Situation Report Azores – 6th July 2022 – From our colleague in the Azores
Covid-19
In the seven days from Friday 24th June until Thursday 30th of June there were 2049 new positive cases of Covid-19 registered in the Azores, and a total of 4,007 tests performed. 2,571 people have recovered, and no new deaths have been recorded with the total still at 117 There are 2,213 active cases, 521 fewer than the previous week.
There are 41 patients in the region’s hospitals as of 1st of July with Covid, this includes 26 patients that are in hospital because of Covid. There is one patient in the ICU.
114488 people in the region have had Covid, that’s over 44% of the population.
Flights between London and the Azores via British Airways from last Saturday 2nd July
The airline British Airways will ensure, as of Saturday, the connection between Heathrow airport, in London, and Ponta Delgada airport, in the Azores, announced the Azores Tourism Association (ATA).
According to ATA, there will be 10 connections this summer, the result of a work in partnership with Turismo de Portugal, ANA Airports – Vinci Group, NAV Portugal and the Government of the Azores for the “development and consolidation of aerial access to the archipelago, without which the tourist recovery would not be possible for the Azores destination”.
The aircraft available for the connection will be the Airbus A320-NEO which, with its 180 seats, will be able to transport 1,800 passengers to Ponta Delgada in this seasonal summer operation.
Carlos Morais, president of ATA, quoted in a press release, considers that this is “a great opportunity for the tourism sector in the Azores”.
“The United Kingdom is an important international market for tourists in the Azores and British Airways is one of the most important airlines in the world, with the potential to stimulate new market segments”, he said.
ATA is developing, however, “a set of promotional actions in partnership with tour operators in the UK market, as well as travel organization with a view to the necessary increase in the notoriety of the Azores destination in that market”.
Government of the Azores prepares restructuring in Health with new Regional Plan
The Government of the Azores is carrying out a “deep reflection” for a “restructuring” of the Regional Health Service (SRS) that could lead to greater articulation with private entities.
Two earthquakes felt on the island of São Jorge
Two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 2.3 and 2.2 on the Richter scale, were felt this Monday on the island of São Jorge, revealed the Azores Seismo volcanic Information and Surveillance centre (CIVISA).