Updates on the Port's COVID-19 Response

Updates on the Port's COVID-19 Response

Fri, 03/13/2020

At the Airport | At Maritime Facilities |
For Employees and Community Partners | 
How You Can Stay Healthy | Resources

The Port of Seattle has been responding to the outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) since late January, after public health officials confirmed the first case of the virus in the United States in Washington state. 

Since then the Port has implemented protocols to maintain the health, safety, and well-being of our employees, travelers, and community members who use Port facilities, while maintaining the essential functions of the Port.  

We will be providing updates here with information as it becomes available and changes. Travelers should check with their airline for specific flight information. Several airlines have announced suspensions of service to mainland China and South Korea from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

 

At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

  • On March 11, the Governor and King County issued a health order limiting the number of people at events, and mandated social distancing.
  • Transportation systems are not included in the limit for the number of people, however, the Governor asked those transportation systems (including buses, light rail, ferries and airports) to increase their vigilance, as they have been, to maintain frequent cleaning of their facilities. 
  • In response to the spread of the virus, the Trump Administration has expanded travel restrictions, which include:  
  • Suspending entry of foreign nationals who have been in China, Iran, or any of the 26 countries within the EU’s Schengen Area* for the last 14 days (*Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland).
  • Continued screening of Americans returning from Italy and South Korea before they travel to the United States.
  • Suspending entry of foreign nationals who have been in China or Iran within the past 14 days. 
  • Raising the travel advisories for certain regions in Italy and South Korea to the highest level, Level 4 “Do Not Travel.” 
  • Routing any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in Hubei Province, China, in the previous 14 days  through one of 20 U.S. airports (including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport) that have established enhanced screening protocols by CDC. Travelers who visited China, but not the Hubei Province, will be screened by federal officials and asked to self-isolate for 14 days. 

The Port, public health organizations, and federal partners are taking the following actions to help prevent the spread of the virus and keep travelers and employees safe:  

  • Public health staff will proactively monitor for signs of ill passengers who present signs and symptoms of disease. This screening builds on established infections disease protocols, which includes reviewing information received from pilots, flight attendants, or crew who are trained to spot and report symptoms. This also provides an opportunity to educate passengers on steps they should take if they do develop symptoms.
  • The CDC, Customs and Border Protection Agency, the Port fire department, and other airport partners have infectious disease response plans in place that are reviewed, practiced, and updated throughout the year.
  • As of March 9, the Port of Seattle has installed 119 hand sanitizers in and around the terminal. This includes sanitizer stations at the checkpoints, in the skybridges, common use ticket kiosks areas, the 3rd floor garage areas where the TNC’s are locations (Uber, Lyft, etc), and rental car bus stops. The Port intends to install an additional 200 dispensers. 
  • The Port of Seattle has implemented enhanced disinfection protocols in high-touch areas throughout the airport.

    Traveling right now? Find the closest hand sanitizer to your gate

 

At Maritime Facilities 

  • The CDC is the main federal response agency for maritime vessels. The United States Coast Guard has forwarded precautionary information to vessel owners/operators and local stakeholders.
  • The Northwest Seaport Alliance and Washington state ports are in communication with each other and the United States Coast Guard through the USCG Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) which was established to be prepared for events such as this.
  • The safety, health, and well-being of cruise passengers, employees, community, and first responders always comes first. With this in mind the Port has announced the cancellation of the April 1 and April 5 planned sailings of the Seattle 2020 cruise season. 
  • The decision to delay the launch of the 2020 cruise season came after reviewing multiple options with our cruise operators, the United States Coast Guard, public health authorities, and local leaders.
  • On March 13, Canada’s Transport Minister announced a suspension of cruise across Canada until July 1. United States maritime laws require foreign flagged vessels, which include many cruise ships, to stop at a foreign port on a U.S. port to U.S. port itinerary. This is why most Seattle to Alaska cruise itineraries visit Victoria, and changes in Canada can impact Seattle-based cruises. We are reviewing Transport Canada’s actions and evaluating the order’s impacts on the 2020 Alaska cruise season. 
  • The Port will continue working with first responders, cruise lines, and local leaders, and consider current public health guidance, as well as enhanced actions that the cruise lines are undertaking, to determine future sailings.
  • As of March 8, the Center for Disease Control is recommending that travelers, especially older adults and those with underlying health issues avoid taking cruises and “non-essential” travel, including long plane rides.
  • The Port of Seattle has implemented daily enhanced cleaning protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus at Port maritime and marine maintenance facilities including:
    • Providing hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes for self-cleaning of desks, shops, Port vehicles
    • Disinfecting high-touch surfaces and floors throughout facilities, including kitchens, hand rails, door knobs, offices, conference rooms, and restrooms

 

For Employees and Community Partners

The Port is working to minimize the spread of coronavirus and keep employees at our facilities informed by

  • Optimizing telework for our Port workforce.  Reducing the number of employees in the office reduces the potential for the spread of infection for those who need to be in the office.  
  • Creating public videos about COVID-19 response and making them available to all airport employees via YouTube
  • Printing a COVID-19 fact sheet for airport employees, translated into multiple languages.  
  • Reviewing large gatherings, events, celebrations, or tours scheduled to occur on Port properties in March. If feasible, they will be postponed to April or later.  
  • Adjusting our Commission meeting public testimony protocol for our March 10 meeting to allow members of the public to make comment in person, via email, or telephone.  Staff and outside participants can make their presentation to Commissioners in person, via phone, or postpone to a future meeting.
     

 

How You Can Stay Healthy

Public health officials recommend personal hygiene and frequent hand washing as the best way to prevent illness.   

  • Wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick and stay home when sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • If you are travelling overseas, follow the CDC's guidance
  • Check-in with your airline if you have questions about your travel itinerary.
  • While not protective against novel coronavirus, public health officials also recommend the influenza vaccine. It’s not too late to get an influenza vaccine, since flu season can last into spring.

 

Resources

Information about the novel coronavirus is updated frequently; check the following resources for the most up-to-date information:

Additional resources

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