Roadmap To Reopening Flights and Cruises
International flights have begun to take off in Australia and cruising is looking to set sail in the coming months.
As the Christmas and New Year’s nears, proper infection prevention products and procedures are vital to the business and leisure transport industry’s COVID-19 response.
The Australia Department of Health has recommended rigorous infection prevention practices for aviation, stating that environmental surfaces need to be cleaned frequently and waste appropriately disposed of. [i]
While aviation’s COVID-19 practices are decided, cruises in Australia are not. Cruises are likely to remain banned until mid-December at the earliest.
Cruises were originally banned following a severe COVID-19 outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess in March 2020. With aviation possible, citizens can travel overseas to board a cruise but cannot gain entry in their own country.
Australians can be comforted by several COVID-19 response measures that make cruises likely to operate sooner and safer than naysayers expected.
Many cruise lines have implemented extensive changes to both their procedures, and the way cruises are operated. These include changes to excursions, guests’ behaviours, testing and vaccination, and infection prevention procedures.[ii]
A spokesperson from the Department of Infrastructure stated that domestic and international cruising is likely to open in a similar way to international aviation once an 80 per cent vaccination has been achieved.[iii]
The Federal Government is working closely with the States and Territories as they draft decisions for mass transport, including quarantine arrangements and infection prevention procedures.
A major concern for mass transport is that they tend not to have been originally designed with infection prevention practices as a high priority.
International transport, particularly cruises significant risks as passengers are in an enclosed space in which risks escalate the longer one is on board.
Head of Microbiology and Infectious Disease at Flinders University, David Gordon, recommends that mandatory vaccinations, masks, regular testing, and rigorous infection control be enforced to avoid transmission aboard transport.
Safe Work Australia has offered extensive advice for transport hygiene practices. The agency has emphasised the importance of both cleaning and disinfecting, quality antiviral activity products and managing the risk of infection between staff.[iv]
As mass transport industry, especially international travel, is champing at the bit to further restore flights and resume sailings infection prevention practices and products will become ever more critical.
However, as the effects of COVID-19 subside, and passengers and the transport industry return to normality it is critical that these new infection prevention practices are not forgotten.
Cruising has long been associated with mass-infections, as has flying to a lesser extent. These new infection prevention practices and products are serving as the tools to reopen industries, but they can also serve at the tools to ensure community confidence is restored and maintained.
References
[i] https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/12/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-managing-the-health-risks-from-covid-19-on-international-flights-coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-airline-industry-including-flight-crew_0.pdf
[ii] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-29/australians-ready-to-cruise-again/100572560
[iii] https://www.ellaslist.com.au/articles/cruise-ship-holidays-returning-to-australia
[iv] https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/industry-information/public-transport/cleaning#heading--13--tab-toc-what_are_the_best_products_for_cleaning_and_disinfecting?