Madeira Situation Report Sunday 22nd August 2021
by Daniel Fernandes
Covid-19 update
There were 165 new Covid-19 cases, 100 recoveries and no deaths from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.
On Wednesday, there were 61 new Covid-19 cases (8 imported cases – 3 from the UK, 1 from Spain, 1 from Ukraine and 3 from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region & 53 cases of local transmission) and 34 recoveries. This was the highest number of new Covid-19 cases in the Region in a single day since March 2nd. The number of patients in hospital increased to 9, 2 of whom were in intensive care.
On Thursday, there were 47 new Covid-19 cases (7 imported cases – 5 from the UK, 1 from France and 1 from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region & 40 cases of local transmission) and 30 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital was 8, with 1 of them in intensive care.
And on Friday, there were 57 new Covid-19 cases (16 imported cases – 12 from the UK, 1 from Spain, 1 from the Azores, 1 from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley and 1 from Northern Region & 41 cases of local transmission) and 36 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital decreased 7, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
There were 373 active cases on Friday, of which 76 had been imported while the other 297 cases had been a result of local transmission. As of Friday, there had been 10,954 cases, 10,506 recoveries and 75 deaths.
On Friday, there were 103 patients in isolation in a dedicated hotel, 263 patients in isolation in their own accommodation and 7 patients in hospital, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
On the same day, there were 162 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis, which were all linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19, to calls made to the SRS24 helpline, to referrals by SESARAM (Madeira Regional Health Service) and to airport screening.
There were 45,257 travellers under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There were also 488 people, who had contact with positive cases, being monitored by the health authorities of several Madeira municipalities and of Porto Santo.
As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 292,108 samples had been collected until Friday (at 15h30). By Friday, 579,409 samples from RT-PCR tests had been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 556 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, it had received 61,357 calls.
The Covid-19 mental health helpline (Linha de Acompanhamento Psicológico da Direção Regional de Saúde – 291 212 399 – available every day from 09h00 to 21h00), which was set up to provide emotional and mental support to anyone in Madeira received 7 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, it has received 3,823 calls.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/08/19/47-novos-casos-de-covid-19-30-recuperados-120-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/08/20/57-novos-casos-de-covid-19-36-recuperados-162-suspeitos/
Covid-19 vaccination update
According to a real-time Covid-19 vaccination tracker, 76.97% of the Region’s population (193,234) have been administered 1 vaccine dose while 68.39% of the population (171,675) have been fully vaccinated.
https://web.sesaram.pt/COVID19_INFO
50 additional beds available for Covid-19 patients in Porto Santo
Due to the big increase in the number of Covid-19 cases on the island of Porto Santo, the dedicated hotel that was originally being used to ensure isolation of Covid-19 patients is nearly running out beds. As such, a new isolation area that has 50 beds was opened at “Pavilhão Multiusos do Porto Santo”. It has all the necessary conditions to ensure the isolation and well-being of Covid-19 patients. Several entities were involved in setting it up. These include the Madeira Operational Command (Comando Operacional da Madeira) – through the Madeira Military Zone (Zona Militar da Madeira), SESARAM (Madeira Health Service), the Regional Health Directorate (Direção Regional de Saúde), the Regional Civil Protection Service (Serviço Regional de Proteção Civil), the local Health Authority (Autoridade de Saúde), the Municipality and Parish (Autarquia) and the Regional Government (Governo Regional).
Increased Police activity in Porto Santo
The Madeira Regional Government had asked the PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública – Public Service Police) for additional support in enforcing the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in Porto Santo after a spike in Covid-19 cases on the island. On Monday, several people were fined for not complying with Covid-19 restrictions. So far, more than 50 fines have been handed out this summer for non-compliance with the pandemic restrictions. Most of those fined have been residents from the island of Madeira.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/138230/PSP_ja_esta_mais_ativa_no_Porto_Santo
Indoor adventure park at MadeiraShopping
Visitors to Madeira Shopping will be able to try this activity on the ground floor from August 21st to September 5th. Its opening hours will be: 16h00 to 20h00 from Mondays to Fridays & 11h00-15h00 and 16h00-20h00 during weekends. This activity will be free of charge on a first-come basis and is aimed at children and youths aged 3 to 18. Safety equipment will be provided by its staff.
Traffic restrictions in Funchal
The Municipality of Funchal informed there will be several traffic restrictions in the following days:
– 21st and 22nd August (09h00-17h00) – traffic restriction and parking banned at Rua Pedro José de Ornelas, on the stretch between Rua da Pena and Rua de São Jose, due to work on trees.
– August 21st and September 10th – there will be no road traffic at Rua 5 de Outubro at the junctions with Bairro dos Moinhos, due to paving work.
– August 22nd – there will be several restrictions in the parish (freguesia) of Monte, due to an athletics event (V Corrida do Caminho de Ferro do Monte).
– August 24th (09h30-18h00) – there will be no traffic at Azinhaga do Pasto.
– August 24th (10h00-13h00) – there will be no traffic at Rua de São Filipe, on the stretch between Rua Nova da Alegria and Travessa de São Filipe, due to private building work.
– August 25th (09h00-16h00) – there will be a traffic restriction at Travessa do Transval.