Go Africa Trading Covid-19 Prevention for Contracted and Licensed Cargo and Container Ships
01-02-2022
Covid-19 virus spreads through direct contact, airborne transmission, and through droplets. Spread of the virus through surfaces is very low risk, less than 1 in 10,000. For this reason, Go Africa cargo and container ships follow Center for Disease Control masking protocols requiring masks to be worn for Covid-19 prevention by all personnel operating cargo and container ships and travelers traveling into, within, or out of the United States. This rule also applies to all persons at U.S. seaports when located in indoor areas. In addition to facemasks, Covid-19 preventive measures on our ships also include physical distancing and hand hygiene. Using soap and detergents for cleaning surfaces of our cartons and containers lower the numbers of germs and virus on surfaces and reduces risk of Covid-19 infection. After a Covid-19 case is identified on a cargo or container ship, all persons on board are considered contacts because of the close living and working conditions. Our cargo and container shipping crews have developed plans to prevent, mitigate, and respond to the spread of COVID-19 on board ships which include
- Training of all crew on COVID-19 prevention and mitigation
- Monitoring of crew and non-crew for cough, fever, ill appearance, and other signs and symptoms of COVID-19
- COVID-19 testing (onboard or onshore)
- On-board isolation, quarantine, and physical distancing (maintaining at least 6 feet [2 meters] from others)
- Maintaining enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) oxygen, and other supplies, and the ability to obtain additional resources, if needed
- COVID-19 outbreak management and response information
- Medical arrangements for onshore evaluation and hospitalization
- Screening of embarking or disembarking crew and non-crew
- A system to notify respective national, state, and local public health authorities
Any worker in the shipping process found to have cough fever or appear ill are prevented from working further and disinfectant protocols are then used to eliminate any potential virus spread.
Pre-Boarding Procedures for Cargo and Container Ships
Screening is conducted before anyone boards to determine whether persons have had signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or a known exposure (close contacts) to a person with COVID-19 within the past 14 days. In addition, temperature checks are used to identify any person with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or greater.
Persons with Signs or Symptoms of COVID-19
Persons with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 who intend to board the ship are denied boarding, regardless of vaccination status. These symptomatic persons will be directed for medical assessment to determine if they have COVID-19 before they are allowed to board.
Isolation of Sick Persons or Confirmed Cases and Quarantine of Close Contacts
Persons with symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or previous recovery from COVID-19, will be isolated using the same procedures as persons with confirmed COVID-19 until testing can be conducted and results are available. Symptomatic persons who test positive or who are not tested will be isolated until they meet criteria to end isolation.
by Dr. Samuel Jones
find CDC protocols at cdc.gov