COVID Pandemics and Inland Transportation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Note on the Risks of Infection in Typical Passenger Vessels

Located in the center of the largest river basin in the world, the State of Amazonas in Brazil has an extensive network of more than 20 thousand kilometers of navigable waterways, which is the main mode of transportation between localities, both for cargo and passengers. The region is practically di...

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Main Authors: Harlysson W. S. Maia, Jassiel V. H. Fontes, Daniel Silva Bitencourtt, Edgar Mendoza, Rodolfo Silva, Irving D. Hernández, Hector Reis Almeida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:COVID
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/3/8/77
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author Harlysson W. S. Maia
Jassiel V. H. Fontes
Daniel Silva Bitencourtt
Edgar Mendoza
Rodolfo Silva
Irving D. Hernández
Hector Reis Almeida
author_facet Harlysson W. S. Maia
Jassiel V. H. Fontes
Daniel Silva Bitencourtt
Edgar Mendoza
Rodolfo Silva
Irving D. Hernández
Hector Reis Almeida
author_sort Harlysson W. S. Maia
collection DOAJ
description Located in the center of the largest river basin in the world, the State of Amazonas in Brazil has an extensive network of more than 20 thousand kilometers of navigable waterways, which is the main mode of transportation between localities, both for cargo and passengers. The region is practically disconnected from the rest of the country due to the lack of roads. Thus, the Amazon River network acted as an efficient means of transmission of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), rapidly transforming the region into an epicenter of the pandemic with one of the highest infection rates in Brazil. Despite the adoption of national and state measures to combat new infections, the situation continued to deteriorate for reasons still under investigation. Given this scenario, this work aims to identify possible infection risks in typical passenger vessels used in the Brazilian Amazon. Three case studies of different passenger vessels were considered, discussing possible scenarios that could allow the spread of COVID and proposing some recommendations for infection prevention. It is hoped that this communication will contribute to the dissemination of information related to the typical means of long-distance passenger transport in the Amazon, to the planning of infectious disease prevention strategies on board regional ships and to ensure a sustainable future for the Amazonian population. Furthermore, this research aims to contribute to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda on health and well-being.
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spelling doaj.art-fc7ffa32ef6045aa83d20269d782a7a22023-11-19T00:43:53ZengMDPI AGCOVID2673-81122023-07-01381052106210.3390/covid3080077COVID Pandemics and Inland Transportation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Note on the Risks of Infection in Typical Passenger VesselsHarlysson W. S. Maia0Jassiel V. H. Fontes1Daniel Silva Bitencourtt2Edgar Mendoza3Rodolfo Silva4Irving D. Hernández5Hector Reis Almeida6Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, BrazilDepartamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, BrazilDepartamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, BrazilInstituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, MexicoInstituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, MexicoNúcleo de Estruturas Oceânicas (NEO), Programa de Engenharia Oceânica, COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21945-970, BrazilDepartamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, BrazilLocated in the center of the largest river basin in the world, the State of Amazonas in Brazil has an extensive network of more than 20 thousand kilometers of navigable waterways, which is the main mode of transportation between localities, both for cargo and passengers. The region is practically disconnected from the rest of the country due to the lack of roads. Thus, the Amazon River network acted as an efficient means of transmission of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), rapidly transforming the region into an epicenter of the pandemic with one of the highest infection rates in Brazil. Despite the adoption of national and state measures to combat new infections, the situation continued to deteriorate for reasons still under investigation. Given this scenario, this work aims to identify possible infection risks in typical passenger vessels used in the Brazilian Amazon. Three case studies of different passenger vessels were considered, discussing possible scenarios that could allow the spread of COVID and proposing some recommendations for infection prevention. It is hoped that this communication will contribute to the dissemination of information related to the typical means of long-distance passenger transport in the Amazon, to the planning of infectious disease prevention strategies on board regional ships and to ensure a sustainable future for the Amazonian population. Furthermore, this research aims to contribute to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda on health and well-being.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/3/8/77COVIDdeveloping regionsinland transportationinfection riskAmazonhealth and well-being
spellingShingle Harlysson W. S. Maia
Jassiel V. H. Fontes
Daniel Silva Bitencourtt
Edgar Mendoza
Rodolfo Silva
Irving D. Hernández
Hector Reis Almeida
COVID Pandemics and Inland Transportation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Note on the Risks of Infection in Typical Passenger Vessels
COVID
COVID
developing regions
inland transportation
infection risk
Amazon
health and well-being
title COVID Pandemics and Inland Transportation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Note on the Risks of Infection in Typical Passenger Vessels
title_full COVID Pandemics and Inland Transportation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Note on the Risks of Infection in Typical Passenger Vessels
title_fullStr COVID Pandemics and Inland Transportation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Note on the Risks of Infection in Typical Passenger Vessels
title_full_unstemmed COVID Pandemics and Inland Transportation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Note on the Risks of Infection in Typical Passenger Vessels
title_short COVID Pandemics and Inland Transportation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Note on the Risks of Infection in Typical Passenger Vessels
title_sort covid pandemics and inland transportation in the brazilian amazon a note on the risks of infection in typical passenger vessels
topic COVID
developing regions
inland transportation
infection risk
Amazon
health and well-being
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/3/8/77
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