New platform launched to tackle coronavirus on cruise ships

OZ, a global innovation and disruptive digital technologies consulting company has announced Salus, a mobile solution that will help prevent guests and crew suspected of having coronavirus from boarding ships, and help detect guests and crew that may have come down with coronavirus while on board the ship. It will also facilitate and track containment of these guests and crew and catalogue onboard testing and treatment.

As cruise lines implement digital technology such as infrared cameras, thermometers and smartwatches to detect cronavirus symptoms in guests and crews, Salus collects and integrates this data with the ship’s passenger manifest system, IoT sensors, ship containment facilities, and diagnostics, all via a mobile crew application. This provides a full picture of guest and crew health throughout the cruise journey.

A statement explains that if symptoms of coronavirus are detected on board via digital thermometer readings and infrared cameras, Salus will analyse prior person interactions, co-ordinate patient quarantine, treatment and testing, and capture patient hour-by-hour containment, diagnostic and treatment details.

The Salus app will then provide full patient case details to the South Florida local health authorities of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties when docking back at port. “Salus also helps prevent anyone suspected of being ill from boarding the ship in the first place, through integration with digital thermometers and infrared cameras that analyse guest and crew temperatures and stop anyone boarding with a body temperature above 100.4°F. Those cases are then immediately transmitted to the local health authority so people showing symptoms are quickly contained and receive treatment,” adds the statement.

OZ president Ric Cavieres said “OZ already develops multiple cruise line mobile applications, that integrate guest, crew and ship data and IoT devices, for several South Florida-based cruise line clients. This gives us a deep understanding of the cruise line processes, guests, employees, and platforms.

“OZ also has vast experience working with the state and local South Florida health authorities, which means we understand their protocols, processes, and platforms. This combined experience means we are ideally positioned to work with both the cruise lines and local health authorities to help combat the effects of the coronavirus on the Florida travel industry. Additionally, our proximity to the ports allows us to quickly mobilise Salus.”

OZ is currently in discussions with South Florida-based cruise lines to adopt and implement Salus.