4,128 results for the cobas 8800 System in 24 hours. The test can be run simultaneously with other assays provided by Roche for use on the cobas 6800/8800 Systems.
Roche noted that negative results with the Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test does not preclude infection and such results must be combined with clinical observations, patient history, and epidemiological information.
Aside from Roche, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and New York state have received FDA EUA for SARS-CoV-2 tests. Hackensack Meridian Health CDI was granted preliminary EUA for its coronavirus test.

About Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Status
The cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under an EUA for use by laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), 42 U.S.C. § 263a, to perform moderate and high complexity tests. The test has been authorised only for the detection of RNA from SARS-CoV-2 virus and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, not for any other viruses or pathogens. It is only authorised for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorisation of the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb- 3(b)(1), unless the authorisation is terminated or revoked sooner
More ➥ https://www.roche.com/media/releases...2020-03-13.htm

➥ https://www.genomeweb.com/regulatory...t#.XmtYQnIpDIU

[belizesailor]

First confirmed case reported in Guatemala.

https://www.prensalibre.com/guatemal...-en-guatemala/

[Pelagic]

Is there a website that is updating which Ports are no longer open to visiting boats?

Following Manila which closed its Port today, Puerto Gallera mayor announced they will do the same.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Is there a website that is updating which Ports are no longer open to visiting boats?

Following Manila which closed its Port today, Puerto Gallera mayor announced they will do the same.

I have yet to locate a website with complete information. It would be great if the International Maritime Organization would spearhead providing that sort of a listing for both commercial and recreational boats.

Do realize that ports can and do get closed from entry as well as from departure. They can post "No Vacancy" as well as implement "Hotel California" like policies:

"Relax," said the Harbor Master
"We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave!"

[Guitar Solo]

Best to contact the authorities before departing to a harbor to find out what the practice is but realize it can change at any time. Best practice may be to just stay in the harbor you are in so as to not get between quarantined areas. Very challenging and uncertain times. Be sure to keep your boat extremely well provisioned with foods, medicines, fuel and water because you could be set at anchor for extended periods of time before being allowed to make landfall.

[contrail]

Latest from the BVI, where three persons have been tested and none came back positive. The Government is being very pro-active: starting tomorrow, no cruise ships will be allowed for thirty days. Major activities, including the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival and the BVI Spring Regatta, a major international sailing event, have been postponed. The number of Ports of Entry has been cut to three: by sea, Road Town and West End. By air, the airport at Beef Island. Everyone who arrives, whether from here or not, has to fill out a health resume that includes where you have been in the last couple of weeks. Test kits are available, and the hospital has been gearing up, but a major attempt to keep Covid-19 out is being undertaken.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by contrail

Latest from the BVI, where three persons have been tested and none came back positive. The Government is being very pro-active: starting tomorrow, no cruise ships will be allowed for thirty days. Major activities, including the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival and the BVI Spring Regatta, a major international sailing event, have been postponed. The number of Ports of Entry has been cut to three: by sea, Road Town and West End. By air, the airport at Beef Island. Everyone who arrives, whether from here or not, has to fill out a health resume that includes where you have been in the last couple of weeks. Test kits are available, and the hospital has been gearing up, but a major attempt to keep Covid-19 out is being undertaken.

Thanks for sharing that update.

I have to admit that at first I misread your post, mine eyes saw:

. . . three persons have been tested and none came back." That grabbed my attention.

Reread the post and noted that "none came back positive." Much happier outcome, much better than what came to my mind.

[belizesailor]

Wow, Mt Everest is now closed!

[fivecapes]

WHO declares Europe, replaces China, as epicenter of COVID-19 having more reported cases and deaths than rest of world combined apart from China.

[fivecapes]

Singapore will block entry or transit for visitors with travel history to Italy, France, Spain and Germany within the last 14 days, amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in Europe.

The new border restrictions will take effect on Sunday (Mar 15) at 11.59pm, and come after an increase in imported cases in Singapore, particularly of those with travel history to European countries, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday.

In addition with immediate effect, all travellers who show symptoms of fever or respiratory illness and who thus have to undergo a Covid-19 swab test at Singapore’s checkpoints will have to serve a 14-day stay-home notice, during which time they cannot leave their place of residence at all. This is regardless if test is positive or not.

[s/v Jedi]

I got information that Panama Canal transits are cancelled for pleasure boats.

[delmarrey]

In case anybody is interested, here is a web link for the latest stats for the USA & Canada. https://coronavirus.1point3acres.com/en

It’s kept to date by a Chinese medical student here in the USA, if you’re wounding about all the Chinese writing.

[delmarrey]

Tomorrow, or Sunday 3/15, the Metro Manila area only, will lock down for all transportation. No cars, boats or in-country flights for 30 days. Plus, a curfew from 8pm to 5 am.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/14/...rantine-curfew

[El Pinguino]

New Zealand introduces new rules... 14 days self quarantine...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/hea...vid19-outbreak