Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 11th May 2021
By our correspondent Daniel Fernandes
Covid-19 update
There were 51 new Covid-19 cases, 74 recoveries and no deaths from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.
On Saturday, there were 12 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Romania, 2 passengers who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region and 9 cases of local transmission) and 23 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital increased to 17, 3 of whom were in intensive care.
On Sunday, there were 10 new Covid-19 cases (all cases of local transmission) and 13 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital remained the same (17, 3 of whom in intensive care).
On Monday, there were 11 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from France, 1 passenger who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region and 9 cases of local transmission) and 17 recoveries. Although the number of patients in hospital decreased to 17, the number of patients in intensive care increased to 5.
And on Tuesday, there were 18 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Central Portugal and 17 cases of local transmission) and 21 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital decreased to 11, 4 of whom were in intensive care.
There were 227 active cases on Tuesday, of which 11 had been imported while the other 216 cases had been a result of local transmission. As of Tuesday, there had been 9,134 cases, 8,836 recoveries and 71 deaths.
On Tuesday, there were 23 patients in isolation in a dedicated hotel, 193 patients in isolation in their own accommodation and 11 patients in Covid-19 units, 4 of whom in intensive care.
On the same day, there were 55 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 10,662 travellers under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There were also 662 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, 197,184 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 15h30). By Tuesday, 400,940 samples from RT-PCR tests had been processed and 52,640 antigen rapid tests had been carried out in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 366 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, it has received 48,361 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 10 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, it has received 3,482 calls.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/08/12-novos-casos-de-covid-19-23-recuperados-103-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/09/10-novos-casos-de-covid-19-13-recuperados-120-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/10/11-novos-casos-de-covid-19-17-recuperados-62-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/11/18-novos-casos-de-covid-19-21-recuperados-55-suspeitos/
Covid-19 vaccination update
On Saturday, at 11h40, the 100,000th Covid-19 vaccine inoculation took place. João Baptista, 76 years old, was administered the 100,000th vaccine dose. He had not expected this. He was inoculated with the 2nd vaccine dose. Pedro Ramos (Madeira’s Health and Civil Protection Secretary) was at Madeira Tecnopólo to witness and to celebrate this milestone. A video of this short ceremony can be watched on the followed link:
As of May 9th, 104,185 Covid-19 vaccine doses (76,5011st doses & 27,684 2nd doses) had been administered in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This means 30.1% of the population has received the first dose of a vaccine and 10.9% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
In the previous week, 12,888 vaccine doses (7,601 1st doses & 5,287 2nd doses) were administered.
The plan for this week is to continue inoculations throughout the Region, with a special focus on people who have priority and on Tourism professionals.
Parish of Ribeira Brava delivery of masks, alcohol gel and thermometers to institutions.
The parish (Junta de Freguesia) of Ribeira Brava delivered surgical face masks, alcohol gel (big bottles and spray) and thermometers to a school and police station. A total of 1,250 surgical face masks for students and staff, 15 packs of alcohol gel (spray), 45 litres of alcohol gel and 3 thermometers. And the police station received face masks, alcohol gel (big bottles and spray) and 1 thermometer. The local parish leadership said it was always aware of the situation in the parish and will always intervene whenever necessary and in partnership with local entities. It has already spent over €20,000 providing support to institutions, schools, fire stations, the police (PSP), associations and care homes.
Big increase in demand for flights to Madeira.
Demand for travel to Madeira has greatly increased since the announcement that Portugal will be on England’s green list for travel. For instance, Jet2 has scheduled flights from 9 airports in the UK, starting at the end of June. Summer bookings of Jet2 flights and Jet2holidays holiday packages to Madeira and Faro increased 600% in the first 24 hours since this announcement. And easyJet added 20,000 seats on flights between Portugal and the UK, with prices starting at €29,99, due to strong demand since the announcement. Flights between Bristol and Funchal are included in the list of extra seats.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/128091/Reservas_da_Jet2com_cresceram_600_para_Faro_e_Madeira
Road closures.
Traffic will disrupted today, from 09h30 until 21h00, at Estrada Monumental (parish of São Martinho), due to the felling of two trees on the stretch of road between Travessa do Valente and Largo da Paz.
The stretch of road at E.R. 231, between the junction at Rua Capitão Pinto Correia and the junction at at Rua da Marinheira, will remain closed to traffic until June 13th. A diversion for traffic will be through Rua João Augusto Ornelas and Rua da Marinheira.