RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian health authorities said Sunday they would investigate reports of cruise liners violating COVID-19 protocols, after outbreaks hit three ships plying the coast.
The agency said it would also reinforce a recommendation it made Friday to the Brazilian health ministry to suspend all cruises immediately, given the global surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the new Omicron variant. The new crackdown comes after COVID-19 outbreaks erupted on three ships off the Brazilian coast at New Year's.
On December 30, health authorities suspended the operations of two other ships, the Costa Diadema and MSC Splendida, after they, too, reported dozens of COVID-19 cases on board.