Guidelines for Use of Cruise Ship as Quarantine Facility

April 16, 2020

BOQ MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 017-20

 

A. General Guidelines

1. The use of cruise ships as quarantine facility is subject to Republic Act No. 9271, The Quarantine Act of 2004.

a. Cruise ship used as quarantine facility must hoist the Lima Flag at all times.

b. Nobody is allowed to embark or disembark, move the vessel, and conduct activities without the clearance of the Director of Quarantine.

2. Guidelines pertaining to Quarantine Facilities as stated in Department Memoranda Nos. 2020-0143 and 2020-0154 must be followed.

3. Infection Prevention and Control must be observed at all times. Proper PPEs must be worn by all personnel in the quarantine facility.

4. Segregation of repatriates must be in accordance with the supervision of the Quarantine Medical Officer.

5. The cruise ship must provide basic services to the repatriated OFs.

6. The cruise ship used a quarantine facility must be safely moored at designated berth for accessibility for emergency and routine monitoring.

7. All cruise ships must state the number of cabins available for quarantine holding rooms. Cabins must be well-lit and well-ventilated. Windowless cabins must have continuous air-conditioning.

8. Provision on basic necessities such as toiletries, beddings, trash bags, etc., must be prepositioned for 2-week consumption to minimize the frequent encounters between working crew and repatriates.

9. Vessel air conditioning system's filtration system must be routinely cleaned and capable of screening 0.3 micron. High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters, Ultraviolet Light Air Filtration, and Electrostatic Air Purifiers are capable of trapping or killing viruses.

10. Medical Staff of the vessel must report to the Bureau of Quarantine-Department of Health.

11. Vessel Security Personnel must coordinate with Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group.

12. Seaside and landside security must be provided by Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group.

13. Provisions for the Repatriates must be provided by OWWA/DOLE and/or LMA.

14. Vessel servicing crew must not mix with repatriated crew and other repatriates.

15. All crew movement in and out of cruise ship area must be cleared by Bureau of Immigration. All cargo movement and provision resupply must be cleared by the Bureau of Customs.

16. Repatriated OFs, who have not completed the 14-day quarantine period, must stay in individual rooms until completion of the said period.

17. Ambulance and conduction team will be provided by Philippine Coast Guard-Medical Team.

18. Health Emergency Management Bureau of the Department of Health will coordinate ambulance conduction to nearest referral hospital.

B. Complete compliance to the Quarantine Requirements for Repatriation

1. All repatriates must complete the 14-day quarantine period.

2. Daily temperature monitoring and checking for signs and symptoms are conducted by the medical personnel.

3. Triaging of symptomatic patients must be conducted in ship's hospital/medical clinic.

C. Servicing of Vessel

1. Bunkering and resupplying of provisions must be accomplished without disrupting normal function of the vessel as a quarantine facility.

2. All other servicing of the vessel must be coordinated with the Medical Supervisor of the quarantine facility.

D. Waste Disposal

1. Accredited waste collectors are allowed to collect waste stored in vessel waste repository with proper PPEs.

(SGD.) FERDINAND S. SALCEDO, MD, MPH, CESO IVDirector IV