COVID-19

The World Health Organization has declared the Coronavirus COVID-19 a pandemic and consequently an international public health emergency.

Our utmost priority is to ensure the health and safety of our customers and our team, at all times. In order to contain the spread of the virus and avoid risks and contagions, Blue Diamond elevated the hygiene and safety standards even further and it declares to be compliant with all the requirements stated by the Portuguese National Tourism Board and the guidelines of the General Directorate of Health, having been considered a Clean & Safe Establishment.

Blue Diamond guarantees as well the compliance with the international recommendations of WHO and the World Travel & Tourism Council.

In this context, our company considers essential to implement an internal protocol, which defines the prevention, control and surveillance procedures to mitigate this outbreak. We are truly committed to ensure the well-being and safety of our clients and team.

INTERNAL PROTOCOL

Employees and Independent Drivers Training

• Identification and definition of the main actor responsibilities in the Internal Protocol
  
  
  • Leader – Marco Fidalgo - Managing Partner
    
    
    • Responsibilities: team training; monitoring the vehicles hygiene plan; trigger the procedures in case of suspected infection, by employees and customers; control of PPE stocks (face masks, visors and gloves) and hygiene products; and management of biohazardous waste.
      
      
    • Contacts: 
      • Mobile phone: + 351 939346730
      • Email: marco@bluediamond.pt
        
• Team Training:  All employees and independent drivers are aware and received training on the outbreak, in the performance of their duties, namely:
  
  
  • Internal Protocol COVID-19 outbreak:
    
    
    • Infection prevention and control practices
    • Vehicles hygiene standards
    • Procedures in case of suspected infection

Customer Information

The following information is available to our customers:

• Infection prevention and control practices, inside the vehicles in QR Code and disclosed on Blue Diamond's social media.
• Internal Protocol will be sent along with the booking conditions of the services and it is published as well on our social media.

Blue Diamond Partners

Compliance with the Internal Hygiene and Safety Protocol by the partners involved in the execution of the services contracted to Blue Diamond, namely:

• Infection prevention and control practices
• Vehicles hygiene standardss
• Procedures in case of suspected infection

Infection prevention and control practices

In all the services performed and in all the contacts with customers, multiple measures are being taken to protect them as well as our team and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.:

• Symptoms self-monitoring 
  
  Daily measurement of body temperature (fever above 38ºC) and monitoring of other symptoms such as cough and difficulty breathing are highly recommended; temperature measurements can be carried out on employees, independent drivers and customers, without registering it, only if duly authorized;
  
  
  
• Sanitize your hands
  
  Alcohol gel hand sanitizer is available for drivers and customers, inside the vehicles; wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds at least or use alcohol gel hand sanitizer, covering all the surfaces of your hands and rubbing them until they are dry;
  
  
  
• Coughing and sneezing
  
  Cough or sneeze into the flexed forearm or use a tissue, which should then be immediately thrown away; sanitize always your hands after coughing or sneezing and, after blowing, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands;
  
  
  
• Mandatory use of face mask by customers and drivers (they also use gloves and, as an alternative to the mask, they can use a visor).
  
  In case of non-compliance by customers who do not wear a face mask, they cannot access, remain or use the vehicles, and the company and its team must inform the authorities and security forces, if passengers insist on not complying with this requirement;
  
  Passengers who disregard the mandatory use of a mask or visor will incur a fine of a minimum of € 120 and a maximum of € 350, in accordance with Decree-Law no. 20/2020, of 1st May;
  
  Individual protection kits (mask, disinfectant wipes and disposable gloves) will be offered to our customers;

• Personal hygiene
  
  Avoid touching the face and using personal adornments;
  
  
  
• Social distancing
  
  Greeting involving physical contact was banned, being encouraged physical distance (1.5 - 2 meters), as well as shared jobs and face-to-face meetings were forbidden;
  
  
  
• Maximum allowed capacity of 2/3 of the vehicles total capacity
  
  The front seat must only be used by the driver; 
  
  5 seats - 2 passengers | 8 seats - 4 passengers;
  
  
  
• Physical elements of potential contact that are not considered essential for the services were removed from the vehicles, such as water labels, newspapers and magazines;
  
  
  
• Frequent renewal of the vehicles interior air (air conditioning in extraction mode and not in air circulation) is assured.

Vehicles Hygiene Standards

• Frequent cleaning of the vehicle surfaces, with additional hygiene measures were taken to prevent the spread of the virus and in accordance with the guidelines of the Portuguese General Directorate of Health and WHO;
  
  
• The vehicles will be cleaned in an appropriate place at the end of each service. After cleaning, the first contact with the vehicle will be made by the driver assigned to the service and the customer, reducing the risk of contamination and spread of COVID-19;
  
  
• The employee or independent driver who cleans the vehicle will be equipped with a mask, gloves and protective clothing. Hands should be washed before placement and after removing the gloves;
  
  
• The vehicle hygiene procedure comprises two phases:
   
  • Cleaning: removal of garbage and any object that is inside the vehicle and it isn't part of it;
  • Disinfection: cleaning the different surfaces of the vehicle with a product indicated for the removal of the virus, from the top to the bottom and from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest ones;
    
    
• Cleaning must always be moist and the vehicle surfaces must be cleaned as follows:
  
  
  • Clean with disposable paper or cloth wipes moistened with detergent;
  • Disinfect with a disposable paper or cloth wipes moistened with a suitable disinfectant or 70º alcohol;
  • Allow to air dry;
    
    
• All vehicle surfaces must be cleaned with a suitable disinfectant and it should be paid special attention to the following areas:
  
  
  • Steering wheel, including all controls and features (horn, wiper handle, vehicle headlight activation and deactivation...); shift lever/ knob; vehicles instrument panel, including climate control buttons, radio, CD player, “4 turn signals”, GPS…; interior mirror and side mirror control buttons; parking brake; glove box, including opening handle; buttons on/ off the interior lights; all electric glass control buttons; all vehicle seat belts and "buttons" of seat belt blockers; vehicle seat adjuster (height, backrest and neck adjusters, distance to vehicle pedals); exterior and interior handles of all doors, including luggage compartment opening handle; fuel tank opening cover; carpets and floor; and vehicle keys;
    
    
• After cleaning, no one than the driver assigned to the service can get into the vehicle;
  
  
• In case of someone else than the driver access to the vehicle, it must be disinfected again;
  
  
• After cleaning the vehicle, the employee or independent driver must complete the control registration form, which is in the glove compartment, so that it can be easily verified that the vehicle has been cleaned and disinfected;

Procedures for Employees or Independent Drivers with Suspected Infection

• Employees or independent drivers who develop an acute respiratory condition with cough (again or worsening of the usual cough), or fever (temperature above 38ºC), or dyspnea/ breathing difficulty, symptoms considered suspicious of COVID-19, should promptly call the Line SNS24 (808 24 24 24) or 112, depending on the clinical severity, notify the responsible/ leader of Blue Diamond and stay at home.
  
  
• If the symptoms occur during the service (without the customer), the employee or independent driver must immediately inform the person in charge referred above, without putting him at risk, and remain inside the vehicle, which corresponds to the isolation area established, with mask and gloves on. Then, he should call the SNS24 or 112, depending on the clinical severity, and wait for their indications.
  
  
• If the aforementioned symptoms develop in the presence of customers, the employee or independent driver should immediately move away from them, immobilizing the vehicle in a safe place and stay inside of it, always with the mask and gloves on. Then, he should notify the Blue Diamond manager and call SNS24 or 112, depending on the severity of the situation. Customers must be safe, outside the vehicle, and wait for another driver, who will take them in another vehicle to the place where they are staying, unless the health authorities give other indications.

Procedures for Customers with Suspected Infectio

The client who develops the symptoms of COVID-19 must be assisted immediately by his driver, who must notify the responsible of Blue Diamond and call the SNS24 Line (808 24 24 24) or 112, depending on the clinical severity.

The vehicle must be immobilized in a safe place, where the customer will remain (isolation area), away from other passengers, and with the mask and gloves always on.

The driver must stay outside the vehicle, with the other customers, and wait for the instructions of the competent entities. The remaining passengers will later be taken by another driver, in another vehicle, to the place where they are accommodated, unless the health authorities give other recommendations.

Waste Management

The storage of waste produced by the suspected of infection should be placed in a plastic bag that, after being properly closed (with a clamp ...), must be segregated and sent to a licensed operator for the management of hospital waste with biological risk.

Acts Record

• Employees and Independent Drivers Training Plan
• Vehicles Hygiene Plan
• Occurrences Reporting Plan