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Algarve Situation Report Saturday 4th December 2020

Deaths in the Algarve from Covid-19

A 92-year-old man, user of the Lar da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lagos, and a 70-year-old woman, resident in Faro, are the deaths by Covid-19 recorded this Friday, December 4th, in the Algarve.

Source of the Regional Health Authority told the South Information that both people “were hospitalized”. The 70-year-old woman even had “other associated comorbidities”.

Although the Directorate-General for Health recorded three new deaths in the Algarve yesterday, the Regional Health Authority said to our newspaper that “there are only two registered”.

This Friday, December 4th, the District Civil Protection Commission of Faro released its regional situation of Covid-19, where it reports a total of 5410 confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic (plus 69).

As for those recovered, there are now over 45, out of a total of 3690. The number of active cases has increased (+22) to 1663.

In Algarve hospitals, 43 people are hospitalized, 14 of whom are in intensive care. 4 are ventilated.

In this situation, it is also advanced that a Rapid Social Security Intervention Brigade was activated to support a Residential Structure for Elderly People (ERPI) in the municipality of Olhão and a Support Structure for People with Disabilities in the municipality of Lagos.

https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/12/utente-de-lar-de-lagos-e-mulher-de-faro-sao-os-mais-recentes-obitos-por-covid-19/

Covid-19: Algarve with lowest hotel occupancy in the last 24 years in November

In November, the Algarve recorded the lowest occupancy per room in hotels and developments in the last 24 years, with an occupancy rate of 12.3%, more than 70% below the value registered in the same month in 2019.

According to data released today by the Association of Hotels and Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA), since 2010, the year in which the occupation in the month of November in the Algarve was 26%, which was not so low.

Compared to 2019, hotel occupancy in November 2020 fell 71.7%, adds the largest regional association in the sector, one of the activities that has been most penalized by the covid-19 pandemic.

The British market was the one that most contributed to the decrease (86.9% less), followed by the German (84.6% less), Irish (56.1% less) and the domestic market (28.5% less).

Sales volume decreased by 72.5% compared to the same month of the previous year.

In accumulated values, the occupancy per bed has registered an average decrease of 56% since January and the volume of sales a decrease of 58.4%.

The data released by AHETA account for occupation in November since 1996 and until 2020.

Maximum occupancy per room was reached in 1999, with 55.8%.

Covid.19: Portimão implements “pioneering” measure to help lock transmission chains

In order to anticipate a possible increase in cases, following several outbreaks that appeared in the community in early November, the Portimão municipality says in a press release that the Permanent Municipal Subcommittee on Civil Protection for covid-19, decided to reinforce in the last weeks the nucleus of support to public health with six more senior technicians from the city council, dedicated to the areas of sport, culture and education, who join 12 more municipal technicians from other fields, already collaborating with this nucleus since March, a total of 18 elements.

In the same letter, it is mentioned that under the Municipal Emergency Plan for Civil Protection of Portimão, “a municipal command post was activated in the first few days of March, and these technicians are dependent on the operations cell, in a pioneering measure to National level”.

Installed in the Municipal Emergency and Civil Protection Centre of Portimão, and operating in the fire department, the unit of technicians of the municipality is divided between school health, in view of the high number of classes in prophylactic isolation, due to the emergence of cases isolated in the various educational establishments (public and private) in the municipality, and direct support in monitoring people under active surveillance. It is an operation considered essential to lock transmission chains that could affect various segments of the community “and cause irreversible consequences”, underlines the same source.

The functioning of this exception centre is based on the creation of a dynamic that relies on the technical coordination of a “regulating doctor”, permanently in the room, and who directs the activities, also responding to situations that exceed the skills of the technicians, ensuring differentiated support, whenever the situation justifies it, like the method used in other aspects of the emergency.

The nucleus is reinforced with more health professionals (doctors and nurses) whenever the situation requires it.

Also in the scheduling of tests, a communication / information circuit was established through the Municipal Room for Operations and Emergency Management, with the support of the Humanitarian Association of Voluntary Firefighters of Portimão, whose employees also carry out this «essential» action, underlines the authority.

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 2nd December 2020

Covid-19 Statistics

An 80-year-old man, resident in Portimão, is the most recent fatal victim of Covid-19 in the Algarve and one of the two deaths reported today by the General Health Directorate. It will not be counted as being caused by the new coronavirus.

“One of the deaths recorded by DGS is that of a person who died and, after that, tested positive for Covid-19. However, this is not the cause of death, so we will not account for it and we will inform the National Health Authority” he said.

As for the man who died at Hospital de Portimão, “he was not connected to any home or to any outbreak” and “there is no information on related fatalities”.

Thus, there are now 55 deaths recorded by the Regional Health Authority, which also adds to the figures of the Algarve people who died from Covid-19 in the region, even though they lived outside the region – the DGS now counts 51, a number that should be corrected to 50 in tomorrow’s report.

Also according to regional data, there are today 37 new cases of Covid-19 in the Algarve, as many as those recovered. Even so, and due to the death that was registered, the active cases dropped by one, to 1,579.

https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/12/homem-de-portimao-e-a-mais-recente-vitima-mortal-da-covid-19-no-algarve-com-mapa/

HIV infections in the Algarve

After the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon, the Algarve is the second region in the country with the highest rate of diagnosis of people with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection. Thus, in 2019, the number of cases diagnosed per 100,000 inhabitants was 13.7 in the district of Lisbon and 13.5 in the district of Faro.

In absolute terms, however, the Algarve is much less prominent, with 59 new cases of HIV infection (aged 15 years and over) diagnosed in 2019, being overtaken by Lisbon (391), North (162) and Centre (110).

Nevertheless, data on HIV infection, which, if left untreated, may give rise to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), is encouraging in Portugal, as the number of new cases has dropped again in 2019, maintaining the downward trend that has been observed since the year 2000. In other words, the year of 1999 is long gone, when 3,358 cases of HIV infection were diagnosed in Portugal.

Given the pandemic situation associated with the economic and social crisis, the municipality said that the usual distribution of the “Cabaz da Consoada” will reach this year a greater number of homes.

In São Brás de Alportel, Christmas will be “even more supportive”

In the impossibility of holding the traditional “Solidarity Dinner”, which seeks to provide the most vulnerable families with a special evening, with the help of local companies in offering all the food for their cooking, the municipality and the parish intend to repay the their solidarity, acquiring from many of these companies – butchers, sweets, food distributors – the foods that make up the basic basket of food needs.

In addition to food, the basket will also bring hygiene products this year. In this perspective, the Local Food Aid Platform launched the appeal to the community to collaborate in this campaign, with the delivery of personal and household hygiene and cleaning products, in the Cineteatro lobby, from Monday to Saturday, from December 3rd.

Also, in partnership with the Salvation Army and with the support of its partners, the solidarity project “Anjinhos de Natal” will be carried out, which awards children from needy families, gifts acquired according to their ages, for Christmas Eve.

Families who are socially vulnerable or who know someone who may need help should contact the Municipal Social Services located at the Community Support Center, through the contacts: tel. 289 840 020 or e-mail: solidariedade@cm-sbras.pt; or the Parish Council, at headquarters or by telephone: 289 842 174.

https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/em-sao-bras-de-alportel-o-natal-vai-ser-ainda-mais-solidario/35642-1

Algarve Situation Report Saturday 28th November

Covid-19 statistics from ARS

The regional Health Authority released the following statistics and charts today 27th November

Today, the Algarve registers three more deaths by Covid-19, which occurred in Albufeira, Faro and Portimão, indicates the data from the Regional Health Authority, to which the South Information had access.

In the case of Portimão, our newspaper found that the victim is a 92-year-old woman, who was admitted to the hospital in that city. It is said that she was infected by a maid, who supported her in the house where she lived.

The South Information tried to get more information from the Health Authority on the other two deaths, but so far received no reply.

The Algarve region now totals 52 deaths, since the beginning of the pandemic.

However, according to regional data, the Algarve yesterday exceeded 5000 cases of Covid-19, in cumulative terms. Thus, since March, 5020 infections caused by the new coronavirus have already been registered in the region.

Despite this, since there are now 98 more people recovered (for a total of 3479), the number of active cases has even dropped in 19, to 1489.

As for patients with Covid-19, admitted to the hospitals in Faro and Portimão, there is this Friday minus 3 (total of 40). There is also one less ventilated patient, with the same 11 remaining in the ICU.

In the municipalities of Alcoutim, Aljezur and Castro Marim, there has been no new infection since yesterday. In Monchique, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António there were only 1 new case. Read further information in the report here.

HPA Group provides drive-through Covid-19 screening tests at Portimão Arena

Hospital Particular do Algarve in Alvor is carrying out Covid-19 screening tests in a drive-through system at the Portimão Arena.

“After CLÍDIS in Sines and the Hospital Particular da Madeira in Funchal, the Grupo HPA Saúde now also offers Drive Through Covid-19 Screening Tests at the Portimão Parque de Feiras e Exposições (Portimão Arena),” said the health group in a press statement.

Screening tests are carried out daily, from Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 6pm by UniLabs, partner of the Grupo HPA Saúde in the laboratory area.

RT-PCR testing is available for both those carrying a medical prescription issued by the national health service SNS, or individuals who wish to be tested privately (cost is €150).

Prior booking is necessary through this link or by telephoning the Call Center on +351 282 420 400.

This screening system is exclusively for “drive-through” testing and the vehicle’s number plate must be provided, as well as an insurance policy if any. Booking is mandatory and limited to three persons per car. Read further information here.

Algarve Report Wednesday November 25th 2020

Covid.19: Portimão has 230 cases accumulated in the last 14 days

The municipality mentions on Facebook that “the outlook is still not very favourable”. The number of cases [230] is not far from 266, a limit that represents the entrance of the municipality to the level of “very high and extremely high risk” and the implementation of more restrictions.

The Câmara de Portimão appeals, “so that each one of us can protect himself, avoiding risky behaviours as much as possible”. It is recalled that in terms of prevention, the mayor Isilda Gomes, was last Saturday morning in an awareness campaign in front of the Market of Av. S. João de Deus, within the scope of the campaign “I want my Christmas. I choose to comply! ”.

More than 50 community masks, among other information products related to the pandemic, were delivered to citizens, kits and distributed.

62 inmates and 4 Faro prison officials test positive for Covid-19

There are 62 inmates and four workers from the Faro Prison Established infected with the new coronavirus, the Directorate-General for Reintegration and Prison Services (DGRSP) revealed today.

In a statement, this entity explained that, after a prisoner from the Faro prison tested positive, therefore the prison facility’s contingency plan was activated.

This involved quarantining inmates and testing them, as well as employees, which happened on Saturday.

This Sunday, the results were known, which point to the existence of 66 cases.

The positive prisoners, who are asymptomatic, were all placed in the same wing of the prison, where they are in isolation and under clinical supervision, according to the directorate-general.

In all of the country, there are currently 351 cases of active prisoners, out of a total of 11,226, and 100 cases clinically recovered, including two children, daughters of prisoners in the Tires Prison.

Among the workers on the board, there are 74 active cases, in addition to 10 more external workers.

https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/11/62-reclusos-e-4-funcionarios-do-ep-de-faro-testam-positivo-a-covid-19/

In a time of pandemic Father Christmas sleighs through Loulé, Quarteira and Almancil

Due to the pandemic, the municipality of Loulé says it has adapted the Christmas animation program in the municipality of Loulé to the new normality, “so that the population can celebrate this season and the commerce develop its activity, in complete safety”.

‘Christmas to stroll’ was the way found for the municipality to celebrate Christmas, because, in this season, and especially this year, it is necessary to reinforce the spirit of mutual help and support the most unprotected”, the municipal executive said in a statement.

On December 5th, Christmas lights will be switched on, which until the Kings Day (January 6th) will bring “a special charm to the cities, towns and villages of the municipality, spreading the spirit of the time and contributing to the dynamism of the local economy”, underlines the same document.

Father Christmas, accompanied by his elves and Mother Christmas, will show himself differently, traveling through the various arteries of the sled locations.

This “Santa Claus Walk” through the city of Loulé will take place on December 5th, in the afternoon. In Quarteira, this initiative will take place on the morning of December 6, and in Almancil it will take place on the same day, in the afternoon. Santa Claus’ sleigh will again take to the streets, on the 19th, in Loulé, and the 20th, in Quarteira and Almancil.

Situation Report Algarve– 21st November 2020

Municipality of VRSA grants support to the Food Bank against Hunger

The Municipal Council of Vila Real de Santo António, in an ordinary meeting, attributed a financial contribution to the Food Bank against Hunger in the Algarve in the amount of 10 thousand euros. The measure aims to reinforce the support provided by this institution in the municipality, which, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has felt a worsening in the social scenario and an increase in requests for help.

Still in this context, the municipality says in a statement that the measure, “aims to respond to the appeal expressed by the Food Bank that, in the absence of food collection campaigns in supermarkets, due to confinement and security measures, it is prevented from collecting goods and so to face the increase in the number of families that have requested food support from partner entities ». In the municipality of VRSA, the Food Bank Against Hunger supplies six Private Social Solidarity Institutions, namely, Santa Casa da Misericórdia, the Associação Beneficência Mão Amiga, Refood, the Portuguese Red Cross, SSVP – Confederação Nª. Mrs. Encarnação and Associação Pentecostal Trombeta Eterna.

October unemployment rose 134.2% in the Algarve

angloinfo.com

The number of unemployed registered in October, in employment centres in the Algarve, rose 134.2% in relation to the same month last year, according to data released today, 19 November, by the Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP). In all other regions of mainland Portugal, it went down. In relation to September this year, unemployment in the Algarve increased by 13%. The Algarve is really the only region of mainland Portugal in which, compared to last month, unemployment has increased. The same happened in the Azores (+ 0.1%) and Madeira (+ 0.4%).

Lisbon and Tagus Valley, the region that had the second largest increase, stood at + 52.9%. Alentejo registered an increase of 19.4%. At the national level, the increase was 34.5%. According to the IEFP statistical bulletin, at the end of October, there were 24,088 enrolled in employment centres in the Algarve, 13,803 more than in the same month of 2019. In relation to September this year, there are more than 2,778 unemployed enrolled (+ 13%).

With regard to the total number of enrolments in the employment services of the Algarve, in October, the percentage increase in relation to the same period is 43.8%. In all, there were 5660 IEFP registrations, 1725 more than in August 2019 and 1973 (+ 53.5%) than in August this year. However, a worker can make more than one registration during the month, for example, if he leaves the job during the trial period, on his own initiative, or on the initiative of the employer. According to IEFP data, there were 259 job offers in October, 9 fewer than in the previous month.

https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/11/desemprego-registado-em-outubro-subiu-1342-no-algarve/

Situation Report Azores – 28th November 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
There will be no restrictions for the population travelling between municipalities over the next few weeks.
On Monday, a source from the office of the representative of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of the Azores told the press that the measures enacted by the Government of the Republic in the new State of Emergency due to the pandemic also applied in the archipelago, this was because the Initial version of the decree stated that “it is applicable to the entire national territory”.
The second amendment to the decree corrects throughout the decree the indication that it is applicable to the entire national territory, clarifying that “it is applicable to the entire continental national territory”, thus excluding the islands.
The Azores do not have counties with more than 240 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in the last 15 days, according to the most recent report by the Directorate-General for Health, so they are not covered by the most restrictive measures, applied to high risk counties, very high risk and extreme risk, but could be subject to the other measures.

Covid-19
There has been another death in the region, a 64-year-old woman, resident in the Municipality of Ribeira Grande. This is the first death recorded for six months and brings the total to 17. She had been in hospital for surgery fell ill at home during her recuperation.
The Regional Health Authority says, from 4,650 tests carried out in the Region since the 24th of November in the two reference laboratories in the Region and rapid tests carried out by other entities, the number of positive cases for Covid-19 is 95. 55 on the island of São Miguel and 38 on the island of Terceira, and 1 on Flores and 1 on Pico.
There have been 54 recoveries recorded, 50 on São Miguel and 3 on the island of Terceira, and 1 on São Jorge.
Some of the cases have been discovered as part of the SARS-CoV-2 screening test carried out on arrival at ports and airports and through the analysis performed after the sixth day in the region.

CURRENT SITUATION IN THE REGION
The Region now has 29 active transmission chains, 20 on the island of São Miguel, seven on the island of Terceira, one shared between the island of São Miguel and the island of São Jorge and one on the island of São Jorge.
To date, 930 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have been detected, which causes Covid-19 disease, with 490 recovered cases and 344 active positive cases currently, of which one on the island of Santa Maria, 231 on the island from São Miguel, 106 on Terceira island, one on São Jorge island, one on Pico island, two on Faial island and two on Flores island.
Pandemic prevention and containment measures should be maintained and strengthened, whenever possible, by citizens and public, private and social sector organisations.
It is reiterated the need to comply with all recommendations already made public in this regard, especially that, in case of symptoms, do not seek a Hospital or Health Unit, but call the Azores Health Line – 808 24 60 24.
For more information, visit the website created by the Government of the Azores on pandemic control in the Region, here, or the Facebook page of the Regional Health Directorate,
The Government of the Azores also makes available the Azores Non-Medical Clarification Line COVID-19, with the number 800 29 29 29, which can be used between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, on working days, and the RIAC Line 800 500 501, which works from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 10:30 pm, and on Sundays, from 10 am to 10:30 pm.
It is also available by emailing esclarecimentocovid19@azores.gov.pt for clarification on measures taken in the region to cope with the new coronavirus pandemic.

Azores report
Situation Report Azores – 25th November 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
New Government
The new Regional Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores was sworn in today at a ceremony that took place in the city of Horta, Faial.
The new president is José Manuel Bolieiro who takes over from Vasco Cordeiro. José Bolieiro was, until recently, President of the Camara Municipal of Ponta Delgada.
The new Regional Government of the Azores includes 10 regional secretariats and one undersecretary, in addition to the presidency and vice-presidency.
Covid-19
The Regional Health Authority says, from 5,587 tests carried out in the Region since the 21st of November in the two reference laboratories in the Region and rapid tests carried out by other entities, there has been another increase in the number of cases, 100 positive cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed. 75 on the island of São Miguel and 23 on the island of Terceira, and 1 on Santa Maria and 1 on Flores. 57 recoveries have also been recorded 51 on São Miguel and 3 on the island of Terceira, 1 on São Jorge, 1 on Faial and 1 on Pico.
Some of the cases have been discovered as part of the SARS-CoV-2 screening test carried out on arrival at ports and airports and through the analysis performed after the sixth day in the region.
The Region has 14 extinct transmission chains and 25 active transmission chains, 18 on the island of São Miguel, five on the island of Terceira, one shared between the island of São Miguel and the island of São Jorge and one on the island of São Jorge.
So far, 835 cases of infection with the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have been detected in the Region, with 436 recovered cases and 305 active positive cases currently, of which one on the island of Santa Maria, 228 on the island of São Miguel, 71 on Terceira Island, two on São Jorge Island, two on Faial Island and one on Flores Island.
In terms of hospitalizations, there are nine people admitted to the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo in Ponta Delgada and four to the Hospital de Santo Espírito in Angra do Heroísmo.
2533 people are under active surveillance.

Situation Report Azores – 21st November 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Decree regulating the compulsory screening tests for COVID-19 before departure, for anyone who intends to travel to the Azores, came into force on Friday, 20th of November. This diploma, which was approved by the Government Council and which was published yesterday in Diário da República, was the subject of prior articulation with the Representative of the Republic for the Azores and provides that this obligation to carry out screening tests for the new coronavirus before boarding will remain in force as long as the State of Emergency is in force.
There has been an amendment to this Regional Regulatory Decree No. 24/2020 / A, of 19th November, stating that all passengers who board at airports on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira bound for another island in the archipelago must present proof, in support digital or paper, of a document issued by a national or international laboratory, attesting to the conduct of a screening test to SARS-CoV-2, carried out by the RT-PCR methodology in the 72 hours before the flight departure, which contains the identification of the passenger, the laboratory where the test was performed, the date of the test and the negative result. This amendment is yet to be approved.
The Regional Health Authority says, from 4,795 tests carried out in the Region since the 17th of November in the two reference laboratories in the Region and rapid tests carried out by other entities, there has been another increase in the number of cases, 94 positive cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed. 61 on the island of São Miguel and 32 on the island of Terceira, and 1 on Faial. 28 recoveries have also been recorded 20 on São Miguel and 3 on the island of Terceira, 4 on São Jorge and 1 on Santa Maria. Some of the cases have been discovered as part of the SARS-CoV-2 screening test carried out on arrival at ports and airports and through the analysis performed after the sixth day in the region.
The Region now has 14 extinct transmission chains and 18 active transmission chains, 11 on the island of , five on the island of Terceira, one shared between the island of São Miguel and the island of São Jorge and one on the island of São Jorge. So far, 735 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 379 recovered cases and 263 active positive cases currently, of which 205 on the island of São Miguel, 51 on Terceira island, three on São Jorge island, one on Pico island and three on Faial island.
Pandemic prevention and containment measures should be maintained and strengthened, whenever possible, by citizens and public, private and social sector organizations. The Regional Health Authority reiterates the need to comply with all recommendations already made public in this regard, especially that, in case of symptoms, do not seek a Hospital or Health Unit, but call the Azores Health Line – 808 24 60 24.
For more information, visit the website created by the Government of the Azores on pandemic control in the Region, at https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt/ , or the Facebook page of the Regional Health Directorate, at https: / /www.facebook.com/DirecaoSaudeAcores/ .
The Government of the Azores also makes available the Azores Non-Medical Clarification Line COVID-19, with the number 800 29 29 29, which can be used between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, on working days, and the RIAC Line 800 500 501, which works from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 10:30 pm, and on Sundays, from 10 am to 10:30 pm.
It is also available the email address esclarecimentocovid19@azores.gov.pt for clarification on measures taken in the region to cope with the new coronavirus pandemic.

Situation Report Azores – 18th November 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
Schools
The Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture has said that, following the permanent monitoring of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, on the island of S. Miguel, the following schools will be closed, starting at 00:00 on the 16th of November:
In Rabo de Peixe, EB1 / JI Luísa Constantino, in Ribeira Grande, the headquarters school of the Integrated Basic School, EB1 / JI of Ribeirinha and Secundária will be closed; in Arrifes, the main school, and the EB1 / JI of Covoada and Relva.
The Armando Cortês-Rodrigues Basic and Secondary School, in Vila Franca do Campo, and the EBI headquarters school of Água de Pau will also be closed.
In Ponta Delgada, in terms of public education, the headquarters school of Basic and Integrated Canto da Maia and Secondary Domingos Rebelo are also closed.
The professional schools of the Ponta Delgada and Povoação Chamber of Commerce will also be closed, as well as the Cantinho Encantado nursery school, Arco-Iris nursery and kindergarten, A Passarada, João de Deus and Castanheiro School, within the scope of private schools and private institutions of social solidarity.
The closure of the School of Tourism and Hotel Training of Ponta Delgada was added to the educational establishments already closed
This information is subject to update, according to the evolution of the epidemiological situation and the guidelines of the Regional Health Authority.

Masks
The Regional Decree regulating the mandatory use of masks in public spaces and roads, adapting to the Region the recently approved national law on this matter, comes into force on Tuesday, November 17th.
The diploma, which was approved by the Government Council on November 4th and which is published yesterday in Diário da República, takes into account the epidemiological situation in the Region, as well as the importance of implementing measures aimed at limiting the spread of the disease Covid-19, protecting the health of the population.
From Tuesday, the use of a mask is mandatory for people aged 10 and older for access, circulation or permanence in public spaces and roads in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, whenever the recommended physical distance by regional health authorities proves impractical.
This obligation is waived by presenting a medical certificate for multipurpose disability or a medical declaration, in the case of people with cognitive impairment, development and psychological disorders; of a medical declaration attesting that the person’s clinical condition is not consistent with the use of masks; when the use of a mask is incompatible with the nature of the activities that people are carrying out; and in relation to people who are part of the same household, when they are not in the proximity of third parties.
In the Autonomous Region of the Azores, enforcement of Law No. 62-A / 2020, of 27th October, is the responsibility of the security forces, the municipal police, health authorities and the Regional Inspection of Economic Activities.
This Regional Regulatory Decree is expected to be in force in the Region as long as the national law on the mandatory use of masks in public spaces and roads is in force.

Covid-19
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 5,780 tests carried out in the Region since the 14th of November there has been another increase in the number of cases, 75 positive cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed. 63 on the island of São Miguel and 11 on the island of Terceira, 6 and 1 on Faial. 40 recoveries have also been recorded 32 on São Miguel and 5 on the island of Terceira, 2 on Pico and 1 on São Jorge.
Some of the cases have been discovered as part of the SARS-CoV-2 screening test carried out on arrival at ports and airports and through the analysis performed after the sixth day in the region.
The rest of the cases are from chains of transmission that already exist in the region. The Region now has 13 extinct transmission chains and 12 active transmission chains, five of which on the island of São Miguel, four on the island of Terceira, two shared between the island of São Miguel and the island of São Jorge and one on the island of São Jorge.
So far, 641 cases of infection with the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes Covid-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 351 recovered cases and 197 active positive cases currently, of which 164 on the island of São Miguel, 22 on Terceira island, seven on São Jorge island, one on Pico island, two on Faial island and one on Santa Maria island.
There has been a total of 199,085 tests for SARS-CoV-2 undertaken in the region. 10 people are in hospital, 7 on São Miguel and 3 on Terceira.
Pandemic prevention and containment measures should be maintained and strengthened, whenever possible, by citizens and public, private and social sector organizations.
The Regional Health Authority reiterates the need to comply with all recommendations already made public in this regard, especially that, in case of symptoms, do not seek a Hospital or Health Unit, but call the Azores Health Line – 808 24 60 24.
For more information, visit the website created by the Government of the Azores on pandemic control in the Region, at https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt/ , or the Facebook page of the Regional Health Directorate, at https: / /www.facebook.com/DirecaoSaudeAcores/ .
The Government of the Azores also makes available the Azores Non-Medical Clarification Line COVID-19, with the number 800 29 29 29, which can be used between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, on working days, and the RIAC Line 800 500 501, which works from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 10:30 pm, and on Sundays, from 10 am to 10:30 pm.
It is also available the email address esclarecimentocovid19@azores.gov.pt for clarification on measures taken in the region to cope with the new coronavirus pandemic.

Situation Report Azores – 14th November 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Azores has changed from Orange to Red on the list of the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) for the transmission of the new coronavirus.
According to TSF (radio), after the Autonomous Region of Madeira, which also entered the red list last week, the Azores were the last Portuguese region where the risk was still classified as medium (Orange).
The risk maps are based on positive cases in the last 14 days per 100,000 inhabitants and on the percentage of tests done with a positive result.
It is considered a high-risk region when there are more than 50 active cases (those detected in the last 14 days) per 100,000 inhabitants and the rate of positivity is over 4%.
Covid-19
On Wednesday the 11th November the Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 1,516 tests carried out in the previous 24 hours in the two laboratories in the Region, as well as the tests carried out in private laboratories, 26 positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed, 23 of which on the island of São Miguel, one on the island of Santa Maria and two on the island of Terceira, and a recovery was recorded on the island of São Miguel.
As part of the screening of those who arrive in the Region, two positive cases were diagnosed on the island of São Miguel, one woman, 32 years old, and one man, 56 years old, non-residents, from an air connection with the Portuguese mainland, who presented a negative SARS-CoV-2 screening test on arrival and whose analysis performed after the sixth day produced a positive result.
Within the scope of transmission chains in epidemiological investigation in the Region, 24 cases were identified, 21 on the island of São Miguel, one on the island of Santa Maria and two on the island of Terceira.
In the context of epidemiological investigation related to an entertainment establishment in Ponta Delgada, 13 cases were diagnosed, namely 12 on the island of São Miguel and one on the island of Santa Maria.
On the island of São Miguel, six women were identified, aged between 11 and 66 years old, one of them through screening in the workplace, carried out in a private laboratory, and six men, aged between 4 and 69 years.
On the island of Santa Maria, a positive case was detected, referring to a 37-year-old man.
On the island of São Miguel, four women were also diagnosed, aged between 7 and 51 years old, and three men individuals, aged between 6 and 49 years old, and related to the chain of transmission in epidemiological investigation in Ribeira Grande.
In the context of the epidemiological investigation of another previously reported case, a 32-year-old woman and 34-year-old man were diagnosed on the island of São Miguel.
On the island of Terceira, a positive case was detected, referring to a 59-year-old woman, close contact with a high risk of a case reported on the 8th November.
A positive case was also diagnosed in the context of the chain of transmission related to a restaurant in the parish of São Mateus, in Angra do Heroísmo, namely a man, 25 years old.
In addition, two positive cases previously reported, referring to men, aged 26 and 37, on the island of São Miguel, presented documentation proving infection and subsequent recovery, so they are no longer considered active in the Region.
A positive case, corresponding to a 25-year-old man, also left the Region, namely the island of São Miguel, in spite of the authorities, with the Municipal Health Authority taking care of the procedures for its subsequent monitoring.
On Thursday the 12th of November the Regional Health Authority reported that, from 1,371 tests carried out in the previous 24 hours in the two reference laboratories in the Region and those carried out in private laboratories, 16 positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed, 13 on the island of São Miguel, two on the island of São Jorge and one on the island of Pico.
It should also be noted that, following the updating of the recovery criteria and clinical discharge in force in the Region, in accordance with the criteria established by the Directorate-General for Health and following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, 66 recoveries were recorded, of which 55 on São Miguel island, one on Santa Maria island, six on Terceira island, one on Graciosa island, two on Faial island and one on Flores island.
With these 66 recoveries, the number of cases recovered in the Autonomous Region of the Azores rises to 311.
Five positive cases were diagnosed in the context of screening those who arrive in the Region, three on the island of São Miguel, one on the island of São Jorge and one on the island of Pico.
On the island of São Miguel, two men, 35 and 47 years old, from an air connection with the Portuguese mainland were diagnosed, who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 screening test on arrival at the island of São Miguel, and another 20-year-old man, also from an air connection with the Portuguese mainland, who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on arrival and whose analysis performed after the sixth day produced a positive result.
On the island of São Jorge, a 25-year-old woman was detected, coming from an air connection with the Portuguese mainland, who also presented a negative SARS-CoV-2 screening test on arrival and whose analysis was performed after the sixth day produced a positive result.
On the island of Pico, a 58-year-old man, from an air connection with the American continent, whose SARS-CoV-2 screening test presented on arrival indicated a negative result and whose analysis performed after sixth day produced a positive result.
In the context of the epidemiological investigation related to an entertainment establishment in Ponta Delgada, five cases were diagnosed on the island of São Miguel, namely three women, aged between 15 and 49 years old, and two men, aged 18 and 72 years old.
Two positive cases were also detected, a woman, 49 years old, and a man, 56 years old, already identified as close contacts of high risk of a case detected in the scope of the screening for entry to the hospital. A positive case was detected on the island of São Miguel, corresponding to a 35-year-old woman, from an air connection with the Portuguese mainland, who underwent a SARS-CoV-2 screening test upon arrival with a result positive, but that, for having presented documentation proving infection and subsequent recovery, it is not considered an active case in the Region.
On the island of São Jorge, a positive case was identified, referring to a 17-year-old man, a close contact with another previously reported case, associated with a gym located in the municipality of Velas, with the Municipal Health Delegation triggering the procedures for identification, testing and surveillance of close contacts.
On Friday the 13th of November, The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 1,566 tests carried out in the last 24 hours in the two reference laboratories in the Region and those carried out in private laboratories, 16 positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel were diagnosed.
In the context of the epidemiological investigation related to an entertainment establishment in Ponta Delgada, nine women were diagnosed, aged between 6 and 63 years old, and five men, aged between 24 and 69 years old.
Two positive cases were also detected, corresponding to a woman, 35 years old, following the onset of symptoms, and to a man, 52 years old, in the scope of the screening of health professionals , cases that are now under epidemiological investigation, with the Municipal Health Authority having initiated the procedures inherent to the identification, testing and surveillance of close contacts.
In addition, it should be noted that a positive case reported on November 10th, corresponding to a 28-year-old man, from an air connection with the Portuguese mainland, presented documentation proving infection and subsequent recovery, so it is not considered an active case in Region.
It is further reported that there are currently 13 extinct transmission chains and eight active transmission chains in the Region, three on the island of São Miguel, two on the island of Terceira, two shared between the island of São Miguel and the island of São Jorge and one on the island of São Jorge.
So far, 566 cases of infection with the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 311 recovered cases and 162 active positive cases currently, of which 133 on the island of São Miguel, 16 on Terceira island, eight on São Jorge island, three on Pico island, one on Faial island and one on Santa Maria island.
Situation Report Azores – 11th November 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, as a result of the tests carried out in the Region there has been a large increase in the number of cases. 65 positive cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the last 4 days, 51 on the island of São Miguel and 7 on the island of Terceira, 6 on the island of São Jorge and 1 on Faial. 3 recoveries have also been recorded 2 on São Miguel and 1 on the island of Terceira.
Some of the cases have been discovered as part of the SARS-CoV-2 screening test carried out on arrival at ports and airports and through the analysis performed after the sixth day in the region.
Other cases are associated with the existing chains of transmission, 10 chains on São Miguel and 1 on São Jorge.
These are some of the highest daily figures since the peaks in April earlier this year.
So far, 507 cases of infection by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 179 active positive cases, of which 141 on the island of São Miguel, 20 on Terceira island, one on Graciosa island, six on São Jorge island, six on Pico island, three on Faial island, one on Santa Maria island and one on Flores island.
Pandemic prevention and containment measures should be maintained and strengthened, whenever possible, by citizens and public, private and social sector organizations.
The Regional Health Authority reiterates the need to comply with all recommendations already made public in this regard, especially that, in case of symptoms, do not seek a Hospital or Health Unit, but call the Azores Health Line – 808 24 60 24.
For more information, visit the website created by the Government of the Azores on pandemic control in the Region, at https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt/ , or the Facebook page of the Regional Health Directorate, at https: / /www.facebook.com/DirecaoSaudeAcores/ .
The Government of the Azores also makes available the Azores Non-Medical Clarification Line COVID-19, with the number 800 29 29 29, which can be used between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, on working days, and the RIAC Line 800 500 501, which works from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 10:30 pm, and on Sundays, from 10 am to 10:30 pm.
It is also available the email address esclarecimentocovid19@azores.gov.pt for clarification on measures taken in the region to cope with the new coronavirus pandemic.

Azores
Situation Report Azores – 7th November 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Government Council approved a regional decree regulating the mandatory use of masks in public spaces and roads, an adaptation of the recently approved national law on this matter in the Region. This decision by the Government of the Azores, which met on Wednesday by videoconference, takes into account the epidemiological situation in the Region, as well as the importance of implementing measures aimed at limiting the spread of the COVID-19 disease, protecting the health of the population.
The use of a mask by people aged 10 and older is mandatory for access, circulation or permanence in public spaces and roads in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, whenever the physical distance recommended by the regional health authorities is shown to be impractical.
This obligation is waived by presenting a medical certificate for multipurpose disability or a medical declaration, in the case of people with cognitive impairment, development and psychological disorders; of a medical declaration attesting that the person’s clinical condition is not consistent with the use of masks; when the use of a mask is incompatible with the nature of the activities that people are carrying out; and in relation to people who are part of the same household, when they are not in the proximity of third parties. In the Autonomous Region of the Azores, enforcement of Law No. 62-A / 2020, of October 27, is the responsibility of the security forces, the municipal police, health authorities and the Regional Inspection of Economic Activities.
This Regional Regulatory Decree, which is expected to be in force in the archipelago while the national law on the mandatory use of masks in public spaces and roads is in force, is now going to be promulgated by the Representative of the Republic and comes into force on the day after its publication in the Official Journal.
Covid-19
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, as a result of 3,396 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region in since the 3rdNovember, 39 positive cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed, of which 31 on the island of São Miguel, 6 on the island of Terceira, 2 on Pico. 1 recovery has been recorded on the island of São Miguel. So far, 441 cases of infection with the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 241 recovered cases and 121 active positive cases currently, of which 95 on the island of São Miguel, 15 on Terceira island, one on Graciosa island, six on Pico island, two on Faial island, one on Santa Maria island and one on Flores island.
According to the Regional Director of Health, there are 11 active transmission chains – two in Terceira, one in Pico and eight in São Miguel. Pandemic prevention and containment measures should be maintained and strengthened, whenever possible, by citizens and public, private and social sector organizations.
The Regional Health Authority reiterates the need to comply with all recommendations already made public in this regard, especially that, in case of symptoms, do not seek a Hospital or Health Unit, but call the Azores Health Line – 808 24 60 24.
For more information, visit the website created by the Government of the Azores on pandemic control in the Region, at https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt/ , or the Facebook page of the Regional Health Directorate, at https: / /www.facebook.com/DirecaoSaudeAcores/ .
The Government of the Azores also makes available the Azores Non-Medical Clarification Line COVID-19, with the number 800 29 29 29, which can be used between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, on working days, and the RIAC Line 800 500 501, which works from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 10:30 pm, and on Sundays, from 10 am to 10:30 pm.
It is also available the email address esclarecimentocovid19@azores.gov.pt for clarification on measures taken in the region to cope with the new coronavirus pandemic.

Situation Report Azores – 3rd November 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
Vouchers
The Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism, through the Regional Directorate for Tourism, has issued more than 2,500 “Destino Seguro Açores” vouchers, with a value of more than 90 thousand euros.
This is a measure implemented on the 21st of October and is an investment of 1.2 million euros.
The “Destino Seguro Açores” voucher is a financial incentive of 35 euros for conducting screening tests for SARS-CoV-2 prior to arrival in the Azores, which can be used exclusively for the acquisition of goods or services in the region related to the tourism sector.
To take advantage of this incentive, when filling out the Risk Assessment and Early Detection Questionnaire in the My Safe Azores tool, at https://mysafeazores.com , the passenger must select the option ‘Benefit from the “Destination Insurance Açores” Voucher, after the validation of the negative test by the Regional Health Authority, the voucher is sent to the email address in the questionnaire.
The incentive can be used with the Network of Members, which, so far, already has 238 companies distributed across all islands of the archipelago.
The list of participating companies, permanently open to new registrations, is available for consultation at https://voucher.azores.gov.pt/pt-pt/Rede-de-Aderentes .
Interested parties can obtain more information at https://voucher.azores.gov.pt/pt-pt .
Covid-19
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, as a result of 2,567 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region in since the 31st October, 13 positive cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed, of which 8 on the island of São Miguel, 2 on the island of Terceira, 2 on Pico and 1 on the island of Faial, and 3 recoveries were recorded on the island of São Miguel.
It should be noted that a case reported on Saturday, October 31st, corresponding to a woman of 28 years, on the island of São Miguel, presented documentation proving infection and subsequent recovery, which is why it is no longer considered active in the Region.
There is also the recovery of 3 men on the island of São Miguel, bringing to 240 the number of cases recovered in the Region.
So far, 402 cases of infection with the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 86 active positive cases, of which 66 on the island of São Miguel, 10 on Terceira island, one on Graciosa island, four on Pico island, three on Faial island, one on Santa Maria island and one on Flores island.
Pandemic prevention and containment measures should be maintained and strengthened, whenever possible, by citizens and public, private and social sector organizations.
The Regional Health Authority reiterates the need to comply with all recommendations already made public in this regard, especially that, in case of symptoms, do not seek a Hospital or Health Unit, but call the Azores Health Line – 808 24 60 24.
For more information, visit the website created by the Government of the Azores on pandemic control in the Region, at https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt/ , or the Facebook page of the Regional Health Directorate, at https: / /www.facebook.com/DirecaoSaudeAcores/ .
The Government of the Azores also makes available the Azores Non-Medical Clarification Line COVID-19, with the number 800 29 29 29, which can be used between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, on working days, and the RIAC Line 800 500 501, which works from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 10:30 pm, and on Sundays, from 10 am to 10:30 pm.
It is also available the email address esclarecimentocovid19@azores.gov.pt for clarification on measures taken in the region to cope with the new coronavirus pandemic.

Madeira Situation Report Saturday 28th November by our correspondent

Covid-19 update

There were 45 new Covid-19 cases and 25 recoveries from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.

On Wednesday, there were 7 new Covid-19 cases and 7 recoveries. All of these new cases were cases of local transmission, including those of a professional form the security forces and of a teacher and 2 children (aged 11-15) from 2
schools in the Municipality of Funchal and 1 school in the Municipality of Santa Cruz.

On Thursday, there were 12 new Covid-19 cases (from 2
passengers who had arrived from Northern Portugal, 1 passenger who had arrived from Germany and 9 cases of local transmission) and 9 recoveries. A healthcare professional from SESARAM (Madeira Health Service) tested positive after
returning to the Madeira Autonomous Region and another tested positive as a case of local transmission. Another 2 new cases were from a non-teaching member of staff at a school in the Municipality of Funchal and from a child who attends
another school in the same Municipality.

And on Friday, there were 26 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from France while the remaining were cases of local transmission) and 9 recoveries. Most of the 25 cases of local transmission were linked to previously
identified positive cases. An investigation is still ongoing on the contacts of 2 of them. And 6 new cases of local transmission were from students from educational establishments in the Municipalities of Funchal, Câmara de Lobos and
Calheta. These establishments have already activated their Covid-19 contingency plans.

There are currently 189 active cases, of which 45 were imported and identified through airport screening while the other 144 were a result of local transmission. As for the active cases, 29 are from non-residents while 160 are from
Madeira residents. So far, there have been 752 cases, 561 recoveries and 2 deaths.

There are currently 32 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 155 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 2 patients are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. A patient remains in the Covid-19 Intensive
Care Unit.

At the moment, 6,563 visitors are under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There are also 1,392 people being monitored by the health authorities of several Madeira
municipalities and in Porto Santo.

There are currently 98 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. Five of the suspected cases was identified through airport screening while the remaining 93 are linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19
or to calls made to the SRS24 helpline. As of Friday, there had been 2,212 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 109,669 samples had been collected until Friday (at 18h30). Overall, 174,841 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 453 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 18,020.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/25/7-novos-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-7-recuperados-e-100-suspeitos/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/26/172-casos-positivos-na-ram-182-novos-casos-suspeitos/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/27/26-novos-casos-de-covid-19-quase-uma-centena-de-novos-casos-suspeitos/

Miguel Albuquerque remarks and announcements

On Wednesday, Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, made a speech on the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic and announced new measures to fight it. Important announcements were made on testing for
travellers arriving in the Region and on guidelines for the Christmas and New Year festivities. Below is a summary of his speech:

Miguel Albuquerque thinks the pandemic is under control because all Covid-19 connections and local transmission circuits are currently known. He explained the current epidemiological situation in Madeira is not comparable at all with
that of the rest of the country, which means there is no need for Madeira to introduce confinement or a ban on travel between municipalities. Indeed, he assured that the Portuguese Government

decree renewing the state of emergency from the 24th of November (00h00) until the 8th of December (23h59) will not be applicable in the Autonomous Regions of Azores and Madeira. He also reinforced the need to avoid community
transmission.

Regarding testing, he was asked if mass testing of the population, as carried out in some Asian countries, would be a more efficient strategy. He said Madeira had already carried out a high number of tests (twice the national average)
and had to test with some rationality and aims. He highlighted professionals from risk jobs have been tested, testing have been carried out in the night places (airports, ports) and so far the procedures have been successful. He also
informed Madeira will spend over €12M on testing until the end of the year. He assured that the Region is ready to reinforce its testing capacity to cope with increasing demand from the 172 additional flights TAP is scheduled to
operate. He explained there are currently 25 testing stations and the infrastructure is in place to deal with an increase in the number of tourists and visitors. He also praised staff from the Tourist, Healthcare and Security sector for
their meritorious work at the airport.

Furthermore, he also announced that all Madeira residents, emigrants and students who have arrived at the Region’s airports and flown in from outside the Autonomous Region of Madeira will have to be tested twice, during an experimental
period from the 27th of November until the 11th of December (23h59).

According to him, Madeira expects to receive about 200,000 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. He added that a task force has been activated in order to plan for its arrival and distribution.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110835/Covid-19_A_pandemia_neste_momento_esta_controlada_


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110836/Covid-19_Governo_corrige_decreto_e_esclarece_que_medidas_nao_se_aplicam_a_Madeira_e_Acores


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110834/Covid-19_Madeira_vai_gastar_mais_de_12_milhoes_em_testes_ate_ao_final_do_ano


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110831/Covid-19_Albuquerque_garante_que_operacao_de_testagem_no_aeroporto_esta_preparada_para_o_aumento_dos_visitantes

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110825/Covid-19_Madeira_espera_receber_cerca_de_200_mil_vacinas_


https://observador.pt/2020/11/27/covid-19-dupla-testagem-na-madeira-a-estudantes-e-emigrantes-tem-periodo-experimental/

Christmas and New Year festivities

Miguel Albuquerque also made the following announcements regarding the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities:

– All food and drink vendors must only sell through take-away.

– They must also present a contingency plan that complies with sanitary regulation.

– There will be no evening markets, circus displays and theme parks.

– The Region’s markets can remain open at their usual opening hours and must
present their contingency plans that comply with the sanitary regulation.

– No gatherings will be allowed in markets and surrounding areas

– The sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks will be forbidden in public areas, except for licensed outdoor eating spaces.

– All bars must close at 01h00 on the 1st of January.

– There will be the traditional New Year’s fireworks display.

– The public is advised to watch the fireworks display from their homes or accommodation. The Regional Government is aware not everyone will be able to do so. As a result, there will be a plan ensure social distancing in public areas
such as squares and viewpoints in Funchal.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110822/Nao_havera_noites_do_mercado_circos_nem_parques_de_diversoes

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110823/Covid-19_Bares_encerram_a_01h_na_noite_do_fim_do_ano_


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110824/Fogo_de_artificio_deve_ser_assistido_nas_residencias_da_populacao_e_havera_limitacao_nos_espacos_publicos

Orange level warning for adverse sea

The north shore of Madeira and Porto Santo will be under orange warning from Sunday afternoon. Waves are expected to be up to 12 metres high from Sunday afternoon until the early hours of Monday. For the time being, a yellow warning
will be applicable from Friday (19h) until Monday (09h00). It will then become an orange warning. There will be very cloudy weather, showers until the end of today’s morning, in which rainfall will become less frequent. There will be
moderate wind (20-35 km/h) until the middle of the morning. it will become stronger (25-40 km/h) in the afternoon. In higher points, there will be moderate wind (25-40 km/h) in the morning and strong wind (40-50 km/h) in the afternoon
and gales (up to 85 km/h) are likely


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/111076/Aviso_laranja_para_a_agitacao_maritima_a_partir_da_tarde_de_domingo

Power cut

Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts in the following days, due to planned work on the electricity supply network. These works must not be postponed. The following areas will be
affected:

FUNCHAL

2nd and 4th December – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Rua dos Ferreiros (numbers 139 to 161)

3rd December – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Caminho de S. Roque (numbers 1 to 84-A)

– Rua Campo do Marítimo (numbers 29 and 31)

4th December – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Estrada Monumental (number 239 and numbers 403 to 606)

– Beco da Vitória

However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.

If necessary, customers can contact the free Customer Support Service (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.

Madeira Report 25

th

November by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 47 new Covid-19 cases and 40 recoveries from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.

On Saturday, there were 12 new Covid-19 cases and 8 recoveries. All of these new cases were cases of local transmission, including that of a child (aged 0-2) who was linked to previously identified cases at a nursery school in the
Municipality of Câmara de Lobos.

On Sunday, there were 11 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from the UK, 1 passenger who
had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, 1 passenger who had
arrived from Northern Portugal and 8 cases of local transmission) and 11 recoveries.

On Monday, there were 8 new Covid-19 cases and 8 recoveries. All of these new cases were cases of local transmission that were linked to previously identified cases. Three of the new cases were from children (aged 7-9) who attend
schools in the Municipality of Funchal.

And on Tuesday, there were 16 new Covid-19 cases (from 3 passengers – 1 from the UK, 1 from the Netherlands, 1 from Switzerland and 1 from the UK & 6 cases of local transmission) and 13 recoveries. All cases of local transmission were
linked to previously identified cases, 3 of them from children (aged 10-14) who attend schools in the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos.

There are currently 169 active cases, of which 49 were imported and identified through airport screening while the other 120 were a result of local transmission. As for the active cases, 30 are from non-residents while 139 are from
Madeira residents. So far, there have been 707 cases, 536 recoveries and 2 deaths.

There are currently 24 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 141 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 3 patients are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. A patient remains in the Covid-19 Intensive
Care Unit.

At the moment, 6,679 visitors are under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There are also 1207 people being monitored by the health authorities of several Madeira
municipalities and in Porto Santo.

There are currently 61 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. One of the suspected cases was identified through airport screening while the remaining 60 are linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19
or to calls made to the SRS24 helpline. As of Tuesday, there had been 2,167 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 109,110 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 18h30). Overall, 172,434 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 487 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 17,567.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110549/Covid-19_Identificados_12_casos_na_Regiao_todos_de_transmissao_local


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110591/Covid-19_Onze_novos_casos_de_infecao_e_onze_recuperados_hoje_na_Madeira

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110678/Mais_8_novos_casos_positivos__de_transmissao_local

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/24/16-novos-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-mais-61-casos-suspeitos-na-regiao/

New Covid-19 measures to be announced today

Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, will announce new measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly taking into account the upcoming Christmas season.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110768/Novas_medidas_anunciadas_amanha_as_12h00

Coordination between the Madeira Regional Government and the Covid-19 vaccine task force

Yesterday, Pedro Ramos (Madeira Health and Civil Protection Secretary) had a video conference with members of the Health Ministry task force that is dealing with the logistics of distributing and administering the Covid-
19 vaccine to a significant proportion of the population.

The task force is composed of representatives from the DGS (Direção-Geral da Saúde – Directorate-General of Health), Infarmed (Autoridade Nacional do Medicamento e Produtos de Saúde – National Authority of Medicines and
Health Products), the Armed Forces and Civil Protection.

The aim of the meeting was to prepare the coordination between the Health Ministry and the Autonomous Region of Madeira in rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine. A vaccination plan will be made. The plan will address issues such as who will
be vaccinated, where the vaccination sites will be, where the vaccines will be stored, how potential side effects of the vaccine will be monitored and the communication strategy.

Pedro Ramos highlighted the importance of this coordination so as to take into the account the Region’s needs.

The Covid-19 vaccines will be delivered in the Portuguese mainland and the Portuguese Air Force will then airlift them to Madeira.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/24/madeira-ja-prepara-articulacao-com-a-forca-tarefa-responsavel-pelas-vacinas-contra-a-covid-19/

Adverse weather warning

Vessel owners are advised to ensure their vessels remain at docked because heavy wind (51-62 km/h) and heavy seas are expected today and tomorrow. Waves ranging from 5-6 metres are expected on the north shore and they could be 10 metres
high.

On the south shore, heavier wind is expected today and tomorrow at Madeira’s highest points, with wind ranging from 70 km/h to 90 km/h. Temperatures will be around 12-13ºC. Snowfall is also a possibility.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110766/Capitania__do_Porto_do_Funchal_alerta_para_mau_tempo

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110757/Vento_forte_e_queda_de_neve_nos_picos_mais_altos_

Porto Santo Line service cancelled today

Porto Santo Line announced that the Funchal-Porto Santo and Porto Santo-Funchal services, which had been scheduled for today, will be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions that pose a hazard to the safety of the ferry and its crew
and passengers.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110753/Viagem_para_o_Porto_Santo_de_amanha_cancelada

Former Funchal Mayor will not go on trial over deadly oak tree fall

Paulo Cafôfo, a former Funchal Mayor, will not go to trial over the death of 13
people as a result of the fall of a tree. However, Idalina Perestrelo (Deputy Mayor) and Francisco Andrade (Head of the Divisão de Jardins e Espaços Verdes – Municipality Division of Gardens and Green Areas) will go on trial. The
decision was announced by Tribunal Judicial do Funchal (Funchal Judicial Court).

The tree fall, which happened in Monte on the 15th August 2017, killed 13 people (including a French woman and a Hungarian woman) and left about 100 people injured.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/23/paulo-cafofo-nao-vai-a-julgamento-responder-por-consequencias-da-queda-da-arvore-no-monte/

Christmas lighting being tested

In more cheerful news, Christmas lights are being set up in Madeira and some, in areas such as on the bridge at Ribeiro Sêco, have already been tested. It is hoped Christmas lighting will being some joy after such an unusual year.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110586/Luzes_da_Festa_ja_estao_a_ser_experimentadas


Madeira Situation report 21st November by Daniel fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 44 new Covid-19 cases and 24 recoveries from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.

On Wednesday, there were 23 new Covid-19 cases (from 4 passengers who had arrived from the UK, 4 passengers who had arrived from Germany, 3 passengers who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, 1 passenger who had arrived
from Poland, 1 passenger who had arrived from the Czech Republic and 10 cases of local transmission) and 3 recoveries. Regarding the cases of local transmission, 6 of the cases were from children (0-1 year old) in 2 in nursery schools
(1 in the Municipality of Funchal and 1 in the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos) while another case was from a healthcare professional from the Madeira Health Service.

On Thursday, there were 14 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Venezuela, 1 passenger who had arrived from the Autonomous Region of the Azores and 12 cases of local transmission) and 9 recoveries. And on Friday,
there were 7 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Northern Portugal and 6 cases of local transmission) and 12 recoveries. Most of the new cases of local transmission are linked to previously identified cases and
there are 2 cases that are still under investigation. One of the cases of local transmission was of a child (0-1 year old) who attends a nursery school in the Municipality of Funchal. The nursery school has activated its contingency
plan.

There are currently 162 active cases, of which 58 were imported while the other 104 were a result of local transmission. As for the active cases, 40 are from non-residents while 122 are from Madeira residents. So far, there have been
660 cases, 496 recoveries and 2 deaths. There are currently 36 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 121 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 5 patients are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.




One of the patients in hospital is a Portuguese-Venezuelan man who is currently on a ventilator. He had recently arrived in Funchal and had tested negative for Covid-19 at the airport. A few days later he started showing symptoms and a
test carried out in hospital came back positive on the 15th of November. His condition was already serious when he was hospitalised in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. On Wednesday his respiratory condition worsened and
he was taken to intensive care, where he remains in critical condition and on a ventilator. At the moment, 7,886 visitors are under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app.
There are also 879 people being monitored by the health authorities of several Madeira municipalities and in Porto Santo.

There are currently 93 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. A total of 17 suspected cases were identified through airport screening while 98 are linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19 (including
in schools) or to calls made to the SRS24 helpline. As of Friday, there had been 2,120 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed. As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports,
107,741 samples had been collected until Friday (at 17h30). Overall, 168,963 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 406 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 17,080.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/18/23-novos-casos-de-covid-19-na-ram-117-novos-suspeitos-quase-todos-locais/

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110390/Mais_14_casos_por_covid-19_nas_ultimas_24_horas


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/20/covid-19-7-novos-casos-93-casos-suspeitos-12-recuperados-um-doente-nos-cuidados-intensivos/


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110365/Covid-19_Luso_venezuelano_nos_cuidados_intensivos_com_suporte_do_ventilador_

Water supply disruptions

There will be water supply disruptions due to scheduled work on the water supply chain in the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos in order to prevent water leaks. The disruptions will affected the following places:

Municipality of Câmara de Lobos

23rd November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (Barreiros, Castelejo and Covão)

23rd November (11h00-15h00) – Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Barreiros, Casa Caída, Castelejo, Marinheira and Pomar do Meio)

24th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (Covão, Panasqueira and Vargem)

24th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Rancho)

25th November (09h00-15h00) – Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Nogueira and Pedregal)

25th November (11h00-15h00) – Parish of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (Garachico)

26th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Ribeiro Real, Lourencinha and Fajã)

27th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Nogueira)

Municipality of Câmara de Lobos

25th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Campanário (Calçada, Carmo, Chamorra, Corujeira, Igreja, Lombo do Romão, Serrado and Rodes)


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110480/Camara_de_Lobos_e_Ribeira_Brava_com_interrupcoes_de_abastecimento_de_agua

Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 18

th

November by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 33 new Covid-19 cases and 83 recoveries from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. Most new Covid-19 cases were a result of local transmission.

On Saturday, there were 12 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Central Portugal and 11 cases of local transmission) and 32 recoveries. All cases of local transmission were linked to recently identified cases.

On Sunday, there were 5 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Venezuela and 4 cases of local transmission) and 8 recoveries.

On Monday, there were 13 new Covid-19 cases (from 3 passengers who had arrived from
Poland, 1 passenger who had arrived from the UK, 1 passenger who had arrived from the Netherlands and 8 cases of local transmission) and 22 recoveries. Three of the local transmission cases were from children aged between 2 and 13 from
2 educational establishments (1 in the Municipality of Funchal and 1 in the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos). Both educational establishments had already been identified and their contingency plan had been activated.

And on Tuesday, there were 3 new Covid-19 cases as a result of local transmission linked to previously diagnosed positive cases. There were also 21 recoveries.

There are currently 142 active cases, of which 64 were imported while the other 78 were a result of local transmission. As for the active cases, 50 are from non-residents while 92 are from Madeira residents. So far, there have been 616
cases, 472 recoveries and 2 deaths.

There are currently 33 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 105 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 4 patients are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

At the moment, 8,544 visitors are under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There are also 845 people being monitored by the health authorities of several Madeira
municipalities and 10 people being monitored in Porto Santo.

There are currently 115 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. A total of 17 suspected cases were identified through airport screening while 98 are linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19
(including in schools) or to calls made to the SRS24 helpline. As of Tuesday, there had been 2,076 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 107,254 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 17h30). Overall, 166,967 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 445 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 16,674.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109919/Covid_hoje_ha_12_novos_casos_positivos_a_reportar

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109960/Mais_cinco_casos_novos_por_covid-19

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/16/mais-13-casos-activos-8-de-transmissao-local-incluindo-criancas/


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/17/3-novos-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-115-casos-suspeitos-21-recuperados/

Caniço pharmacy to reopen today

The pharmacy in Caniço (Farmácia do Caniço) is
reopening today, after its professionals twice tested negative for Covid-19 and the health authorities allowed them to end isolation. They had been in isolation since the 10th of November. Its premises were thoroughly disinfected. To
ensure continuity in providing services and to increase safety, its professionals will once again be divided into two teams. Its opening hours will be from 09h00 until 22h00. An evening service for urgencies (Serviço de Disponibilidade
Nocturna) will be operated from 22h00 until 09h00 (following day). This pharmacy will continue to have home delivery for purchases paid for by MBWay or by holders of a “Farmácia do Caniço” card. Orders can be made by email (
entregas@farmaciadocanico.pt) or by text message on WhatsApp (+351 915500800).

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110187/Farmacia_do_Canico_abre_amanha_ao_publico

Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship to sail by Madeira for New Year fireworks

Europa 2, the newest and biggest Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship, will be sailing by Madeira on New Year’s Eve so that its guests can watch the traditional fireworks display. The ship, which has been at sea since August, will not anchor in
Madeira. It is scheduled to leave Tenerife on the 23rd of December and to return on the 4th of January. It will provide its guests with a different Christmas and New Year celebration.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/110184/Cruzeiro_da_Hapag-Lloyd_passa_pela_Madeira_para_ver_o_fim-de-ano


Madeira Report Saturday 14th November by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 29 new Covid-19 cases and 32 recoveries from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.

On Wednesday, there were 15 new Covid-19 cases (from 3 passengers who had arrived from the UK, 1 who arrived from Germany, 1 who had arrived from Switzerland and 10 cases of local transmission) and 7 recoveries. All cases of local
transmission were linked to recently identified cases and had already been under monitoring by the regional health authorities. These include a second case at a nursery school in the Municipality of Santa Cruz.

On Thursday, there were 4 new Covid-19 cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from Poland, 1 passenger who had arrived from the UK, 1 and 1 case of local transmission) and 17 recoveries.

And on Friday, there were 10 new Covid-19 cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from Poland, 1 passenger who had arrived from Spain and 7 cases of local transmission) and 17 recoveries. All cases of local transmission were linked to
previously identified cases.

There are currently 192 active cases, of which 121 were imported and identified through airport screening, while the other 71 were a result of local transmission. As for the active cases, 104 are from non-residents while 88 are from
Madeira residents. So far, there have been 583 cases, 389 recoveries and 2 deaths.

At the moment, 14,068 people are under monitoring by the health authorities of several municipalities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app.

There are currently 65 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 123 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 4 patients are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are currently 56 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and
analysis. A total of 2 suspected cases were identified through airport screening while 54 are linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19 or to calls made to the SRS24 helpline. As of Friday, there had been 2,043 suspected
cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

At the moment, 10,430 travellers are under monitoring by the health authorities of several municipalities. In addition, 625 people who had contact with positive cases are under monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out through the
‘MadeiraSafe’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 105,386 samples had been collected until Friday (at 17h30). Overall, 163,479 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 377 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 16,229.

Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, stressed there has not been any community transmission so far and rejected the idea that sanitary cordons are required in Funchal and Santa Cruz. As Christmas
approaches, he also appealed for Madeiran university students returning to the Region to get tested for Covid-19 before flying into Madeira. He expects the Christmas season to be the most critical one. He added that the Government
expects to spend €20 million on airports in Madeira and Porto Santo.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109665/Hoje_ha_15_novos_casos_positivos_de_covid_a_reportar

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109763/Covid-19_Ha_na_Regiao_17_novos_recuperados_e_4_novos_casos

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/13/mais-dez-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-7-dos-quais-de-transmissao-local/

More sample collection points to be created for testing on Madeira-bound passengers

Pedro Ramos, the Madeira Health and Civil Protection Secretary, had a video call with representatives from the 6 labs the Regional Government have agreements with for Covid-19 testing on passengers flying to the Madeira archipelago from
the Portugal mainland. All representatives showed an interest in maintaining this partnership and some pledged to increased the number of sample collection points from 33 to 44. Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional
Government, said about 40,000 tests have already been carried out in the mainland and that more than 100 came back positive, which meant such passengers did not travel to Madeira.

The Madeira Regional Government has agreements with the following labs:

– Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas (CEDOC), in Lisbon (since July 1st);

– Laboratório de Análises Clínicas da Universidade de Coimbra (since July 13rd);

– Administração Regional de Saúde do Norte – ARS Norte – (since July 21st)

– Centro Hospital Universitário do Algarve e a Universidade do Algarve (since August 6th)

– LUMILABO, Laboratório de Análises Clínicas SA, in Lisboa, Porto and the Algarve (since August 1st).

– Laboratório AVELAB – Laboratório Médico de Análises Clínicas (since September 1st).


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109699/700_pessoas_estao_ligadas_aos_71_casos_de_transmissao_local_de_covid-19


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109859/Laboratorios_vao_criar_mais_postos_para_testes_PCR_em_Portugal_Continental

Flu vaccination update

At the of the 7th week of the flu vaccination campaign, 50,539 vaccine doses had been administered, of which 75,1% were administered in health centres while 7,6% were administered in IPSS (Instituições Privadas de Solidariedade Social –
Private Institutions of Social Solidarity). Regarding those aged 65 or older, 53,5% of that population has already been vaccinated, which means 23,082 vaccines have already been administered to them.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109851/Gripe_sazonal_Vacinados_mais_de_40_mil_na_Madeira

Heavy rain and wind until Monday

Although tropical storm ‘Theta’ is likely to lose intensity and to become a post-tropical storm on Monday, it will still bring heavy rain and wind, sometimes with thunder, until Monday. The storm is expected to bring winds ranging from
63 km/h to 118 km/h. Heavy seas are also likely, with waves up to 4 metres high.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109841/Tempestade_Theta_perde_intensidade_mas_vai_trazer_muita_chuva_e_vento_no_fim_de_semana

Water supply disruptions

Water supply disruptions will take place in the Municipalities of Câmara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava, to reduce water leaks:

16th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Ribeira da Alforra, Heras, Preces, Fonte da Rocha and Serrado da Adega) & Parish of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (Church and Ribeira Fernanda)

17th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Torre)

18th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Caldeira and Rancho) & Parish of Tabua (Zimbreiros, Candelária, Praia Tabua and Lugar da Serra)

19th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (Achada and Pomar do eio)

20th November (09h00-13h00) – Parish of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (Lourencinha and Ribeiro Real)


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109823/ARM_alerta_para_a_interrupcao_de_abastecimento_de_agua_potavel_na_Ribeira_Brava_e_Camara_de_Lobos

Power cut

Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts in the following days, due to planned work on the electricity supply network. These works must not be postponed. The following areas will be
affected:

FUNCHAL

16th and 17th November – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Caminhos da Barreira e do Trapiche (numbers 113 to 172)

– Beco do Ribeiro Pereiro

– Vereda do Camacho

17th November – 09h00 to 11h30

– Rua da Montanha

16th and 17th November – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Caminho da Azinhaga

– Ladeira de Santana (number 35)

– Travessa do Salão (numbers 1, 3 and 5)

– Becos da Azinhaga e do Terraço

– Impasse da Azinhaga

18th November – 09h00 to 11h30

– Estrada da Camacha (numbers 107 to 117)

18th and 19th November – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Caminho da Terça

– Caminho do Velho da Igreja

– Travessa da Alegria

– Travessa da Terça

– Vereda da Alegria

However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.

If necessary, customers can contact the free Customer Support Service (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/14/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-88-2020/

Madeira Report 11th November by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 50 new Covid-19 cases, 32 recoveries and 1 death from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.

On Saturday, there were 14 new Covid-19 cases (from 4 passengers who had arrived from the UK, 1 who arrived from Poland, 1 who had arrived from France, 1 who had arrived from Italy, 1 who had arrived from Malta and 6 cases of local
transmission) and 9 recoveries. Two of the cases of local transmission are connected with travellers from outside the Region who had tested positive after returning home, while the other 4 are close contacts with 1 person who had
recently tested positive for Covid-19.

On Sunday, there were 13 new Covid-19 cases (from 3 passenger
who had arrived from Venezuela, 1 who had arrived from the UK, 1 who had arrived from Austria and 8 cases of local transmission) and 7 recoveries. Two of the local transmission cases are linked with travellers from outside the Region
while 6 are close contacts of people who had recently tested positive. One of the cases is from a SESARAM (Madeira Health Service) healthcare professional. A second Covid-19 patient died in Madeira at around 21h00 on the same day. The
male patient was 94 years old and had been hospitalised at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça since the 4th of November, the day he had been diagnosed with Covid-19.

On Monday, there were 9 new Covid-19 cases (from 4 passengers who had arrived from Poland, 1 who had arrived from the UK, 1 who had arrived from Venezuela, 1 who had arrived from Central Portugal and 2 cases of local transmission) and
10 recoveries. The 2 cases of local transmission are linked with patients who had recently tested positive for Covid-19.

And on Tuesday, there were 14 new Covid-19 cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from Poland, 1 who had arrived from Germany, 1 who had arrived from the Czech Republic, 1 who had arrived from Switzerland and 9 cases of local
transmission) and 6 recoveries. All cases of local transmission are linked with close contacts who had tested positive for Covid-19, including 2 healthcare professionals from dental healthcare and 1 student from a school in the
Municipality of Santa Cruz.

There are currently 204 active cases, of which 143 were imported and identified through airport screening, while the other 61 were a result of local transmission. So far, there have been 554 cases, 348 recoveries and 2 deaths. As for
the active cases, 123 are from non-residents while 81 are from Madeira residents.

At the moment, 14,068 people are under monitoring by the health authorities of several municipalities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app.

There are currently 76 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 125 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 3 patients are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are currently 61 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. A total of 7 suspected cases were identified through airport screening while 54 are linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19 or to calls
made to the SRS24 helpline. As of Tuesday, there had been 2,014 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

At the moment, 11,198 travellers are under monitoring by the
health authorities of several municipalities. In addition, 487 people who had contact with positive cases are under monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 104,643 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 17h30). Overall, 161,836 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 430 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 15,852.

So far, a total of 12 schools in Madeira have been affected by confirmed cases or isolation requirements for possible suspected contacts with infected people. Only 10 of the schools have activated their contingency plans for such
situations.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/08/14-novos-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-na-ram-46-casos-suspeitos-e-9-recuperados/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/08/mais-13-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-na-ram-ha-70-novos-casos-suspeitos/


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/09/9-novos-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-52-casos-suspeitos-e-10-recuperados/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/09/morreu-mais-uma-pessoa-com-covid-19-na-madeira/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/10/mais-14-casos-de-covid-19-61-novos-casos-suspeitos-e-6-recuperados/

More flu vaccine doses administered than in 2019

As of the 7th of November, 38,729 doses of the flu vaccine had been
administered in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. So far, more than 60% of the healthcare professionals (3,325) and 52% of the elderly population (22,263) have been vaccinated. This year, more people have been vaccinated against flu
than last year. The health authorities are awaiting for the delivery of a further 15,000 doses in the last week of November and the beginning of December. There are issues with the vaccine’s supply in the country, which means some
health centres are likely to have shortages of the vaccine.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109391/Numero_de_Vacinas_Contra_a_Gripe_administradas_superam_o_total_da_campanha_de_2019

Search called off for missing German tourist

The search for a missing German tourist has been called off. SANAS Madeira (a search and rescue organisation) expressed its deep regret that his body had not been found despite all the efforts by the regional authorities. An extensive
20-day search had been carried out in adverse sea and weather conditions. The young German tourist had gone missing after falling into the sea next the dock in São Jorge (Municipality of Santana), on the north shore of Madeira.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109556/Sanas_encerra_buscas_por_turista_desaparecido_em_Sao_Jorge

Madeira Military Museum to commemorate the Armistice Day

Today is the 102th anniversary of the Armistice and of the end of the First World War. As such, the Madeira Military Museum (Museu Militar da Madeira) will have an exhibition at São Lourenço Palace (Palácio de São Lourenço), from the
11th to the 13th of November. Entry will be free. As a result of the pandemic, a maximum of 8 people are allowed inside at the same time. Visitors are advised to book in advance.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109480/Museu_Militar_da_Madeira_assinala_102_aniversario_do_Armisticio

Navy patrol vessel arrived in Madeira

NRP Figueira Foz, a Viana do
Castelo-class patrol vessel that was launched in 2003, arrived in Madeira yesterday for another mission on the waters of Madeira. Its commanding is Lieutenant-Captain Neves Cabrita, it has a crew of 53 sailors (14 officers, 9 sergeants
and 30 enlisted) and will remain in the area until the start of December. It will replace NRP Auriga and will be patrolling Portuguese waters around Madeira, maintaining an additional search and rescue capability, providing support to
the regional authorities in the event of a calamity or natural disaster and cooperating with other state departments that deal with issues related to the sea.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109413/Navio_Figueira_da_Foz_chega_esta_terca-feira_a_Regiao_para_mais_uma_missao

Power cut

Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts in the following days, due to planned work on the electricity supply network. These works must not be postponed. The following areas will be
affected:

FUNCHAL

12th November – 09h00 to 12h00

– Caminho do Pinheiro das Voltas (numbers 2, 12 and 158)

– Caminho do Poço Barral (numbers 15 to 156)

– Rua de Santa Rita (number 102)

– Vereda dos Alecrins (number 1)

12th November – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Estrada do Lombo Chão (numbers 31 to 51)

– Vereda das Balceiras (numbers 9, 11 and 37)

– Impasse das Balceiras

12th and 13th November – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Rua Pedro José de Ornelas (numbers 33 and 35)

– Travessa do Damião

– Rampa do Damião

13th November – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Estrada das Murteiras (number 38)

– Estrada da Terra Chã (number 31 and 74)

– Estrada Comandante Camacho de Freitas (numbers 238 to 301)

– Caminho das Voltas (number 33)

– Caminho da Ladeira (number 2 to 136)

– Rua Edmundo Bettencourt (number 22 to 47)

– Rua do Poço das Fontes (number 2 to 19)

– Vereda da Terra Chã (numbers 29 to 112)

– Vereda do Poço das Fontes (number 3 to 30)

– Travessa da Terra Chã (number 31)

– 2º e 3º Impasses da Vereda da Terra Chã

However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.

If necessary, customers can contact the free Customer Support Service (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/07/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-86-2020/

Madeira Situation Report 7th November by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 19 new Covid-19 cases and 29 recoveries from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.

On Wednesday, there were 10 new Covid-19 cases (from 4 passengers who had arrived from the UK, 1 passenger who had arrived from Italy and 5 cases of local transmission) and 5 recoveries. One of the cases of local transmission was from a
young student from a school in Funchal. As a result, 20 students from 1 class were ordered to go into isolation.

On Thursday, there was 1 new Covid-19 case (from 1 passenger who had arrived from the Czech Republic) and 1 recovery.

And on Friday, there were 8 new Covid-19 cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from the UK, 2 passengers who had arrived from Germany, 1 passenger who had arrived from Spain,1 passenger who had arrived from Northern Portugal and 2
cases of local transmission) and 23 recoveries. The cases of local transmission are from a SESARAM (Madeira Health Service) professional and a healthcare professional from a private pharmaceutical unit.

There are currently 187 active cases, of which 150 were imported and identified through airport screening, while the other 37 were a result of local transmission. So far, there have been 504 cases and 316 recoveries. As for the active
cases, 131 are from non-residents while 57 are from Madeira residents. The number of deaths from Covid-19 remains at 1.

At the moment, 14,068 people are under monitoring by the health authorities of several municipalities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app.

There are currently 84 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 100 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 3 patient are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are currently 30 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. A total of 10 suspected cases were identified through airport screening while 20 are linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19 or to
calls made to the SRS24 helpline. As of Friday, there had been 1,964 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

At the moment, 13,842 travellers are under monitoring by the health authorities of several municipalities. In addition, 586 people who had contact with positive cases are under monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out through the
‘MadeiraSafe’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 102,515 samples had been collected until Friday (at 17h30). Overall, 157,922 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 441 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 15,422.

So far, a total of 12 schools in Madeira have been affected by confirmed cases or isolation requirements for possible suspected contacts with infected people. Only 10 of the schools have activated their contingency plans for such
situations.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108955/Mais_10_casos_de_covid-19_Madeira_ja_ultrapassou_as_duas_centenas_de_casos_ativos

https://covidmadeira.pt/publicacao/covid-19-relatorio-de-situacao-epidemiologica-na-ram-em-04-11-2020/


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/05/hoje-ha-apenas-um-caso-positivo-de-covid-19-importado-da-republica-checa/

https://covidmadeira.pt/publicacao/covid-19-relatorio-de-situacao-epidemiologica-na-ram-em-05-11-2020/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/06/mais-8-casos-activos-de-covid-19-na-ram-23-recuperados-e-30-suspeitos/

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109019/Covid-19_ja_atingiu_12_escolas_da_Regiao_

Reduction in maximum capacity in Horários do Funchal buses

Grupo Horários do Funchal informed that the maximum passenger capacity on its buses will be reduced to 2/3. If necessary, there will be additional services on routes and at times of greater demand. Although additional services can be
provided, passengers who do not have educational or professional commitments are advised to travel at times of lesser demand, which are from 9h00 to 12h00, from 14h00 to 16h00 and after 19h0. Hand sanitiser is available to passengers
and the buses are disinfected daily and the use of face mask is mandatory while onboard the bus. Horários do Funchal also asked for passengers to behave sensibly, both at bus stops and onboard its buses.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/109068/Reducao_da_lotacao_maxima_nos_autocarros_do_Grupo_Horarios_do_Funchal




Water supply disruption

There will be several water supply disruptions next week in the Municipalities of Câmara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava, due to scheduled work on the water supply network to prevent water leaks. The following areas will be affected:

Municipality of Ribeira Brava:

Parish of Quinta Grande (Quinta Grande, Church, Igreja, Lombo and Vera Cruz) & Parish of Campanário (Tranqual, São João, Pinheiro and Lugar da Ribeira) – from 23h00 (09th November) until 03h00 (10th November)

Municipality of Câmara de Lobos:

Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Ribeira da Alforra, Heras, Preces, Fonte da Rocha and Serrado da Adega – 10th November (from 9h00 until 13h00)

Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Ribeira Fernanda and Quinta do Leme) – 12th November (from 9h00 until 13h00)

Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Torre and Pé do Pico) – 13th November (from 15h00 until 17h00)


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/06/arm-avisa-para-cortes-na-agua-potavel-na-quinta-grande-e-em-camara-de-lobos/

Power cut

Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts in the following days, due to planned work on the electricity supply network. These works must not be postponed. The following areas will be
affected:

FUNCHAL

10th November – 09h00 to 11h30

– Caminho 1º de Maio

10th November – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Caminho de Santo António (number 127)

Beco da Barrqueira (numbers 3 to 27)

Azinhaga Levada do Cavalo

However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.

If necessary, customers can contact the free Customer Support Service (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/07/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-86-2020/

Madeira Report Wednesday 4th November from Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 45 new Covid-19 cases and 19 recoveries from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. And sadly, Madeira suffered the first death from Covid-19 on Sunday.

On Saturday, there were 7 new Covid-19 cases (from 3 passengers who had arrived from the UK and 4 cases of local transmission) and 12 recoveries. There were 2 cases among healthcare professionals from the Regional Health Service and
private healthcare providers. They had spent time with a traveller from Northern Portugal who tested positive after staying in Madeira for less than 5 days.

On Sunday, there were 8 new Covid-19 cases (from 4 passengers who had arrived
from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, 1 passenger who had arrived from France and 3 cases of local transmission that are linked to other positive cases) and 2 recoveries. On that same day, the first death from Covid-19 in the
Autonomous Region of Madeira was announced. A 97 year old female patient who lived in Funchal and who had several pre-existing conditions passed away in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. She had been in hospital since
the 27th of October.

On Monday, there were 16 new Covid-19 cases (from 6 passengers who had arrived from Poland, 3 who had arrived from the UK, 2 who had arrived from France, 1 who had arrived from Belgium and 4 cases of local transmission) and 4
recoveries.

And on Tuesday, there were 14 new Covid-19 cases (from 5 passengers who had arrived from Poland, 3 who had arrived from the UK, 2 who had arrived from Spain, 2 who arrived from and 1 who had arrived from the Czech Republic and 1 case of
local transmission linked to a recently diagnosed patient) and 1 recovery. The case of local transmission is linked to a case that had recently been detected in the community.

There are currently 197 active cases, of which 167 were imported and identified through airport screening, while the other 30 were a result of local transmission. So far, there have been 485 cases and 287 recoveries. As for the
active cases, 148 are from non-residents while 49 are from Madeira residents. The number of deaths from Covid-19 remains at 1.

There are currently 84 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 112 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 1 patient is in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are currently 26 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. Only 1 was identified through airport screening while 25 are linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19 or to calls made to the SRS24
helpline. As of Tuesday, there had been 1,945 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

At the moment, 14,631 people are under monitoring by the health authorities of several municipalities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 101,292 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 17h30). Overall, 155,699 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 493 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 14,981.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108552/Covid-19_Mais_sete_casos_positivos_na_Madeira

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108609/Madeira_com_oito_novos_casos_positivos_de_covid-19

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108746/Madeira_regista_16_novos_casos_positivos_de_covid-19

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/11/03/mais-14-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-na-regiao-26-novos-casos-suspeitos/

Madeira Regional Government to announce new Covid-19 preventive measures on Wednesday

On Monday, Miguel Albuquerque (President of the Madeira Regional Government) informed that new and additional Covid-19 preventive measures will be announced on Wednesday. As for the possible return of the State of Emergency in the
Portuguese mainland, he thinks it should have already been restored.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108733/Covid-19_Miguel_Albuquerque_anuncia_novas_medidas_de_prevencao_na_quarta-feira_

Schools took preventive measures after Covid-19 cases

Escola Salesiana do Funchal took preventive measures after being informed that the father of a Year 7 student had tested positive for Covid-19. The father himself acted very responsibly and contacted the school to inform of his
diagnosis. This allowed the school to implement preventive measures very quickly, particularly because all students from that same class had reportedly attended the same birthday party. The entire class was advised to go into isolation
and Covid-19 tests have been carried out on them.

Colégio de Santa Teresinha, in Funchal, also activated their contingency plan after a student tested positive for Covid-19. The student’s 22 classmates are now in isolation.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108711/Pai_de_aluna_dos_Salesianos_testa_positivo_e_escola_adota_medidas_preventivas

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108535/Covid-19_Ha_mais_um_caso_positivo_numa_escola__do_Funchal

Yellow level warning due to rough seas

A yellow level warning was issued in Madeira due to rough seas. The warning
is applicable to the north shore of Madeira Island and the entire island of Porto Santo, with 4-meter high waves expected from 12h00 until 18h00 (today). The warning will be in effect until today (Wednesday). Autoridade Marítima
Nacional (AMN – National Maritime Authority) advised the population to remain vigilant while at sea or in coastal areas; to avoid walking by the sea or coastal areas, on beaches and cliffs; to avoid practicing sports in areas that are
exposed to heavy seas; to avoid recreational fishing in areas that are hit by waves and to reinforce the mooring and anchoring of vessels.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108733/Covid-19_Miguel_Albuquerque_anuncia_novas_medidas_de_prevencao_na_quarta-feira_

Transavia suspended flights between Madeira and Porto

On Friday, Transavia has temporarily suspended flights between Funchal and Porto due to Covid-19 restrictions in France. Staff from Jornal de Notícias searched for future flights on this route and discovered there will be no flights
until the 2nd of December. Transavia explained passengers are entitled to a refund if their flight is cancelled. Alternatively, they can change their booking and choose a new flight, for a travel until the 30th of October 2021, without
incurring any charges for re-booking.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/108607/Transavia_suspende_ligacoes_entre_o_Porto_e_a_Madeira

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 18th November 2020

GNR Closes down three illegal parties in the Algarve

GNR was forced to end an illegal wedding and birthday parties in Albufeira and Faro this weekend. The events had about 300 people.

According to GNR, in Albufeira 150 people were dressed for a wedding and 60 others in a restaurant, who were also celebrating a wedding, while in Faro the authorities closed a birthday party with 100 people, reads the statement.

GNR revealed that, in one of the parties, which took place in Albufeira, “several gatherings of people dressed for a ceremony were detected in a wedding party that was taking place in a hotel. This celebration had the presence of about 150 people”, according to Lusa News Agency.

Also in Albufeira, GNR caught 60 people in a restaurant, who were also celebrating a wedding as well. In this case, the authorities gave an “indication of closure to the establishment for having exceeded the permitted capacity” explained the Faro Territorial Command of the security force.

“In the third situation, in Faro, GNR went to a birthday party after reports of loud music in the early evening. There were 100 people in the space, the event having ceased and the participants demobilised without offering any resistance”, added the same source.

Two administrative infraction notices were raised in breach of the guidelines of the DGS and the resolution of the Council of Ministers, which sets a limit of 50 people in a marriage. The owners of the spaces are subject to fines ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 euros.

Tests carried out on the employees of the homes in the municipality of Loulé are negative

All the employees and collaborators of the nursing homes in the municipality of Loulé who carried out tests on the Covid-19 during this last month tested negative, informed the Louletana municipality today.

The initiative of complementarity with the Government, which through the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security is carrying out tests on the employees of all institutions with 50 or more users, the municipality of Loulé allocated a subsidy of 38 thousand euros to the other institutions to also carry out, in the same way, this screening.

According to a statement from the municipality, 80 tests have already been carried out, but a total of 306 employees from 11 institutions will participate in this initiative. This process will take place over the next 3 months, a quarter of employees will be tested weekly, thus ensuring a monthly sample of the epidemiological reality in each nursing home.

All tests are taking place in the Drive-Thru of Parque das Cidades and carried out by the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), with the operational part being provided by the institutions themselves.

The council of Loulé, also advises, that the employees and collaborators of the homes of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Loulé, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Boliqueime and the Social and Cultural Association of Tôr, the IPSS that have a higher number of users and, as such, are all part of the list of institutions where testing is being supported by the central government, tested negative for Covid-19.

Covid-19: Food support increases in the Algarve and not just for those who lost their jobs

Requests for food support have increased in the Algarve and Refood in Faro is no longer coming only from those who lost their jobs, but the structure is having to refuse support due to lack of storage capacity.

Every day during the afternoon, several families are waiting for the delivery of food at the door of the institution’s logistics base, installed in an old house in the city centre and given to Refood by a family from Faro.

Deliveries are made in two shifts and it is in the second that Lusa’s report finds more than a dozen families, many accompanied by their children, such as Marta (fictitious name), who was forced to ask for support after her ex-companion lost his employment and “stop paying the alimony”.

She realized that she “would have to lose her shame” and ask for help, having decided to resort to this voluntary movement that collects and distributes surplus meals from restaurants, but also made by volunteers, and food baskets.

“There is shame, because I work and when working, we don’t think that we will need help and that we can support ourselves and our children. There shouldn’t be, because you are not stealing, but there is” she confesses.

After analysing her situation, she explained that she was at the limit of economic need and, therefore, she would be entitled to support three times a week. However, she opted for “two” because she considers it “enough” and, therefore, “always remains for others”.

Marta keeps her job and the same income, but, without the financial contribution of her ex-partner, she had to start looking for “products that were at the limit of validity” to feed her two teenage children.

At the moment, there are about 200 volunteers distributed over the seven days of the week between collection, packaging and delivery, but Paula regrets having to “refuse any help that comes from the community” due to lack of storage capacity.

Support requests stabilized in August and September, but since the beginning of October new requests continue to arrive: they even receive “five to six” requests daily, says Paula Matias.

Covid-19: Albufeira changes dates and times of shows to comply with more restrictive measures

After having entered the list of new municipalities with a high risk of contamination by Covid-19, the municipality of Albufeira was forced to change times and days of shows taking place in the Municipal Auditorium, in order to respond to the most restrictive measures currently in force, namely with regard to curfew.

Thus, according to the municipality, the ACTA show, “Ardente – Memorial for Pedro and Inês”, scheduled for next Friday, will take place half an hour earlier than originally planned, while the “Cante Alentejano” Workshop and the concert of Celina da Piedade were brought forward to November 26th, at 6 pm and 9 pm, respectively.

The Albufeira Chamber explains that the ACTA show, “will lean towards a mythic approach, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to a reflection on love and death, with a predominance of images, mixing it with music and singing “.

Tickets cost € 5.00 and are on sale at the Municipal Gallery of Albufeira, on weekdays from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 5 pm, or at the Municipal Auditorium, on the same day of the show from 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm.

Algarve Report 14th of November

ARS Covid-19 Statistics,

According the Regional Health Authority repot to 23.59 hrs 12th November the Covid-19 statistics for the Algarve are as follows:

  • Active cases – 1245
  • Currently In hospital: 48; In ICU- 9
  • Deaths to date: 39
  • Confirmed cases to date: 3803
  • Recovered 2519 – Recovery rate 88.2%

Covid-19: Algarve is hampered by the way population is counted – AMAL

The president of the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) today considered that the region is hampered by the population count for the definition of municipalities with high risk of contagion by covid-19, as not all resident foreigners are included.

According to António Pina, the Algarve “cannot continue to be seen” as a region with a population of 450 thousand inhabitants, but with 600 thousand inhabitants, “because that is what actually exists”, alluding to the foreign citizens that inhabit in the Algarve but are not registered as residents.

“This leads us to believe that if it were considered [the population count] as we propose, many of the municipalities that appear on this list today would not be”, assured the president of AMAL, referring to the list of municipalities at high risk of contagion, which now covers half of the municipalities in the Algarve.

At a press conference held at the District Civil Protection Centre, in Loulé, the president of AMAL said that he will “present and ask the Directorate-General for Health and the Government to have a weighting factor in relation to the Algarve to be able to incorporate it into the population’s denominator – another number”.

Reassessed every 15 days by the Government, the list of municipalities with a high risk of transmission of covid-19 is defined according to the general criterion of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) of “more than 240 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in the last 14 days “.

In addition to the foreign resident population that is not officially accounted for, the delegate of Health of the Algarve considered that the Algarve should be seen as “a whole” and if it were, the region would not yet reach 240 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Comment

It came as a surprise that according to this statement that there are 150,000 non-registered foreign inhabitants in the Algarve as this seems very high amounting to 33% of the entire registered population. The President of AMAL did not provide the source of the 600,000 figure.

Outbreak of Cov-19 detected at a campsite in Alvor

The most recent covid-19 outbreak in the Algarve was detected at the Alvor campsite in Portimão, involving a hundred people, although only 13 positive cases have already been identified, said the regional health delegate today.

At the fortnightly press conference of the District Civil Protection Commission of the Algarve, Ana Cristina Guerreiro stressed that the number of cases may increase, with tests still underway, indicating that the people involved in the outbreak are “mostly foreigners”.

In addition to this, the outbreaks that most concern the authorities, according to the regional delegate, are related to football clubs, especially at the under-23 level, and to evangelical religious groups in Faro, Olhão and Portimão. Altogether, there are 34 cases identified in religious groups and 31 in football clubs in Almancil (Loulé) – where the largest number of cases are concentrated -, Faro and Olhão, with infections registered among the younger strata.

The cases related to religious groups are due to the fact that people are “in a closed space, possibly with greater proximity than they should and where they sing and speak loudly”, he said, noting that singing “is a risky activity”.

There are still 50 schools with scattered cases, in a total of 86, although there has not yet been an outbreak in the school environment, he stressed, adding that they are not the places with the highest rate of transmission. In the total of schools in the Algarve, the majority of those infected (72) are students, 14 of whom are employees, including assistants and teachers.

Covid-19: Hotel in Portimão will welcome patients without the need for hospitalization

A 550-room hotel in Portimão will start operating “in the next few days” as a back-up support structure (EAR) to welcome people with covid-19 without the need for hospitalization and users of homes, was announced today.

The structure, which is already being used by people with negative test results but who still cannot go home, will now have a “different qualification”, and will also welcome patients whose tests are still positive, said the regional combat coordinator to the pandemic, Jorge Botelho.

The equipment is in the installation phase and should start operating “in the next few days”, estimated the Secretary of State for Decentralization and Local Administration, during the fortnightly press conference of the District Civil Protection Committee of the Algarve.

“In the coming months, this will be the residential back-up structure for covid patients who no longer need hospital care, but who are neither able to go home nor to go to ERPI [residential structures for elderly people] because they have no criteria , that is, they are still positive ”, he stressed.

The new structure, created under a diploma that provides for the installation of a network of back-up support structures throughout the country, will help to alleviate the burden at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA), in the sense of trying to “prevent the scheduled activity may be affected ”.

According to Jorge Botelho, “those people who, being in the hospital and being positive – with a lack of vacancies and without criteria to be in more intensive care – can also be moved by the hospital to this structure”.

“Surprise and indignation” – Câmara de Tavira for inclusion in the list of risky municipalities

The Mayor of Tavira considers it an “injustice” to be included in the list of risky municipalities , as this results from the attribution to her municipality, by the General Health Directorate, of “60 new cases” that are not in the accounts of the authorities of local and regional health.

In a note published on the municipality’s Facebook page, Ana Paula Martins guarantees that “it was with surprise and indignation that the municipality received this information, since it came to contradict the numbers that have been communicated to us by the local and regional health authorities (which are coincident) and that point out that, in the period considered by the Government (between 28/10 and 10/11), the municipality of Tavira has an accumulation of 54 new cases and, consequently, with 220 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. It would therefore be below the value to be considered in the list referred to above ».

However, “and we do not know on the basis of what data, as they are not in agreement with those of the local and regional health authorities, DGS attributes, during the period in question, 60 new cases to Tavira”, adds the mayor.

Algarve Report Wednesday 11th November 2020

Algarve Biomedical Centre has already performed 50 thousand diagnostic tests for Covid-19

The Algarve Biomedical Centre (ABC) is currently carrying out between 500 and 600 diagnostic tests for Covid-19 per day, especially in homes in the Algarve, Alentejo and Setúbal, but also in response to requests from the Local Health Unit of Baixo Alentejo, he said in a statement.

Since April, ABC has performed more than 50,000 tests, including homes, day care centres, schools and football clubs in the Algarve.

It was also responsible for the tests carried out on the Portugal Masters 2020 and on events held at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. In addition, it has responded to outbreaks in different municipalities in the Algarve and the Alentejo and has tested citizen stores across the country, whenever a positive case is identified, under a protocol with the Agency for Administrative Modernization, the same statement needs.

Turismo de Portugal is in the Algarve supporting innovative ideas in sustainable tourism

The “Green Up” program aims to support students and recent graduates in tourism to create projects that focus on sustainability and environmental economics. The initiative goes through the Hotel and Tourism School of Vila Real de Santo António, Faro and Portimão.

Preparing entrepreneurs with know how to take advantage of tourist demand and direct it towards sustainability is the objective of “Green Up”, the tourism ideation program promoted by Creative Territories and Turismo de Portugal and aimed at hotel and tourism schools from all over the world. The valorisation of endogenous products and services, the sustainability of the territories and the promotion of the circular economy are the pillars of the program, points out a statement from Territorios Criativos, a consulting and support company for entrepreneurship that organizes the “Green Up”.

The “Green Up” passed today, through Vila Real de Santo António and Faro and tomorrow, it will be in Portimão at 3 pm, continuing the “roadshow” through 9 more schools of hospitality and tourism to select 70 entrepreneurs. For the teams that are formed, a two-day Bootcamp will follow in Alvaiázere, in the district of Leiria, between 10th and 11th December, consisting of two intensive days of mentoring and training.

Aljezur joins the “Local SNS Vaccination” program

In a statement, the municipality of Aljezur signed an agreement with Associação Dignitude, under the “Local SNS Vaccination” program to, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, expand the means and resources available for protection, specifically vaccination against seasonal flu, of residents aged 65 and over.

The same statement advances that, one of the objectives of the program is to protect the most vulnerable, through vaccination against seasonal flu, extended to community pharmacies, which in the municipality of Aljezur, are the three pharmacies located in the parishes of Aljezur, Rogil and Odeceixe, who joined the project, he stressed.

This protocol, which has been adopted by several municipalities, which Aljezur joined, also seeks to avoid the concentration of people in health centres and extensions, warns the same source.

According to this protocol, the 3 existing community pharmacies will be able to administer 150 vaccines (50 in each pharmacy), free of charge for the citizen, as in the health and health extension centres, since “the municipality participates in the price administration of vaccines’.

According to the council, 150 people from the municipality in this age group and users of the NHS, will be able to receive the vaccine in any of the community pharmacies, avoiding visits and concentration in local health units.

Missing 84 year old person found after missing overnight

The GNR of São Bartolomeu de Messines located yesterday, Monday, November 9th, an elderly man of 84 years who had been absent since the previous day from his residence at Carrasqueira, municipality of São Bartolomeu de Messines.

The GNR began searching for the man “after a family member reported his disappearance on 8th November, Sunday, at around 5pm, stating that he had been absent at since 9am from his residence””.

At about 3:00 am on November 9th, they man was located by the military in the Barranco Longo site, in the parish of Silves, about four kilometres from his home, visibly disoriented and with principles of hypothermia, and medical assistance was immediately activated via 112.

The man was transported to the Hospital do Barlavento Algarvio, in Portimão, for observation, and was discharged on the same day.

Algarve Situation Report November 7 2020

Covid-19 Situation

Covid.19: Algarve has 98 more cases totalling 1,165 active

The District Civil Protection Commission of Faro, reported earlier today, based on data provided by the Regional Health Delegate that there are 1,165 active cases of covid.19 in the Algarve.

So far, 3,300 people have been infected, 98 more in the last 24 hours with 2,098 recovered (cumulative), equivalent to 63.58%.

33 people are hospitalized, 4 in the Intensive Care Units. The same source reports that there are 37 deaths in the region (cumulative).

Currently, 2,236 people are under active surveillance and 161 (cumulative) have been discharged from the hospital.

In relation to the bulletin of last Friday, October 30, another 286 active cases and 577 new cases of Covid – 19 are confirmed.. Another 288 people are recovered.

There is less 1 person hospitalized (33), and 1 more in intensive care (4). A further 828 people are under active surveillance.

Note: It should be noted that in the statement from the District Civil Protection Commission of Faro, 98 new cases are registered in the region, while the Directorate-General for Health confirms 156 in the last 24 hours.

Covid-19: Turismo do Algarve estimates 74million euros loss of revenue with MotoGP without audience

The president of Turismo do Algarve today estimated at 74 million euros the loss of direct revenue for the region, due to the absence of an audience at the Portuguese Grand Prix of MotoGP, in Portimão.The Portuguese race, the 14th and final round of the world championship on motorcycling, will close the season on November 22, a week after the Grand Prix of the Valencian Community. According to João Fernandes, president of the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA), “there was an estimated revenue of around 80 million euros, but without the presence of people, that revenue should not exceed six million”.

“With the people who are part of the MotoGP motorcycle teams, journalists, people from the organization and who are external to the region, there is a significant impact in terms of accommodation of about 21 thousand overnight stays, vehicle rental, food and consumption, estimating if the value of six million euros ”, he indicated. For João Fernandes, although the revenue is a contribution to the region, “it is far from the 80 million that were estimated to be held for the event with the presence of an audience”.

However, the person in charge of Turismo do Algarve considers that “all is not lost, because what is most important in this event is the ability to gain notoriety for the country and a tourist destination like the Algarve, namely through the television broadcast that arrives to more than 400 million households worldwide”.

State of Emergency forces the postponement of the Casinos do Algarve Rally

The Casinos do Algarve Rally, proves that it closes the Portuguese Rally Championships, and of which the South Rally Championship is also part, which would take place in the municipalities of Lagoa, Lagos, Monchique and Portimão in the next days of 14 and 15 November , had to be postponed due to the implementation of the State of Emergency in Portugal, due to the fight against the covid-19 pandemic. In a statement, Clube Automóvel do Algarve informs that the favorable opinion issued by the Regional Directorate of Health of the Algarve was revoked yesterday, stating that: “a sporting event of this dimension, in addition to being able to increase the number of cases in the region even more, would still occupy essential time of the security forces and other professionals and they are essential today in the prevention of covid-19 “.

In this way, and given the importance that the rally presents for the discussion of the title of national champion, FPAK and Clube Automóvel do Algarve will propose to Solverde – Casinos do Algarve and the local authorities involved, a new date for the event to take place during the next month of December, “provided that the sanitary conditions are met for its safe execution”, underlines the organization, similar to what happened with other events in the last months for the Portuguese Rally Championship.

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday November 4th 2020

Ualg researchers study the impact of quarantine on the mental health of the Portuguese during the Covid-19

Women and young people were twice as likely to be depressed and anxious during imposed confinement to stop the Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal, preliminary data from a study revealed yesterday, by Ualg – University of the Algarve.

Speaking to Lusa, the person responsible for the study in Portugal said that depressive symptoms are more easily found in “women and people dissatisfied with their health and economic income” and who referred to being “unspiritual”, to which young people are added, in the case of anxiety.

“There is a prevalence of depressive symptoms and generalized anxiety more evident in women, twice as much as in men, and the younger they are, the more it is evident, being twice as likely as the rest of the population”, revealed Helena José.

The international study on the impact of confinement on mental health, coordinated in Portugal by researchers from the University of Algarve, was based on surveys conducted in May with a total of 918 people, between 15 and 80 years old, residing in mainland Portugal and Islands.

The data seems to reveal that age and marriage are “protective factors”, with the possibility that life experience can “create some resilience” to adversity, as well as a life together, the researcher said.

“The younger they are, the more anxious they are, with women accumulating: they are more depressed and more anxious”, he stressed.

One piece of data that seems to have surprised the researchers was an expected increase in alcohol consumption, still “below what was expected,” added Helena José.

With the final results of this first sampling to be known in three weeks, there are still some “relationships and lessons” that the team will seek to remove from the correlation between the data collected.

The São Brás de Alportel Municipal Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party considers that the measures imposed by the Government “are disproportionate”.

At issue is the approval on the 30th of October, of the resolution of the Council of Ministers that renewed the calamity situation in the entire continental national territory, and extended the special measures that had been adopted to other municipalities, with some additional changes being introduced.

The special measures cover new municipalities taking into account the number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants, in which the municipality of São Brás de Alportel was included in the list of 121 “high risk of contagion”. The PCP underlines in a statement that this epidemic outbreak poses health, economic and social problems “that are not resolved by limiting rights and creating climates of fear”.

In the set of measures to be applied, it was highlighted, for example, the penalty of the marketers with the decision to close fairs and markets, keeping on the other hand the large areas in activity, “which would only contribute to aggravate not only the difficulties, the feeling of despair within this sector”, he notes.

With the Government apparently partially backing away, now leaving the decision in the hands of the local authorities, the party consider that “there will be no reason” for this sector to be penalized in São Brás de Alportel, “always guaranteeing compliance with the DGS indications”.

79-year-old foreign national is the first fatal victim of Covid-19 in Olhão

A 79-year-old foreign national, residing in Olhão, is the most recent victim of Covid-19 in the Algarve, being the first recorded death in this municipality, according to a regional Health Authority source.

According to this source, the man, who had other “associated morbidities”, was admitted to the Portimão Hospital.

The most recent data from the Regional Health Authority, indicate that there are 1006 active cases in the region, and the municipality of São Brás de Alportel was the one that registered, this Saturday, the biggest increase in the number of cases (17).

The new cases detected in the municipality of São Brás de Alportel are related to the outbreak in the Lar da Santa Casa da Misericórdia, which, according to the municipality, is already responsible for 28 infections.

The number of people hospitalized has decreased. There are now 29 people in hospitals in the region, three of them in intensive care units. There are no ventilated patients.

Algarve Situation Report 31st October

Covid-19 Situation

The number of new cases in the Algarve reported by ARS yesterday 56. There are noe 879 active cases of whom 34 are in hospital a 3 in ICU.The number of deaths now stands at 34. There are 2723 cases confirmed to date with 1810 recovering giving a recovery rate of 66.5%

Two specific outbreaks

A total of 15 cases of infection with the new coronavirus were detected in the Portimonense under-23 football team and 14 during the Portuguese Formula One Grand Prix, the regional health authority said on Friday.The regional health delegate revealed that “two players” tested positive in the tests carried out before the match for the game in Madeira, leaving the authorities “on alert”. On the return, there was a new test, and the other cases were detected.At the usual fortnightly press conference to assess the epidemiological situation in the Algarve region, Ana Cristina Guerreiro said that the players are “in isolation”, a situation facilitated by the fact that “many live together”, with “active surveillance” being guaranteed.

As the team’s journey involved two plane flights, a communication was required to the Directorate-General for Health, which asked the air carrier to identify the other passengers to be contacted. Asked by journalists about the possible preventive isolation of the team before the flight, she replied that “football has other rules”.

Following the F1 Grand Prix in Portimão, which took place last weekend , the official revealed that “14 cases of covid-19 were identified in team members”, most of them detected in the tests carried out between 20 and 29 October and “one or the other due to symptoms” and use of health facilities in the region. Ana Cristina Guerreiro assured that in case of outbreaks as a result of this event, there is a way to know “in most of the stands”, who was there, since there is “identification by ticket”.

However, the “displacement” of some spectators on the same stand or the “replacement of people” may “make identification difficult” and “it will be up to the person to indicate the contacts”.

Having been present at last weekend’s event in Portimão, the official revealed some situations that “did not work very well” and that she would like to see changed in future events of the kind. The permission that was given to the public to “change places” is one of the points, since the “plan was with tickets with numbered seats”, so that it was possible to relate the place on the bench with the name of its holder.For Ana Cristina Guerreio, the guards were “not very firm in demanding” compliance with the use of the mask and should not have allowed the mobility of the public, in her opinion”. She also considered a possible placement of barriers to make circulation impossible, but that “do not prevent an eventual exit in case of emergency”. “Reduce the number of authorized public”, was another solution pointed out by the regional health delegate.

Quarteira: Covid-19 employee case closes Abelheira School

The Abelheira Primary School, in Quarteira, closed due to a positive case of Covid-19 in an employee who will force all her colleagues to remain in prophylactic isolation. According to a service order, dated today, 28 October, and signed by the director of the School Group Laura Ayres, this decision arises because “the school cannot function without operational assistants”. The Covid-19 employee tested positive last weekend and the local health delegate ended up determining the “prophylactic isolation of all operational assistants”.

The school will be closed “as long as this isolation period lasts. Teachers from the 1st cycle classes and educators must «implement distance learning for students, using, whenever possible, synchronous, daily activity lasting 45 minutes (1st cycle)», says the order of service. In addition, teachers must also “use the available means of contact to ensure communication with guardians and, if necessary, send documents / activities on paper”.

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 28th October 2020

Covid-19: More than 70% of Algarve hotels are expected to close during the winter – AHETA

More than 70% of hotels and tourist developments in the Algarve are likely to suspend activity during the low season due to the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the president of the sector’s main regional association said today.

The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA) noted to the Lusa agency that, “during the winter, before the pandemic, about 50% of the hotels and developments were already closed”, warning that this number may rise and leave only less than 30% of hotels and developments in activity during the coming winter.

“This year our expectations are around 70%, and this number may be even higher”, said Elidérico Viegas about the prospects of AHETA for the low season of 2020/2021, stressing that “at the end of September many units closed the activity and closed”.

The president of AHETA warned, however, that these figures are only based on expectations, because “hotels and tourism enterprises are not obliged to inform about the closure” and this is only part of the “decision of the businessman and management” each unit.

Workers from school cafeterias and cafeterias protested on “national struggle” day in the Algarve

The Union of Workers in the Hotel, Tourism, Restaurants and Similar Industry of the Algarve, said in a statement sent today, that workers from the canteens and cafeterias of schools in the municipality of Lagos protested yesterday, in front of the City Council.

The protest was part of a national strike called by the Federation of Agriculture, Food, Beverages, Tobacco, Hospitality and Tourism Unions of Portugal, a structure that affects CGTP-IN, which decided to move forward to this day of national struggle due to the worsening of the situation that has been taking place in this sector “, resulting in the stopping of all cafeterias in the municipality of Lagos and other municipalities, namely, at the Escola Secundária de Albufeira.

Covid-19: DGS refuses “catastrophe” at the Algarve GP, but appeals to civility

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) refused to agree yesterday that the organization of the Portuguese Grand Prix (GP) of Formula 1, which took place in the Algarve, was “catastrophic”, but appealed to the responsibility of citizens to respect the health recommendations.

“There were things that went well and others less well. And both were visible,” began the General Director of Health, Graça Freitas, when asked about the possible non-compliance with the distance rules in the stands of the Algarve race track, that this end weekend received the Portuguese GP.

At the regular press conference to update the Covid-19 numbers in Portugal, Graça Freitas recalled that the DGS makes “recommendations” and then trusts “in the inspection and organization” of the events, and in the case of the Portuguese GP , there was “some discrepancy between the recommendations and the ability for the organizers to arrange all the benches and inspect them”.

“I observed, from various angles and different ways, the distribution of the audience on the stands and, for the most part, the audience was with the necessary distance and wore a mask. However, these are lessons learned for the future. Perhaps, in the near future, to control the imponderables, we will have to have fewer people in the events”, she affirmed.

Moreover, she considered that there is a “co-responsibility” of several parties for the smooth running of the events, starting with the citizens themselves.

“We have to be careful to keep our distance. If a seat has a sticker there saying ‘don’t sit here’, it would be good if they didn’t sit there. There is a co-responsibility here of the organization [of the event] and also of the DGS. In any case, I do not think that the situation was catastrophic. I do not think that any very dramatic event will emerge from there “, she said.