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

[Montanan]

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has extended the 14-day self-quarantine required for anyone traveling into Alaska from out of state to at least June 2.

On May 14th, Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon sent a letter to Dunleavy also asking that the mandate be extended. “The community and the Assembly remain concerned about the prospect of lifting the interstate travel restrictions,” Weldon wrote. “In part because Juneau, along with other towns in Southeast, have limited entry through airport, ferry, and private boat, the virus spread will likely be through increased travel into our community this summer.” https://beta.juneau.org/wp-content/u...e_Governor.pdf

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz said “I’ve encouraged the governor to continue with the quarantine for a while, but it’s really a decision he [the Governor] has to make,” “Even as we are easing up on the restrictions that we put in place to safeguard public health, we need to remember that the public health threat is very real, that the virus is still out there, that the disease is afflicting hundreds of thousands of Americans as we speak,” Berkowitz said. “If we open ourselves too rapidly, make ourselves too vulnerable, it can have a dramatic impact here.” “It would be of great comfort if the disease levels were a lot less in the Lower 48, and in places that are coming to Alaska, than they are right now,” .

Anchorage Health Department Director Natasha Pineda said as long as the state is seeing travel-related cases of the coronavirus, the quarantine mandate should remain in place.

[JPA Cate]

For those of you with plans to go to Queensland, Australia, we received a message from friends who are in Iluka, NSW.

At present, the premiers of NSW and QLD have differing views about how open the borders should be, and boats have been turned back to nsw that have attempted to sail in. Hence, the anchorage at Iluka is getting overfull. There are still places to anchor along the river.

The situation is still in a state of flux, and things will tighten up if the new cases rate takes a jump after the recent loosenings in isolation.

Ann

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

For those of you with plans to go to Queensland, Australia, we received a message from friends who are in Iluka, NSW.

At present, the premiers of NSW and QLD have differing views about how open the borders should be, and boats have been turned back to nsw that have attempted to sail in. Hence, the anchorage at Iluka is getting overfull. There are still places to anchor along the river.

The situation is still in a state of flux, and things will tighten up if the new cases rate takes a jump after the recent loosenings in isolation.

Ann

Good update Ann, borders have become significant, internal and external.

QLD has extensive travel restrictions under Phase 1 restrictions, which presumably also apply to sea. A Phase 2 is tentatively projected to initiate on June 12th. Reference QLDs Roadmap for easing restrictions at https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/gover...s-restrictions



The information below is from: https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/corona...te-communities

You can move between your homeland and community if it is within a ‘designated area’.

Restricted or ‘designated areas’ are generally large and may include groups of communities and homelands/outstations. Travel within the designated area (including between islands within that area) is permitted and is not disrupted by these restrictions.

However, it is important that you minimise travel and practise social distancing. Check with your local council to understand where you can move without needing to go into quarantine for 14 days when you return.

From 11.59pm Friday 15 May 2020, you can leave your home for some non-essential activities provided you practice social distancing, good hygiene and stay within 150km of home and within a designated biosecurity area.

If your activity takes you outside the designated area you live in, you will need to quarantine for 14 days at your own expense before coming back in.

If you live in a large combined biosecurity zone like the Cape area or Burke/Doomadgee local government areas, you may be able to travel 150km without exiting your designated area.

If you live in a smaller biosecurity zone that is only your local government area — such as Cherbourg, Mornington Island, Woorabinda, Palm Island and Yarrabah — you will have to stay within your local government boundary to avoid having to go into quarantine for 14 days before returning home.

If you are unsure whether you will need to go into quarantine when you return, you should check with your local council or a Biosecurity Officer for advice.


QLD Border Pass Info:

https://www.qld.gov.au/border-pass
All existing green Queensland Entry Passes and Queensland Resident Vehicle Passes are void at 12:01am on Saturday, 11 April 2020.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entry into Queensland is temporarily prohibited unless the travel is exempt under the Chief Health Officer’s Border Restrictions Direction (Opens in new window). Entry into Queensland for essential travel is only permitted to persons who are eligible for an exemption and who have a Queensland Entry Pass.

Travel to and through remote Queensland communities is also restricted by the Australian Government under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and requires a Remote Communities Pass.

A separate application is required for each individual, including children, and all travellers in your party must be eligible for an exemption.

Select the type of Border Pass or Remote Communities Pass you are eligible for: Reference website linked above.



https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system...r-restrictions

Border restrictions Direction (No. 5)
Summary
Effective from: 1 May 2020

Posted: 1 May 2020

Direction from Chief Health Officer in accordance with emergency powers arising from the declared public health emergency

PART 1 — QUARANTINE FOR TRAVELLERS
Directions
This Direction applies from the time of publication until the end of the declared public health emergency, unless it is revoked or replaced.
A person who arrives in Queensland from another State or Territory of Australia will not be allowed to enter Queensland, unless they are an exempt resident or exempt person.
An exempt resident or exempt person who arrives in Queensland must self-quarantine if:
they have been outside Australia in the last 14 days; or
they are non-cruise maritime crew who must comply with requirements in the class exemption for non-cruise maritime crew.
An exempt resident who arrives in Queensland must self-quarantine if:
in the last 14 days, they have been in particular areas of Australia decided by the Chief Health Officer and published on the Queensland Health website (a COVID-19 hotspot), unless the person was in the COVID-19 hotspot for an essential purpose or enters Queensland for an essential purpose; or
they are a person mentioned in paragraph 10 item 1(b) (a person moving to Queensland to make Queensland their principal place of residence).
From 12.01 am on Tuesday 5 May 2020, an exempt person who arrives in Queensland must self-quarantine if:
they are an agribusiness or commercial fishing employee or contractor; and
in the last 14 days, they have been in a COVID-19 hotspot; and
they cannot produce adequate documentation from an interstate health authority to demonstrate self-quarantine was completed at a place in the COVID-19 hotspot.
The Chief Health Officer may give an exemption from the requirement to self-quarantine under paragraphs 7 and 8 if the Chief Health Officer considers:
there are compassionate or other grounds such that self-quarantine would lead to an unusual or disproportionate hardship for the person; or
the person is essential for the proper functioning of the State; or
other exceptional circumstances exist that merit the person not being required to self-quarantine.


An exempt resident is a person mentioned in the following table:
Exempt resident
Queensland residents
A person who:
ordinarily resides in Queensland; or
is moving to Queensland to make Queensland their principal place of residence.

People living and working close to the border of New South Wales, South Australia or the Northern Territory
Any person who:
is ordinarily a resident of a State or Territory that shares a border with Queensland, being New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory; and
travels to Queensland to obtain essential goods or services or for a permitted purpose; and
enters Queensland, by crossing a land border; and
does not propose to stay in Queensland for longer than reasonably necessary for the permitted purpose or to obtain essential goods or services.
Note: a permitted purpose includes to perform work.

Any person who is ordinarily a resident of Queensland who works in New South Wales, South Australia or the Northern Territory or who travels outside of Queensland to obtain essential goods or services.

[Montanan]

'Have a plan in place': Experts issue warnings ahead of projected busy hurricane season
Experts warned that people should develop preparedness plans early, particularly as the coronavirus pandemic will likely complicate emergency responses.

This year, NOAA’s forecast predicts a 70 percent chance of 13 to 19 named storms with winds of 39 miles per hour or higher. Of those, six to 10 could become hurricanes, with winds of 74 miles per hour or higher, including three to six “major” hurricanes that reach Category 3 or higher, with winds of at least 111 miles per hour. An average season has 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes according to NOAA.

Social distancing and other CDC guidance to keep you safe from COVID-19 may impact the disaster preparedness plan you had in place, including what is in your go-kit, evacuation routes, and shelters that will be open.

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...icane-n1212256

[Montanan]

Travellers arriving in Britain from abroad will face 14 days in quarantine, a senior minister confirmed on Friday, saying the government would give details later.

The self-isolation rules will apply to international arrivals to the UK and include Britons returning to the country.

"People who are coming to the UK will have to do quarantine," Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told Sky news. "We're saying to people you've got to make your own arrangements, if you're coming to the UK then you need to make those arrangements.

"Obviously for the UK citizens coming back they'll be able to quarantine at home, for visitors they will need to make arrangements for where they can do that quarantine for 14 days."

The plans are expected to come into force next month and further details are due to be outlined by Home Secretary Priti Patel at a daily briefing.
Lewis said the policy would be reviewed every three weeks.

There are expected to be exemptions for road hauliers and medical officials, and the common travel area with Ireland and the Channel Islands will be unaffected.
But it is thought that arrivals from France will have to quarantine despite claims earlier this month that there would be an exemption.

Anybody who fails to self-isolate could face a fine of £1,000 ($1,220), according to media reports.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/uk-introd...074754799.html

[Montanan]

Scotland four stages for easing restrictions.

The first phase will start on May 28 and the plan will be reviewed every three weeks, when Nicola Sturgeon will decide whether the country is ready to move onto the next stage.

The blueprint also stated that Ms Sturgeon will not move to phase four unless the virus has "ceased to be a significant issue", either because a vaccine has been developed "and/or we have an effective treatment available."
Experts have previously warned it is likely to be next year before any vaccine is developed and mass produced in sufficient volume.

Scots must stay within five miles of their homes unless meeting family and offices and large shops will not reopen until at least July, under a "gradual" lockdown exit plan unveiled by Nicola Sturgeon.

The First Minister unveiled a four-stage route map for easing restrictions that included much harsher restrictions on car travel in the first phase than have been implemented in England.

Scots will not be allowed to drive beyond their "local area" until the third phase, which will not be introduced before July 9 at the very earliest.
Although this was not stated in the blueprint, senior Scottish Government sources said an exception will be made allowing longer car journeys to see family.

However, people cannot stay overnight and must remain socially distanced, meaning that it would be extremely difficult to travel long distances to see parents or children.

[El Pinguino]

The last sentence in this article https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/...hip-off-tahiti may be of interest

'French Polynesia, which had 60 Covid-19 cases, lifted all restrictions related to the pandemic from today.'

As I said a while back... I can think of no better place to be than FP.

[JPA Cate]

Here's another link to a previous news story about FP: https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/...9-restrictions

Ann

[Montanan]

French Polynesia has released its internal travel and stay at home restrictions but continues its international travel restrictions. https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/covid-19/

Link to official notice in French: https://mcusercontent.com/56740bd7d6...0_mai2020.docx

Papeete, May 20th, 2020
Lockdown lifted in French Polynesia starting from May 21, 2020
After two months of lockdown and following the improvement of the health situation, the authorities declared the end of lockdown in French Polynesia starting from May 21, 2020:

Access to the territory for all non-residents of French Polynesia is still suspended (since March 18, 2020), until further notice.

Commercial flights will be resumed following specific regulations which will be announced in 15 days. "I have decided to restart Air Tahiti Nui's international commercial flights, starting July 1, 2020."

Domestic flights will start their operations from May 22nd, with Air Tahiti flights serving only 10 islands: Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Fakarava, Rurutu, Tubuai, Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa.

Sailing yachts which have been welcomed in overcrowded mooring areas must leave and resume their trip. "- Les voiliers qui ont été accueilli en surnombre dans nos zones de mouillage doivent libérer leur emplacement et continuer leur voyage." Translation to English: Sailboats that have been accommodated in excess in our mooring areas must free their location and continue their journey.

All companies and administrations will resume their activities.
Restaurants, bars and nightclubs will resume their activities under usual conditions.

The only measure retained from the lockdown is the ban on the sale of alcohol from Friday to Sunday

[Montanan]

Tit for Tat.

France to retaliate over British quarantine measures.
France is to impose a quarantine on British travellers after the UK announced all new arrivals will have to spend two weeks in self-isolation.

The French government made it clear it would retaliate in kind after Britain announced the 14-day quarantine period for new arrivals to the UK from June 8, including the French.

In response French ministers said they “regretted” Britain's decision and would introduce their own reciprocal measures.

The British decision to impose quarantine measures had already angered the travel industry and the French response will only compound its despair at the prospect of international travel being disrupted further.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, announced on Friday travellers entering the UK would have to self-isolate for 14 days or they could face a £1,000 fine.

Passengers will be required to fill out an online contact form providing details of where they will spend their self-isolation.
If a person does not have suitable accommodation they will be required to stay in "facilities arranged by the government" at the person's own expense.

It was confirmed France would not be exempt from the rules, despite reports earlier this week its citizens may not be forced to self-isolate.
In response a spokesman for France’s Interior Minister said: “We take note of the British government’s decision and we regret it. France is ready to put in place a reciprocal measure as soon as the system comes into force on the British side.”
Unlike many other countries, Britain has until now carried out few tests and checks on visitors, with quarantine limited only to arrivals from China at the start of the outbreak.
Spain and Italy already have rules that mean international arrivals must self-isolate for two weeks, while Greece currently instructs arrivals to quarantine if they test positive for Covid-19.
Italy will lift its quarantine measures on June 3.

[Montanan]

Hawaii update.

Thanks to its geographic isolation, a stay-at-home order and a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals, Hawaii has had some of the lowest rates of Covid-19 in the US. But the quarantine essentially halted tourism in Hawaii, which accounts for a quarter of the economy. As a result, nearly one-third of the state’s working population has applied for unemployment.

This week, Hawaii’s governor, David Ige, announced a phased approach to opening the non-tourism economy, or kamaʻaina (local) economy. The plan reopened auto dealerships, car washes and pet grooming services in May, while waiting until June to consider reopening higher-risk businesses, such as gyms, museums and theaters.

The governor also confirmed that the mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals would stay in place through June. The finer details of how the tourism economy – bars, hotels, convention centers – will be reopened have yet to be released but one idea being discussed is waiving the quarantine for visitors if they take a Covid-19 test before traveling to Hawaii.
“The state needs to bring back tourism in some way. We need money,” said Colin Moore, the University of Hawaii public policy director. “But the only way to make that work is to find a way to do it as safely as we can.”
The governor has extended the quarantine until the end of June, which has helped bring the number of arrivals to Hawaii from the usual 30,000 to less than 1,000 most days. The mandatory 14-day quarantine requires that everyone arriving in the state or traveling between islands must go directly from the airport to their home or hotel. During the quarantine period, all food must be delivered. Those who break quarantine face a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hawaii-op...100050901.html

[Montanan]

Travelers to Alaska can now forgo the 14-day quarantine if they have tested negative for COVID-19 before entering the state, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said at a press conference Friday. The state has revised Health Mandate 010, with revisions going into effect on June 6, so that there are multiple testing and quarantine options for those coming to Alaska.

The mandate applies to all people entering the state including residents who have left for travel outside Alaska.

There are several ways a visitor to the state could forgo the 14-day quarantine. Their first option is they must be able to produce a negative SARS-CoV2 PRC test result within 72 hours of leaving for Alaska.

If visitors are unable to be tested that close to their travel date, they can also bring test results showing they have tested negative for COVID-19 within five days of departing to the state. However, the traveler is also required to be tested for COVID-19 again in whichever Alaska airport they fly to and “minimize interactions” until they have received another negative test result.

If someone arrives in Alaska without proof of a negative COVID-19 test, they will have the option of being tested at the airport or participating in a 14-day quarantine.

“If for some reason you make it to Alaska without a test, we can give you a test here in Alaska. If you don’t want a test, we ask that you self quarantine,” Dunleavy said.

Alaska residents are not required to be pre-tested if they leave the state on trips that are five days or less, but when they return they must quarantine or obtain a negative COVID-19 test. The mandate says all people waiting on test results must quarantine until they get their test back.

The revised mandate states residents will, “obtain a voucher for a second test that must occur within 7-14 days after arrival, and should minimize interactions until the results from the second test show the resident is negative for COVID-19.”

Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum said children under the age of 2 are not required to be tested.

Dunleavy said that the state will embark on a campaign to educate visitors about the new requirements. Travelers are asked to fill out the state’s online Mandatory Declaration Form for Interstate Travelers specifying which testing option they have completed.

[B]With fishing season starting in Alaska there is a lot of concern that fisherpersons onboard trawlers from out of state could cause large scale community spread in the remote fishing villages and ports of entry. An example of such shipboard contagion is a ship in Seattle.
86 Test Positive for COVID-19 on American Fishing Trawler in Seattle[/B]

At least 86 people have tested positive for COVID-19 on board a U.S.-flagged fishing trawler now docked in Seattle, Washington.

American Seafoods Company previously reported that one crew member from its American Dynasty tested positive for COVID-19 on May 30. As a result, the company has now tested the entire crew, confirming an additional 85 crew members have been infected with the virus. Currently the vessel is docked at the Port of Seattle and all crew are in quarantine in facilities in Seattle.

Seattle and Dutch Harbor-based American Seafoods is one of the largest seafood companies in North America, operating six vessels in the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea.

[Montanan]

The European Union will not fully open internal borders before the end of June, meaning restrictions on travel to and from other countries will only start easing in July, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said on Friday.

She told a news conference after a video call among EU and Schengen zone interior ministers that most governments would lift internal border controls by June 15, but that some were not ready to do so until the end of the month.

"So that means that (all) internal border controls are lifted by the end of June, I guess. We should consider the gradual lifting of restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU (in) early July," Johansson said.

The Schengen zone, which normally has no border controls between most EU states and some neighbours outside it, banned until June 15 non-essential visitors from elsewhere in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

But delays in opening some individual national frontiers meant most governments now believed a two-week extension was necessary,

https://www.yahoo.com/news/eu-start-...121613037.html

[Discovery 15797]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Hawaii update.

The governor announced the mandatory quarantine will be extended past June 30th for anyone arriving from ConUS or international airports.

Travel between islands will be allowed starting mid-June.

The state's overall economy is being hit especially hard and folks are not happy. "Reopen Hawaii Now" protests are becoming more frequent and larger (although now the BLM protests have the limelight). Hawaii currently has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and the kamaʻaina population is not going to make up for the tax shortfalls for this year.

The number of travelers arriving in Hawaii fell to 4,564 last month compared to 856,250 in April 2019, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said. That’s a 99.5% decline.

I suspect that most people who were planning to go to Hawaii for a summer vacation have cancelled and made other plans for this year, and even those who go will likely spend a reduced amount.

Last night S/V XWing (enroute from Mexico to HI) reported on the PacSeaNet he was not allowed entry into Kahului Harbor on Maui and instructed to proceed to Lahaina Bay for quarantine.

[Montanan]

Spain eyeing to restart tourism in July as parts of the country de-escalate Covid-19 restrictions

The government of Spain is aiming to reopen the country for tourism in July. The prime ministers of Spain and Italy sent a joint letter Thursday to the European Commission President, Ursula Von der Leyen, asking her to take the lead so that in the European Union, "the lifting of restrictions at our internal borders must be carried out in coordinated, non-discriminatory manner," the letter stated.

Just over half of Spain's population will advance next Monday to the final phase of de-escalation, allowing for more activities and movement, as the government lifts additional confinement measures that have been in place since March to battle the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced Friday.

After 82 days under "the strictest state of emergency in Europe," the country moves steadily toward a "new normality," Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa said during a press conference Friday.
Parts of Spain advance to phase 3 of reopening: Starting next Monday, “52% of the Spanish population will be in phase 3 and 48% in phase 2,” Illa said.

No part of Spain will remain in the more restrictive phase 1.

Officials say the territories with the least amount of new coronavirus cases and the best preparation for any new outbreaks advance to phase 3, including the nation's prime beach areas - Spain's Balearic and Canary Islands, and Andalusia, with its long Mediterranean coastline.

But the Madrid region and the Barcelona metropolitan area, will move only to Phase 2, which allows indoor restaurant seating and shopping centers to reopen, but only at 40 percent of their client capacity. The two largest cities were the hardest hit areas in Spain by the coronavirus.

Starting on June 8th, the territories in phase 3 will be managed by their respective regional governments, instead of the Spanish government, and the regions can decide if a particular territory is ready “to finish the state of alarm and move on to the new normality. This could be before June 21st,” Illa said.
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/...24c3220832285a