The Brazilian Health Ministry presented on March 13th new measures to contain the spread of covid-19. The goal is to restrict the spread of the disease and this also affects tourists who visit or plan to visit the country during this period. For that reason, we decided to join here important informations for those who wish to travel to Brazil or other destinations in the coming weeks.
First of all, it is important to check if your destination has taken any restrictive measures due to the coronavirus. This includes not only arrivals and departures, but also cultural and sporting events, as well as attractions that may be closed during the period. Events like the NBA season, Miami Open, Boston Marathon, São Paulo Fashion Week, Ultra Festival, Lollapalooza (Brasil, Argentina and Chile) has been suspended already and tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Disney parks have been closed.
The city of Rio declared a stage of attention on March 13, the third on a scale of five levels of monitoring. The measures include from the suspension of school classes, events cancellations, the possibility of restricting entry and exit from the city (highways, ports or airports) and even the possibility of interdicting the beaches to avoid agglomerations.
One of the most important measures announced by the authorities for tourists arriving in Brazil from abroad is the 1-week voluntary isolation (from the date of arrival). Those who have a fever + cough or difficulty breathing should go to a health center or call 136.
Contagion map (As of 12:00 p.m. ET March 13, 2020). Font: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cruise ships: It is also possible that cruise ships have restricted circulation along the Brazilian coast, since historically, respiratory transmission on tourist cruises is facilitated and ships that are already traveling will have their situations evaluated case by case. There are some possible solutions, such as quarantine for the entire ship or negotiation so that there is no landing in Brazilian cities, if the final destination of the ship is another country.
Agglomerations: If you are already traveling, remember to avoid crowds, as in tourist attractions; since the transmission of the virus is facilitated and these places tend to concentrate a high number of people of different nationalities. The government of Rio de Janeiro has already announced cancellation and prohibition, from March 16th, of sporting events, shows, fairs, among others, in addition to the closing of theaters, concert halls and cinemas as a measure to prevent crowding; military police could also be used to interdict beaches in the coming weeks.
On the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website you will find a page focused on more information for travelers and different destinations: Know more.
It is also important to remember that you should not embark in case of fever, cough, difficulty breathing or other symptoms of the disease. Research your destination in advance and plan your trip carefully! To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we’ve selected the most important measures you can take today, protecting your health and others! Share the recommendations with your friends and help against the virus spread!!
Fonts: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BBC Brasil and G1 notícias.
Updated on March 14th 2020.