Situation Report Azores – 29th September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 4100 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 25th of September, twelve positive cases of COVID-19 on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial, have been diagnosed.
All the cases have been detected at the airports during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay.
All the cases arrived in the region by air from continental Portugal.
The cases are all in a stable clinical condition and the procedures defined for the confirmed case, testing and surveillance of close contacts, as well as all those inherent to the deepening of the epidemiological investigation, have already been carried out by the Local Health Delegations.
Three recoveries were recorded on the island of São Miguel, bringing to 181 the number of recovered cases of COVID-19 in the Region.
So far, 302 cases of infection with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 73 active positive cases currently, of which 49 on the island of São Miguel, 11 on Terceira island, five on Pico island, four on Graciosa island, three on Faial island and one on Santa Maria 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/ .
Situation Report Azores – 25th September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Government of the Azores, through the Vice-Presidency has decided to extend the deadline for submitting applications, until the end of this year, for Azorean companies to continue to access financial support for the purchase of protective equipment and the adaptation of establishments. This will allow companies to comply with Health Department recommendations
According to a Government Council Resolution published today in the Official Journal, December 31st will become the deadline for submitting applications for the Support Program for the Adaptation of Companies in the context of COVID-19, and its presentation must be made through an electronic form available on the website of the Regional Directorate for Support to Investment and Competitiveness (DRAIC) on the Internet.
Under this exceptional program, Azorean companies can access additional support that includes the ‘non-refundable’ contribution of 85% towards the purchase of personal protection and hygiene equipment up to 5,000 euros. This must satisfy compliance of the conditions indicated by the Regional Health Authority, aimed at micro and small companies and cooperatives.
This extraordinary measure allows one application per company, making it possible, in the case of an entrepreneur who operates several establishments, that the maximum amount of eligible investment is 15 thousand euros. Expenses can include funds for the installation of protective barriers, among other moderating and physical distance equipment, the reorganization and adaptation of workplaces, as well as the purchase of devices, personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves, visors, among others, are eligible.
The Government of the Azores also decided to extend until December 30th the deadline for submitting applications for projects to adapt facilities of amounts between 5,000 and 40,000 euros, with a maximum execution period of six months, which may under exceptional circumstances, up to 120 thousand euros for companies that own several establishments, within the scope of the Subsystem of Incentives for Local Development, of the Incentive System Competir +.
The Regional Government will grant a non-refundable incentive of 70% of the eligible expenses related to layout alteration works, to the acquisition of machinery and equipment that are necessary to comply with new working methods, for the acquisition and installation of hygiene equipment, among others things, aiming at adapting facilities to established standards.
These projects should have an impact on the modernization and optimization of the physical structures of premises, the introduction of innovative equipment or on the creation or maintenance of jobs, but without neglecting compliance with the guidelines defined by the regional authorities for the reopening of establishments and resumption of activity. The Government of the Azores, in just three months, has already received around 300 applications from small and medium-sized companies for support for the purchase of protective equipment and adaptation of establishments in the context of COVID-19.
New Cases
Since the 22nd of September and after 3,587 tests for COVID-19 in the two reference laboratories there have been 13 new cases and one recovery. There are currently 5 transmission chains active in the region.
A total 290 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 66 active positive cases currently, of which 45 on the island of São Miguel, 10 on the island of Terceira, six on the island of Pico, four on the island Graciosa and one on the island of Santa Maria.

Situation Report Azores – 22nd September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
Press release from the President of the Regional Government of the Azores
“The Government Council, meeting in Ponta Delgada, this Monday, analysed the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Azores, as well as the set of measures that in this regard have already been implemented in the Region, from the perspective of those directed at the screening and containment of positive cases, whether from the perspective of support aimed at companies and workers, within the scope of its economic and social effects.
Over these six months, the Government of the Azores has implemented 98 measures to support the maintenance of employment, the disposable income of families and to encourage the economy and the maintenance of the productive capacity of companies, to minimize the social and economic effects of the pandemic of Covid-19.
The combined effect of these measures has allowed the Azores to be the only Region in the country that has managed to maintain the level of employment in the last six months, without registering an increase in unemployment.
In practice, the measures taken have ensured that Azorean companies have significantly higher support than other companies in the country, and non-repayable financial incentives, which substantially contribute to personnel expenses, provided that they maintain all jobs.
To help the resumption of economic activity, new supports were created, innovative in the national context, which reinforced the non-refundable support for the maintenance of employment and created new support for the training of workers, in the period of less activity, increasing the conditions for companies to continue to maintain all their jobs.
In terms of the protection of public health, the system of screening and surveillance in force in the Azores has proved to be absolutely essential for the detection of positive cases, whether tests carried out prior to departure, destined for the Azores, from zones considered to be of active community transmission or with active transmission chains, either from the tests carried out on arrival, or, and very significantly, in tests carried out on the 6th day.
Covid-19 Situation
As of today, September 22, the Region presents the following epidemiological situation:
Since March 16th, a total of 277 cases of infection with the new coronavirus have been detected, with 16 deaths.
Currently there are 55 active positive cases, of which 43 on the island of São Miguel, eight on the island of Terceira, three on the island of Pico and one on the island Graciosa.
With the cases diagnosed and after an epidemiological investigation carried out so far, five chains of local transmission are identified on the island of São Miguel.
Since March, there have been 175 recoveries and there is no hospitalization in the Region by Covid-19 since May 24th, that is, more than 120 days.
In addition, within the scope of the system for screening passengers from abroad, 73 positive cases were detected in the screening tests carried out in the network of laboratories agreed outside the Region, as well as 71 positive cases detected in the tests carried out at airports on arrival in the Azores. .
It should also be noted that the tests carried out on the 6th day after the first test, a procedure that, nationwide, is only carried out in the Azores, has detected 40 positive cases of infection with the new coronavirus.
This data shows us that, until now, the system of testing and detecting positive cases has fulfilled its function, contributing, to the creation of safe conditions for the Azoreans in the gradual process of returning to normality.
Regional Health Service
As part of the preparation for the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, work has been carried out to strengthen the capacity of the Regional Health Service, which currently has:
– 82 ventilators, which represents an increase of 54% in the number of these devices in relation to March, when the current pandemic situation started.
– 26 rooms of negative pressure distributed by the hospitals of Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo and Horta, twice the number that existed before the pandemic.
– a processing capacity of around 1,800 tests per day in the two public laboratories operating in the Region, there have been days when this capacity has gone beyond that, when, in March, the installed capacity in the Region was around 250 daily tests , an increase of about 620 percent.
In addition to this current capacity, there are about 207 sample collection points spread across the continent and Madeira.
In total, since March, more than 170 thousand PCR tests have been carried out, about 134 thousand of which in the two public laboratories in the Region and about 36 thousand tests in the network of laboratories agreed outside the Region.
The average stock of personal protection equipment in most health units in the Region is 300 days, and in some cases, additional acquisitions of some types of this material have been ordered.
Despite the fact that the Region is better prepared, as a result of the work carried out over the past months and involving several entities, the situation of the pandemic at the international and national level, which is compounded by the arrival of autumn / winter, will impose additional precautions, as we take the necessary measures to continue the balance between safety and confidence in the resumption of social and economic life in the Region.
Government Council – reinforcement of measures
In this sense, the Government Council, in the scope of reinforcing the measures of screening, detection and containment of eventual positive cases, decided:
1 – Proceed with the acquisition of 100 thousand rapid tests, which will allow to reinforce the capacity to screen for possible positive cases of Covid-19 in schools and nursing homes in the Region.
These rapid tests, approved by INFARMED, are a complement to the PCR tests, will be another screening tool, allowing, in less than half an hour and in a decentralized way, the testing of suspected cases of infection, the confirmation of cases of active infection and the tracking of contacts, with the adoption of the respective procedures.
Its use will be for situations where it is necessary to assess, quickly, any contagions, along-side the tests for PCR.
2 Starting tomorrow, September 23, the annual flu vaccination campaign, starting with the Residential Structures for the Elderly and Integrated Continuing Care Units, covering users and employees, followed by health professionals and the rest of the population benefiting from free vaccination.
3 – Create a reception centre in the Palace of Santa Catarina, in Angra do Heroísmo, with a capacity of up to 62 beds, for patients admitted to a hospital unit or sheltered in residential structures for the elderly and / or other situations that may be justified. In order to increase the number of rooms and beds available, similar to the space already created for the same purpose in São Miguel.
4 – Reinforce the screening for SARS-CoV-2 for employees of Residential Structures for the Elderly, Residential Homes for People with Disabilities, Integrated Continuous Care Units, Health Homes and Home Support Service, on the island of São Miguel, passing from a monthly to biweekly.
5 – Establish the frequency of testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to health professionals who provide services in the structures of the Regional Health Service of the island of São Miguel, every 15 days, instead of monthly, as currently takes place;
6 – Create two teams of professionals, namely in the area of nursing and support for the elderly, who will be in a state of readiness in order to supply, immediately, a possible shortage of human resources resulting from an outbreak scenario that may occur in residential structures.
One of the teams will be based on the island of São Miguel and the other on the island of Terceira.
7 – To recommend to Private Institutions of Social Solidarity and ‘homes’ with residential reception and home support service, on the island of São Miguel, the adoption of a methodology for organizing working hours in “mirror”, in order to guarantee the existence of an available team, in case of contagion by Covid-19 of the working team.
In this regard, a new financial instrument aimed at these institutions will be created, to compensate for the possible increase in personnel costs resulting from the adoption of this measure.
8 – Reinforce support for IPSS and ‘Homes’ that manage social responses, through the constitution of mixed Health and Social Solidarity teams to verify the specific operating conditions of these structures with a view to preventing and controlling infection by Covid-19.
9 – Provide guidance to public schools in the Autonomous Region of the Azores for the adoption of the rule of only having the physical presence of teaching and non-teaching staff, who eventually returned from traveling outside the Region, after obtaining two negative tests of screen for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including the test performed on the 6th day;
10 – Create a financial incentive to conduct screening tests for SARS-CoV-2 prior to shipment to the Region from areas considered by the World Health Organization to be areas of active community transmission or with active local transmission chains, usable exclusively in purchases of goods or services in the Region, also serving the purpose of stimulating local economic activity;
11 – Recommend the use of a mask in open public spaces with a large concentration of people, that is, in places with greater difficulty in guaranteeing the recommended physical distance.
This recommendation will soon be subject to the respective guidance of the Regional Health Authority.
This recommendation is especially relevant for cases in which the result of the screening test carried out on the 6th day is awaited, and those who are in these circumstances must also pay special attention to compliance with other public health protection measures.
In addition to these, and within the scope of measures to support various activities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Governing Council also decided to:

Situation Report Azores – 18th September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism revealed today that the WTO – World Tourism Organization has highlighted the work of the Region under the ‘Clean & Safe Azores’ seal.
The ‘World Tourism Organization’ has said that “The Azores, as the world’s first archipelago certified as a sustainable destination by ‘EarthCheck’ / GSTC, consider this initiative essential for companies and tour operators to implement safe work measures and for that, through concerted action, the promotion and reinforcement of destination security”.
Marta Guerreiro expressed “great satisfaction” for this distinction, which she considered to be “another recognition of the successful work that the Government of the Azores has carried out with regard to the creation and implementation of health security measures in the tourism sector”.
The ‘Clean & Safe Açores’ initiative aims to recognize tourism entities that comply with the recommendations of the Regional Health Authority, after working in partnership with regional entities representing the sector.
IPDT – Tourism and Consulting, is the entity responsible for the design, organization and execution of training sessions.
The Government of the Azores scheduled multiple free training sessions, divided by thematic areas, according to the modules of the Manual of Good Practices, which can be consulted at https://clean-safe.azores.gov.pt/ .
The objective is to prepare for the return of tourism in the Azores by improving the provision of tourist services, from the health point of view, reinforcing the trust of customers and visitors. The training also aims to raise awareness among tourist organizations about cleaning, hygiene and basic measures for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection and to provide information to participants to help them adapt these procedures for their businesses.
Covid-19 update
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 3197 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 15th of September, only two positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel, have been diagnosed.
Both cases were detected at the airport during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay. They arrived from Europe and Portugal. There have been six recoveries in the region.
So far, 259 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 42 active positive cases currently, of which 33 on the island of São Miguel, six on Terceira Island, two on Pico Island and one on Graciosa Island.

Situation Report Azores 15th September – 16th September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
Travellers wishing to disembark in the Azores have, from now on, the web tool ‘My Safe Azores’, which makes the health control process on entering the archipelago easier and faster.
It is available here, at https://mysafeazores.com /. It allows passengers to carry out, in a single interaction and in advance, all the steps that the traveller must follow upon arrival in the Region.
Through this tool, passengers can schedule their SARS-CoV-2 test by the RT-PCR method within 72 hours before departure, in laboratories agreed with the Region in mainland Portugal and in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, fill in and send in advance the Risk Assessment and Early Detection Questionnaire and also attach the negative result to your individual process.
When passengers complete the Risk Assessment and Early Detection Questionnaire, they receive a code generated by the application, which can be presented at the airport, making the circulation process easier and faster.
Passengers arriving in the Region with a screening test and a negative result attached to the platform, previously validated by the Health Delegation, can present the code and leave the airport.
For passengers taking the screening test on arrival, the process is also faster, as their data is automatically integrated.
Ponta Delgada Airport will now have new arrivals systems for disembarking passengers.
This is an action of the Government of the Azores, through the regional secretariats of Health, Transport and Tourism, in partnership with ANA – Airports.
There are now three clearly marked zones both airside and landside:
• Inter-islands – yellow zone.
• Passenger disembarking from the outside without a test – blue zone, with three infrastructures equipped with six air-conditioned offices, which guarantee comfort, privacy and security to its users, whether health teams or passengers, where tests will be carried out for SARS-CoV-2, as well as additional infrastructure for logistical support;
• Passenger disembarking from abroad who have test – green area, with six open infrastructures for reception and speedy treatment of passenger processing.
With this separated flow management, the intention is to avoid congestion and crossing between inter-island passengers and those disembarked from abroad, as well as those who have tested against those who have not yet done so.
All the infrastructures created are numbered to facilitate the movement and guidance of passengers and have specific areas for priority situations.
This is one of the measures that allows for greater efficiency in the service provided, receiving passengers with a welcome message.
In this context, the support of the employees of the Regional Directorate for Tourism is highlighted in guiding passengers throughout the process, in addition to the usual reception and welcome to our visitors.
Communique from the Regional Government.
The Government of the Azores, in an extraordinary meeting of the Government Council held on September 14, by videoconference, decided:

  1. Determine, in terms of readiness and response, within the scope of the Legal Regime of the Civil Protection System of the Autonomous Region of the Azores:

a) The extension of the declaration of the situation of public calamity on the islands of Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, Pico and Faial until midnight on 1st of October.
b) The extension of the declaration of the alert situation in the islands of Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores and Corvo until midnight on 1 October.
2. To determine that, after the reopening of the national maritime space to cruise ships and yachts from international ports, the normalization of the docking of these ships in the ports and marinas of the archipelago should be promoted, and provided that the respective passengers are tested on arrival, unless the Regional Health Authority dismisses it, taking into account the non-stop travel time and the absence of symptoms.
The measures provided for in this Resolution can be reversed or cancelled at any time, taking into account the evolution of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Region.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 3840 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 12th of September, five positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel, Terceira and Pico, have been diagnosed.
All the cases have been detected at the airports during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay. They arrived from North America, Europe and Portugal.
There have been two recoveries in the region.
So far, 257 cases of infection by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 46 active positive cases currently, of which 35 on the island of São Miguel, eight on Terceira Island, two on Pico Island and one on Graciosa Island.

Situation Report Azores 11th September – 12th September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
It has been reported today that the region has been promised almost two times the amount of community funds, compared to the last cycle of assistance for the Azores. The money is awarded as a part of the European Cohesion Policy and the European Recovery Plan. The amount being given for the next cycle is 2,394.9 to be used between 2021 and 2027.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 4201 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 9th of September, eight positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel and Graciosa, have been diagnosed.
All the cases have been detected at the airports during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay. They arrived from North America, Europe and Portugal.
There has been one recovery in the region.
So far, 252 cases of infection with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 44 currently active positive cases, of which 36 on the island of São Miguel, six on Terceira Island, one on Pico Island and one on Graciosa Island.

Situation Report Azores 8th September – 9th September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Secretary of Health said today at the Legislative Assembly, in Horta, that the screening tests carried out on the Continent and in the Autonomous Region of Madeira have prevented 53 positive passengers travelling to the Azores.
Teresa Machado Luciano, who was speaking at a debate on the Regional Health Service, said that testing has been the cornerstone of the region’s strategy for prevention and containment of COVID-19, with more than 115 thousand tests having been carried out in the laboratories of the region and 30 thousand tests authorised at private laboratories.
Our ratio stands at 600 tests per thousand residents, almost twice the Autonomous Region of Madeira and close to three times that of mainland Portugal.
She also said that, despite intense demand in global markets, the acquisition and maintenance of reserves of personal protective equipment was guaranteed, to safeguard professionals and users for at least eight months.
“We are better prepared, not only technically, but also in medical equipment, individual protection and facilities”. There are 80 ventilators and 26 rooms of negative pressure in the Region, 13 of which are at Hospital in Terceira, 10 at the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, Ponta Delgada, and three at the Hospital da Horta.
The Regional Secretariat is working, together with the Directorate-General for Health, to increase coverage for the vaccinations against influenza, as the flu season is nearly here.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 4772 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 5th of September, 16 positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel and Terceira, have been diagnosed.
All the cases have been detected at the airports during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay. They arrived from North America, Europe and Portugal.
There have been three cases of recovery in the region.
So far, 244 cases of infection by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, have been detected in the Region, with 39 active positive cases currently, of which 32 on the island of São Miguel, six on Terceira Island and one on Pico Island.
https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt/

Situation Report Azores 4th September – 5th September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Vice-President of the Government has announced that the Azorean Executive has approved 706 applications for the Employment Maintenance Program, this is aimed at ensuring that Azorean companies that have benefitted from national credit lines have additional support to repay these loans, substantially reducing charges and reinforcing liquidity.
“Under this measure made available by the Regional Government, which covers all sectors of activity in the regional economy and almost all Azorean companies, 706 applications have already been approved, which contributes to ensuring the maintenance of 8,567 jobs,” said Sérgio Ávila.
The ‘Employment Maintenance Programme’, injects much needed money into the Azorean economy.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 4226 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 2ndof September, four positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel, Terceira and Graciosa, have been diagnosed.
All the cases have been detected at the airports during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay. They arrived from North America, Europe and Portugal.
The positive case diagnosed on the island of Graciosa, is a man who is, 31 years old, he had already been diagnosed with COVID-19 during his stay on the continent, and was said to be recovered by his local health authorities, he currently has remnants of the virus and, therefore, not contagious.
228 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 29 active positive cases, 25 on the island of São Miguel, three on Terceira island and one on Pico island.

Azores
Situation Report Azores 1st September – 2nd September 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Government of the Azores will extend the situation of ‘Public Calamity’ on the islands of Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, Pico and Faial, as well as extend the ‘alert’ situation on the islands Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores and Corvo, until September 15th.
The decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting of the Government Council held on August 31st, 2020, by videoconference and is due to the fact that in the Azores, as of August 31st, there were a total of 29 positive cases active on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Pico.
A ‘Safety at Home’ booklet written in conjunction with the Regional Government and Proteção Civil E Bombeiros Açores (srpcba) has been delivered to households in the region, it can be downloaded here: https://www.prociv.azores.gov.pt/fotos/documentos/1594742736.pdf
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 4748 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 29th of August, seven positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel have been diagnosed.
All the cases have been detected at the airports during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay. They arrived from North America, Europe and Portugal. Two positive cases have flown home despite the risk to others on the flight.
So far, 217 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 27 active positive cases, of which 24 are on the island of São Miguel, two on Terceira Island and one on Pico Island.

Madeira Report for Wednesday 30th of September

There were 10 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. On Saturday, there were 3 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from the UK, 1 passenger who had arrived from France and 1 case of
local transmission) and 4 recoveries. On Sunday, there was 1 new Covid-19 case, from a passenger who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region. On Monday, there were 6 new Covid-19 cases (from 4 passengers who had arrived from
Poland and 2 passengers who had arrived from France) and 1 recovery. And there were no new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.

A patient at Hospital Privado da Madeira had been
preparing for hospitalisation when he tested positive for Covid-19. It is standard procedure for patients to be tested for Covid-19 before hospitalisation. On Friday, the patient was transferred, by a special Covid-19 ambulance, to the
Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are currently 60 active cases, of which 50 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 10 were a result of a local transmission. So far, there have been 218 cases and 158 recoveries.
Madeira remains the only Portuguese district and autonomous region without any deaths from Covid-19.

There are currently 28 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 31 patients in isolation at their own accommodation and 1 patient is in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are currently 8 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. As of Tuesday, there had been 1,678 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

There are 6,968 people under active monitoring and 7,708 people
in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 69,018 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 17h30). Overall, as of Monday, 113,92 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 153 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 12,998.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,216 calls, with 182 people being monitored.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105312/Covid-19_Madeira_regista_tres_novos_casos_Mais_quatro_pessoas_recuperadas


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105313/Doente_internado_no_Covid-19__foi_transferido_do_Hospital_Privado_da_Madeira


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105386/Covid-19_Novo_caso_positivo_na_Madeira_aumenta_infecoes_ativas_para_55

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/28/6-novos-casos-de-covid-19-na-madeira/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/29/ram-sem-novos-casos-activos-mas-com-8-casos-suspeitos-de-covid-19/

Christmas and New Year festivities being carefully planned

Eduardo Jesus, the Madeira Tourism Secretary, said the Madeira Regional Government is carefully planning the Christmas and New Year festivities. A tender for the provision of fireworks has been opened.. And the regional health
authorities have a crucial role to play in the planning process. The aim is for the festivities to take place while ensuring full compliance with all the safety measures required by the Covid-19 pandemic.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105353/Eduardo_Jesus_garante_que_Governo_esta_a_preparar_minuciosamente_as_festas_de_Natal_e_fim_de_ano

Madeira to lobby for an EU-wide policy on passenger screening at the place of departure

The Madeira Regional Government will lobby the European Union to set an EU-wide policy so that Covid-19 screening on passengers takes place at the place of departure. Eduardo Jesus, the Madeira Tourism Secretary, stated this while also
highlighting the passenger screening policy adopted in Madeira. He
argued that the introduction of such a policy would be “extraordinarily important” for Madeira and for its recovery. He added that the Madeira Regional Government will continue to do everything it can to minimise the consequences of the
absence of such a policy.

Once again, he said that Madeira has an advantage in comparison to other destinations, particularly rival destinations, and is best prepared to keep people’s trust. He also highlighted the big battle Madeira had in showing several
countries that the regional epidemiological situation is “completely different” from the mainland, with the absence of any deaths from Covid-19. He reminded the effort Madeira made in proving this to the UK, which led to the biggest
British operator to double its frequencies to the region.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105370/Covid-19_Madeira_insiste_que_despistagem_nas_viagens_deve_ser_feita_na_origem

Water supply disruption

There will be a water supply disruption on the 1st and 6th of October, from 09h00 until 15h00, in the parish of Câmara de Lobos. The following areas will be affected: Espírito Santo and Torre. The disruption will be due to scheduled
work to reduce water leaks on the water supply chain in the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105580/Havera_interrupcao_do_abastecimento_de_agua_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:

CÂMARA DE LOBOS

1st October – 14h00 to 16h00

– Sítio das Fajãs do Cabo Girão (including Cable car)

– Estrada de Santa Clara (between 265 and 349)

– Estrada de Santa Clara (between 288 and 338)

– Caminho Velho do Rancho

– Vereda da Areia ao Pico do Rancho

– Edifício Quintinha do Rancho

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/2020/09/30/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-73-2020/

Madeira Covid-19 update by Daniel Fernandes

There were 3 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. On Wednesday, there were no new Covid-19 cases. On Thursday, there were no new Covid-19 cases for a second consecutive day and there were 3
recoveries. And on Friday, there were 3 new cases (from passengers who had arrived from Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Poland and Spain). All new cases were identified through passenger screening at the Region’s airports.

There are currently 55 active cases, of which 44 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 11 were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 208 cases and 153 recoveries.
Madeira remains the only Portuguese district and autonomous region without any deaths from Covid-19.

There are 28 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 27 patients in isolation at their own accommodation. There is currently 2 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. As of Thursday, there had been 1,668
suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

There are 7,463 people under active monitoring and 8,547 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 64,985 samples had been collected until Friday (at 16h30). Overall, as of Thursday, 109,333 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region
of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 119 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 12,845. The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available
every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,204 calls, with 182 people being monitored.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105001/Madeira_mantem__55_casos_ativos_de_covid-19_

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105096/Madeira_sem_novos_casos_e_mais_tres_doentes_recuperados_

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/25/3-novos-casos-de-covid-19-numero-total-de-activos-e-agora-de-55/

Warning on fraudulent and fake Covid-19 tests

The Parish of Calheta (Junta de Freguesia da Calheta) used its Facebook page to warn that there are vendors knocking on doors and offering to test residents for Covid-19 for a certain fee. The Parish warned that this a “fraudulent act”
and advised the population to contact the Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública) if they are faced with such a situation. It also asked the population to alert and vigilant.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104970/Covid-19_Junta_de_Freguesia_da_Calheta_denuncia_testes_fraudulentos_de_porta_em_porta

FIA praised Madeira Rally

Jacky Jang, a FIA observer, could not find any negative aspects of the rally event organised by the rally event organised by Club Sports Madeira. The race was considered a success in terms of sport, competition and public health and
reflected the joint work that took place in preparing the event during the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/desporto/ver/105103/FIA_da_nota_positiva_ao_rali_vinho_Madeira_em_tempo_de_pandemia

Free entry at the Whale Museum on Sunday

World Tourism Day will be celebrated on the 27th September and the
Madeira Whale Museum will celebrate it by offering free entry to all visitors. According to the museum, visiting it, learning more about cetaceans while exploring collections that attract both visitors of all ages “is an excellent
family program”. The museum will be open from 10h00 until 18h00. It is advised that the last entry to the museum takes place at 17h00. There will be a limit on the number of visitors allowed at the same time so it is necessary to comply
with all the employees’ recommendations.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104952/Museu_da_Baleia_da_Madeira_oferece_entradas_gratuitas_no_dia_27_de_setembro_

Water supply disruption

There will be a water supply disruption on the 28th of September, from 14h00 to 20h00, due to scheduled work on the water supply network. The disruption will affect the following areas in the Parish of Santo António (Funchal): Caminho
da Azinhaga (until the roundabout at Álamos); Caminho do Salão; Caminho das Bróteas and Rua Antero de Quental.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/105150/Segunda-feira_havera_intervencao_na_rede_de_distribuicao_de_agua_do_Caminho_da_Azinhaga

Madeira Situation Report 23rd September by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 7 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. On Saturday, there was 1 new Covid-19 case (from 1 passenger who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region) and 3 recoveries. On Sunday
there was 1 new Covid-19 case (from 1 passenger, aged 20-29, who had arrived from the UK) and 3 recoveries. On Monday, there 3 new Covid-19 cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from Colombia and 1 passenger who had arrived from the
UK). And on Tuesday, there were 2 new cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from the UK) and 2 recoveries. All new cases were identified through passenger screening at the Region’s airports.

There are currently 55 active cases, of which 44 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 11 were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 205 cases and 8 recoveries.
Madeira remains the only Portuguese district and autonomous region without any deaths from Covid-19.

There are 26 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 29 patients in
isolation at their own accommodation. The patient who had been in the Covid-19 unit at Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital has been discharged from hospital and is now in isolation at a dedicated hotel.

There is currently 1 suspected case under epidemiological investigation and analysis. As of Tuesday, there had been 1,665 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

There are 7,700 people under active monitoring and 9,133 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 63,353 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 17h00). Overall, as of Monday, 106,689 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 160 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 12,726.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,183 calls, with 182 people being monitored.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104552/Covid-19_ISAUDE_apenas_confirma_um_caso_e_contraria_os_cinco_da_DGS

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104639/Covid-19_IASAUDE_reporta_um_novo_caso_e_cinco_em_estudo

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104737/Madeira_regista_hoje_3_novos_casos_de_covid-19


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/22/regiao-regista-mais-dois-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-activos-sao-neste-momento-55/

Paulette tropical storm

Paulette tropical storm is now about 600 Km north-west of Madeira.
Rain fall on Wednesday and on Thursday will not be heavy or a cause for alarm. The weather is likely to be very cloudy today. There will be showers that could be locally intense and often accompanied by thunder, particularly in the
afternoon.

There will also be weak to moderate wind (up to 30 km/h) in the south and stronger wind (up to 40 km/h) in mountain areas. On Thursday, the weather is likely to be very cloudy. There will be showers that could be locally intense and
often accompanied by thunder, particularly until the end of the morning. There will be also be weak to moderate winds (up to 30 km/h) in the south and stronger wind (up to 40 km/h) in mountain areas, which will move to the east from the
middle of the afternoon.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104844/Tempestade_tropical_Paulette_esta_a_condicionar_estado_do_tempo_na_Madeira

Water supply disruption

There will be a water supply disruption on Thursday, due to scheduled work to reduce water leaks on the water supply chain. The disruption will take place from 09h00 to 13h00 and affect the following places in the parish of Estreito de
Câmara de Lobos: Barreiros, Casa Caída, Castelejo, Covão, Fajã das Galinhas, Marinheira and Pomar do Meio.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104845/Vai_faltar_agua_em_algumas_zonas_do_Estreito_de_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:

ARCO DA CALHETA

25th September – 09h30 to 10h30

26th September – 16h00 to 17h00

27th September – 14h00 to 15h00

– Sítio do Pinheiro

CANHAS

25th September R#8211; 09h30 to 10h30

26th September – 16h00 to 17h00

27th September – 14h00 to 15h00

– Cancela, Malhadinha, Cova Grande, Chope, Eiras, Levada do Poiso, Pomar, Ovo Girão, Vacaria and Parque Empresarial dos Canhas

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/2020/09/23/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-72-2020/

Madeira Report 19th September from Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 8 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. On Wednesday, there were 3 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region and 2 passengers who had
arrived from the UK) and 2 recoveries. On Thursday there were 2 new Covid-19 cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from the UK) and 1 recovery. And on Friday, there were 3 new cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from the UK) and
1 recovery. All new cases were identified through passenger screening at the Region’s airports.

There are currently 56 active cases, of which 44 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 12 were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 198 cases and 142 recoveries.
Madeira remains the only Portuguese district and autonomous region without any deaths from Covid-19.

There are 25 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 30 patients in isolation
at their own accommodation and 1 patient is in the Covid-19 unit at Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital.

There is currently 1 suspected case under epidemiological investigation and analysis. As of Friday, there had been 1,658 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

There are 7,492 people under active monitoring and 9,016 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 58,816 samples had been collected until Friday (at 16h30). Overall, as of Thursday, 101,718 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region
of Madeira. In addition to testing in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, 7,483 Covid-19 tests have been carried out in the Portuguese mainland on passengers who had booked flights to Madeira and preferred to be tested before the flight.
These tests were paid for by the Madeira Regional Government and carried out in laboratories it had signed agreements with.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 168 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 12,566. The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available
every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,162 calls, with 182 people being monitored.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104262/Madeira_com_tres_novos_casos_de_covid-19_e_mais_dois_doentes_recuperados

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104374/Madeira_com_mais_dois_novos_casos__de_covid-19_e_um_recuperado


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/18/madeira-agora-com-56-casos-de-covid-19-mais-um-caso-suspeito-e-um-recuperado/

More than 100,000 Covid-19 tests processed in Madeira

By Thursday, 100,896 samples for Covid-19 PCR
tests had been processed by the SESARAM (Madeira Health Service) laboratory. Samples have been collected in different places, including at Madeira International Airport, where 58,192 samples have been collected. Testing has also been
carried out in school settings, on care home staff and residents, healthcare professionals, fire-service, housekeepers, prison guards, forest guards, among others.

The team at the laboratory is led by Graça Andrade, a doctor who is a specialist in Clinical pathology. She leads a vast multidisciplinary team, with some responsible for processing samples, some responsible for sample collection in the
community and airports and others dealing with management, acquisition of equipment and planning. The SESARAM laboratory started processing Covid-19 tests on the 29th of February.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104448/Mais_de_100_mil_testes_a_covid-19_processados_no_Laboratorio_do_SESARAM___

Navy reinforces naval presence in Madeira

The Portuguese Navy reinforced its naval presence in the Autonomous Region of Madeira on Thursday, with the deployment of NRP Setúbal due to a forecast of high seas on the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo. The Oceanic Patrol Vessel
will be in the region in order to reinforce the capacity of the regional civil protection in dealing with potential calamity situations or natural disasters and to cooperate with other State institutions that deal with maritime issues.
NRP Setúbal is led by Commander Rui Manuel Zambujo Madeira and has a crew of 46 sailors.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104292/NRP_Setubal_reforca_dispositivo_naval_na_Regiao

Air Force has carried out more than a dozen agent medical evacuation operations in a single week

A patient who had been hospitalised at the health
centre in Porto Santo was airlifted to Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça in Funchal. The patient was flown by an Air Force C-295M, based at an air base in Porto Santo, and was taken to hospital by ambulance after landing at Funchal Airport.

This means that from the 7th and 18th of September, the Portuguese Air Force has carried out more than a dozen urgent medical evacuation operations between the islands. This is a very important mission the Air Force has consistently
carried out throughout the years in support of the civilian population.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104449/Forca_Aerea_Portuguesa_ja_fez_dezena_de_transportes_medicos_urgentes_so_numa_semana_

Fares discount on Madeira-Canary Islands flights

Binter has reduced fares on flights between Madeira and the Canary Islands. The discount will apply to flights booked until the 30th of September, for travel between the 1st of November and the 15th of December. Fares will start at
€70,86 for flights to the Canary Islands on Thursdays and on Sundays. These fares are valid per flight if a return flight is booked but the fare could be different, depending on the route. Checked luggage, seat selection and a
high-quality in-flight service are included in this discount campaign.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104438/Campanha_da_Binter_reduz_precos_nos_voos_entre_a_Madeira_e_Canarias

Ronaldo asks for Madeira to be voted the best insular destination in Europe

Cristiano Ronaldo used social media once
again to promote Madeira. This time, he asked his followers to vote for the “Pearl of the Atlantic” as the Best European Island 2020. He said Madeira is “safe, amazingly beautiful and incredibly stunning” and that “for me Madeira is
already the best island”. He added that he had already voted for Madeira and finished saying: “Let’s go, let’s take this award to my home Island Madeira”.

Information on how to vote is available on the following website:

https://www.worldtravelawards.com/award-europes-leading-island-destination-2020


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104398/Ronaldo_apela_ao_voto_na_Madeira_como_melhor_destino_insular_na_Europa__

Madeira Situation report 14th – 16th September by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 10 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. On Saturday, there was 1 new Covid-19 case (from 1 passenger who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region). On Sunday there were 6 new
Covid-19 cases (from 4 passengers who had arrived from the UK, 1 from Germany and 1 from the Czech Republic) and 1 recovery. On Monday, there was 1 new Covid-19 case from 1 passenger who had arrived from France. And on Tuesday, there
were 2 new cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from the UK). These new cases were identified through screening at the Region’s airports.

There are currently 52 active cases, of which 40
were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 12 were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 190 cases and 138 recoveries. Madeira remains the only Portuguese district
and autonomous region without any deaths from Covid-19.

There are 24 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 27 in isolation at their own accommodation and 1 is in the Covid-19 unit at Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital.

There are currently 3 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. As of Monday, there had been 1,650 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

There are 7,838 people under active monitoring and 9,392 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 56,843 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 17h30). Overall, as of Monday, 96,934 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 159 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 12,398.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,140 calls, with 181 people being monitored.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103856/Mais_um_caso_Covid_na_Regiao

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103935/Madeira_tem_seis_novos_casos_positivos_de_covid-19


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104033/Um_novo_caso_por_covid-19_detetado_nas_ultimas_24_horas_ha_50_casos_ativos_na_Regiao


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/15/ram-tem-mais-dois-casos-activos-de-covid-19-somando-52-e-mais-dois-casos-suspeitos/

Miguel Albuquerque outraged at weekend gathering

Photos showing crowds gathering outside bars at Zona Velha, without wearing face masks, were uploaded to social media during the weekend. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Madeira Regional Government, said the gathering was shameful.
He said that gatherings of people without wearing face masks had taken place once again and that such situation is dangerous and cannot be repeated. He begged for people to start to assume a pandemic is still ongoing. He reminded that
last week there number of Covid-19 cases in Portugal was as high as it had been in April.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103994/Professores_que_se_desloquem_para_fora_da_Regiao_vao_ser_testados_duas_vezes


https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/miguel-albuquerque-o-que-se-passou-este-fim-de-semana-na-zona-velha-e-uma-vergonha-636528

Teachers who travel outside the Region to be tested twice

Teachers from schools in Madeira who travel outside the Region will be tested twice for Covid-19. The Regional Government took this decision after an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in mainland Portugal and in several
countries. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Madeira Regional Government said such teachers will be monitored after a first negative test and returning to school. And for added safety, a second test will be carried out.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103994/Professores_que_se_desloquem_para_fora_da_Regiao_vao_ser_testados_duas_vezes

PSP to pay special attention to safety during the reopening of schools

The PSP (police) will pay special attention to safety during the reopening of schools. Most schools are reopening today. Once again, the PSP will pay special attention to the safety of all public, private and cooperative schools (except
higher education institutions) and their teachers, staff and students. There will be police teams from the Safe School Program (Programa Escola Segura), traffic, Road Safety and Criminal Investigation divisions. These teams will
specifically focus on the following priorities:

– Compliance with Covid-19 legislation and guidelines

– Prevention of crime and actions that could result in fines and safety promotion during home-school-home travel

– Road traffic safety monitoring

In the field of road safety, the PSP will pay special attention to the safety and restraint systems of children’s vehicles (seat belts and car seats), to the main risk factors (speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and
narcotics, driving without legal authorisation, disrespect of pedestrian crossings and signage near schools). There will also be inspections at commercial establishments, restaurants, bars, cafés and nightclubs to ensure compliance with
Covid-19 legislation and guidelines and with legislation banning the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages to minors in public places.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the PSP will only come into contact with students, teachers and staff in school premises if absolutely required. All PSP agents with comply with the official DGS (Direção Geral da Saúde –
Directorate-General of Health) guidelines for schools, including on the use of face masks, if they are required to meet with the school leadership or asked to intervene within a school’s premises.

The PSP has appealed for all citizens to comply with the Covid-19 legislation and guidelines and has asked families to make children aware of the DGS guidelines.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104072/Regresso_as_aulas_PSP_da_Madeira_vai_dedicar_especial_atencao_a_seguranca_nas_escolas

Honorary Consulate of Germany reopened

Sérgio Sousa has become the new Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, after a 3 year
period without one. The new consul was born, lived
and studied in Munich. He said the lack of a consul had been an issue when attempting to provide assistance to German tourists and residents in Madeira. He specifically mentioned issues such as deaths, accidents, the need for new
passports and requests for financial help. According to SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras), 549 German citizens are currently living in Madeira. However, Consul Sérgio Sousa believes the real number is over 1,000. As for German
tourists, it is difficult to know their exact number. He added that at the moment, Madeira is probably the safest Region for tourists to visit. “Martin Ney, the German Ambassador to Portugal, explained sometimes he is unable to provide
emergency assistance, from the Lisbon Embassy, to German citizens in Madeira,.” This is why, he added, honorary-consuls are useful. He also highlighted Sérgio Sousa’s excellent knowledge of the archipelago, which means he will be
Germany’s main representative in Madeira on political, economic, financial, cultural and even military matters.

https://www.dnoticias.pt/2020/9/10/73175-madeira-volta-a-contar-com-um-consul-da-alemanha-tres-anos-depois#

Bus service disruptions likely due to bus drivers trade union meeting

Grupo Horários do Funchal (Madeira bus company) announced there could be some bus services disruptions between 11h30 and 15h30, due to a staff plenary meeting organised by Syndicate Nacional dos Motoristas (a trade union). Horários do
Funchal has pledged to do everything in its power to minimise any disruption to its bus services, has asked passengers for their understanding and has apologised to passengers for any disruption.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/104101/Plenario_pode_gerar_constrangimentos_nas_carreiras_da_Horarios_do_Funchal

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. The following areas will be affected:

FUNCHAL

17th September – 09h00 to 10h00

– Rua do Til (numbers 58 and 83)

SANTANA

17th September – 09h00 to 12h00

– Caminho da Travessa (partial)

– Rua da Igreja (partial)

– Covas, Parlatório, Teleférico da Rocha do Navio and ETAR

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/2020/09/12/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-67-2020/

Madeira Situation report 10th – 12th September by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 6 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. On Wednesday, there were 3 new Covid-19 cases (1 from a passenger who had arrived from the UK and 2 from passengers who had arrived from the Lisbon
and Tagus Valley region) and 6 recoveries. On Thursday there was 1 new Covid-19 case (from a passenger who had arrived from Northern Portugal) and 3 recoveries. And on Friday, there were 2 new Covid-19 cases from 2 passengers who had
arrived from Spain (1 male aged 10-19 and 1 woman aged 20-29) and 1 recovery.

There are currently 43 active cases, of which 30 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 13 were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 180 cases and 137 recoveries.
Madeira remains the only Portuguese district and autonomous region without any deaths from Covid-19.

There are 18 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 25 in isolation at their own accommodation.

There are currently 2 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. As of Thursday, there had been 1,640 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

There are 8,011 people under active monitoring and 9,184 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 52,240 samples had been collected until Friday (at 16h30). Overall, as of Monday, 90,699 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 136 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 12,239.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,116 calls, with 181 people being monitored.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103761/Dois_novos_casos_de_Covid_sao_jovens_e_foram_importados_de_Espanha

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/11/dois-novos-casos-de-covid-19-um-caso-recuperado-e-dois-suspeitos/

Madeira Regional Government reaction to UK travel corridor updates

Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, reacted positively to England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s decision to keep Madeira in the travel corridor. Unlike passengers travelling from Madeira to England,
Wales and Northern Ireland, passengers travelling from Madeira to Scotland must be in quarantine for 14 days. Although he expressed regret that Mainland Portugal had been removed from the UK travel corridor, he insisted that it was
entirely fair that Madeira had not been removed from it.

He said Madeira does not have a pandemic and has the Covid-19 situation under control. He explained the Regional Government had made very important contacts with the UK Government and that Chris Sainty, the British Ambassador to
Portugal, had played a very important role in taking into account the specific Covid-19 situation in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

Indeed, Miguel Albuquerque wrote a letter to Ambassador Chris Sainty, expressing his deep gratitude for Mr. Sainty’s communication and kindness as well as for his commitment in ensuring Madeira’s wishes were safeguarded.

Miguel Albuquerque said if it had not been for Chris Sainty’s deep awareness of the specific reality of Madeira, Madeira would have been very unlikely to have been kept on the travel corridor. He finished by pledging that the Regional
Government will keep its consistent and effective work in ensuring an environment of trust and sanitary safety.

He added that it is “very important” for Madeira to be kept on the UK travel corridor so as to enable tourism to continue its gradual recovery. He said that UK tourists account for an important share of tourists to Madeira and that
there is a gradual recovery of tourism from the UK and Germany.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/11/albuquerque-agradece-empenho-a-embaixador-do-reino-unido/

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103657/Albuquerque_E_muito_importante_o_corredor_manter-se_aberto


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103716/Covid-19_Madeira_ja_investiu_11ME_no_rastreio_de_viajantes_e_vai_manter_operacao

€11 Million spent on passenger screening

The Madeira Regional Government has already spent about €11 Million on passenger screening operations at the archipelago’s ports and airports. There is no prediction on much it will spend in the future. Miguel Albuquerque, the President
of the Madeira Regional Government, stressed that “there is no other solution until the pandemic is under control or until a vaccine is found”, and this is “the only way to control the pandemic”. He added that “we were pioneers in
controlling entry to and exit from” Madeira, that he thought passenger screening had been “our defence” and “extremely positive for the region”. He finished by saying it will continuing and that there must be money to finance it.

Passenger screening in Madeira started on the 1st of July and upon arrival, passengers must either present evidence of a negative Covid-19 test carried out up to 72 hours before the start of their journey or be tested for Covid-19 test.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103716/Covid-19_Madeira_ja_investiu_11ME_no_rastreio_de_viajantes_e_vai_manter_operacao

Reconstitution of oak tree fall

The reconstitution of the tragic 2017 oak tree fall took place
yesterday. This one of a number of steps that will help Judge Susana Mão de Ferro decide if this case will go to trial. The oak tree fall took place on the 15th of August 2017 and led to the death of 13 people, including a French woman
and a Hungarian woman, and to injuries to 49 people. The oak tree was nearly 200 years old.

https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/tudo-o-que-se-sabe-sobre-as-vitimas-da-tragedia-na-madeira

https://www.dnoticias.pt/2020/9/7/72809-retomada-fase-de-instrucao-do-caso-da-queda-de-arvore-no-funchal

Christmas lights and fireworks confirmed for Christmas season

Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, confirmed that there will be Christmas lighting and fireworks during the Christmas and New Year season. He also said other Christmas and New Year festivities will be
considered depending on the evolution of the pandemic.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103607/Covid-19_Iluminacoes_e_fogo_sao_unicas_garantias_para_ja_no_que_se_refere_ao_Natal

Water supply disruption

There will be a water supply disruption on Monday, due to scheduled work on the water supply chain to prevent water leaks. The disruption will take place from 13h30 until 18h00 and will affect Conjunto Habitacional da Achada, in the
parish of Porto da Cruz.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103736/Interrupcao_de_abastecimento_de_agua_na_segunda-feira_no_Porto_da_Cruz_

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. The following areas will be affected:

MADALENA DO MAR

15th September – 09h00 to 9h15 & 11h50 to 12h00

– Sítio dos Moledos

ARCO DA CALHETA

15th September – 09h00 to 12h00

– Sítio das Florenças; Sítio das Faias; Sítio das Cales e Chada, Loreto and Chã de Cima

CALHETA

15th September – 09h00 to 12h00

– Sítio do Pico Atouguia

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/2020/09/12/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-67-2020/

Madeira Report Wednesday 9th September 2020

Covid-19 update

There were 3 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. There were no new Covid-19 cases on Saturday and a patient recovered. There were 2 new cases on Sunday, one from a passenger who had arrived from
the United Kingdom and one as a result of local transmission linked to a recently diagnosed patient. There were no new Covid-19 cases on Monday and a patient recovered. And there was 1 new case on Tuesday, from a passenger who had
arrived from the United Kingdom.

There are currently 47 active cases, of which 31 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 16 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 174 cases
and 127 recoveries.

There are 22 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 25 in isolation at their own accommodation.

There are currently 4 suspected cases under epidemiological
investigation and analysis. One of the suspected cases is from an individual who was transferred from a hotel to Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital. As of Tuesday, there had been 1,634 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

There are 8,278 people under active monitoring and 9,252 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 50,218 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 16h00). Overall, as of Monday, 86,234 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 357 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 12,103.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,087 calls, with 177 people being monitored.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/08/47-casos-activos-na-ram-hoje-ha-mais-um-caso-importado-e-4-casos-suspeitos/

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103137/Madeira_sem_casos_novos_por_covid-19_e_mais_um_recuperado

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103200/Dois_novos_casos_por_covid-19_na_Madeira

Schools reopening

The school year in Madeira is starting in the period between the 7th of September and the 11th of September, with classes staring in nursery schools and year 1 to year 9. Secondary school classes will start in the period between the
14th and the 17th of September. There will be about 6,200 teachers and 42,000 students.

The use of face masks is compulsory for students from Year 1 onwards and teachers and other staff will be tested for Covid-19.

A number of changes were introduced in the Region’s 130 schools in
order to minimise the risk of contagion and to ensure assertive action is taken whenever suspected and confirmed cases are identified. There will be different class timetables and classes will start and end at different times to prevent
gatherings at the same time. Some schools opted for two or three different starting times. The timetable was planned in coordination with public transport companies, which made some changes to their services’ timetable. Students were
equally divided into morning and afternoon timetables. Schools also set up different circulation areas. Some schools were even able to set up different patio areas for certain school years and some will have specific break times for
students of the same year.

The guideline for class sizes on years 1, 5 and 10 is usually 20 students per class, although the maximum size is 23 students per class. In most schools, students from the same class will be having classes at the same classroom and each
student will be assigned their own desk. This will allow schools to quickly identify and isolate specific areas if a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case is identified. Remote teaching and learning will take place if there is a
confirmed case of Covid-19 in a school or class.

Jorge Carvalho, the Madeira Education Secretary, praised the “fantastic work” carried out by the Region’s schools in planning the new school year and said the Covid-19 pandemic almost forced a revolution in organising daily school life.
He highlighted measures such as testing for teachers and staff, the use of face masks by the entire school community, hand-disinfection and said that other less-visible measures were taken to ensure face-to-face teaching is maintained.
He warned the individual behaviour of students and their relatives outside the school premises will be crucial to avoid contagion and to ensure the measures adopted by schools are successful.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103253/Covid-19_Ano_letivo_arranca_com_uso_obrigatorio_de_mascara_a_partir_do_1_ciclo_na_Madeira


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/103252/Cerca_de_42000_alunos_e_6200_professores_regressam_as_aulas_a_partir_de_hoje_na_Madeira

Saturday 5th of september

Covid-19 update

There were 9 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. There were 4 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, three from passengers who had arrived in Madeira and one as a result of the transmission chain in
Porto Santo. There was 1 new case on Thursday, from a passenger who had arrived from the Netherlands. And there were 4 new cases on Friday, one from a passenger who had arrived from Central Portugal and three a result of local
transmission chain linked to an individual from Central Portugal and who had spent a week in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

There are currently 46 active cases, of which 31 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 15 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. And a patient has recovered. So far, there
have been 171 cases and 125 recoveries.

There are 22 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 24 in isolation at their own accommodation.

There are currently 3 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis. As of Friday, there had been 1,631 suspected cases, of which 1,460 were not confirmed.

There are 8,253 people under active monitoring and 9,099 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 46,387 samples had been collected until Friday (at 17h00). Overall, as of Thursday, 80,282 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 187 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 11,746.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,065 calls, with 175 people being monitored.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/04/ram-com-mais-4-casos-de-covid-19-ha-ainda-mais-um-caso-suspeito/

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102799/Madeira_regista_mais_quatro_casos_por_covid-19


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102918/Covid-19_Madeira_registou_mais_um_caso_positivo_nas_ultimas_24_horas

Contingency plan activated after Funchal Municipality worker tested positive for Covid-19

The Municipality of Funchal informed that one of its workers tested positive for Covid-19 after his return from holiday. He did not have any symptoms, had returned from holiday on the 29th of August and had returned to work on Monday.
On Tuesday, he went into isolation in his residence after being informed that a person he had holidayed with had tested positive for Covid-19. He contacted the health authorities and tested positive on Thursday. He is currently
asymptomatic. The Municipality of Funchal activated its internal contingency plan and has been helping to identify all people he had come into contact with. The office where the patient works was thoroughly disinfected.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102991/Funcionario_da_Camara_do_Funchal_com_teste_positivo_a_covid-19_ativa_Plano_de_Contingenci

GNR officers tested negative for Covid-19

All 32 GNR police officers tested negative for Covid-19. They were tested after a colleague tested positive for Covid-19 on the 29th of August. The Madeira Territorial Command of the GNR announced the GNR premises will be thoroughly
disinfected. It also assured that its mission and operations had not been compromised as a result of this situation.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102757/Covid-19_Trinta_e_dois_militares_da_GNR_na_Madeira_com_teste_negativo_apos_contacto_com_caso_ativo

Ventilators donated to Funchal hospital

Grupo Pestana delivered 5 ventilators to Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. The delivery ceremony took place on Friday morning and was attended by Miguel Albuquerque (President of the Madeira Regional Government) and Dionísio Pestana
(President of Grupo Pestana). This was the first delivery of a total of 20 ventilators that Grupo Pestana will donate. Miguel Albuquerque expressed his gratitude for the donation that is worth €420,000. Dionísio Pestana explained he had
been so shocked with the Covid-19 mortality rate, particularly in Italy, that he contacted Miguel Albuquerque in March so as to learn what the Region’s healthcare system required. He was told there was a need for more ventilators.
Miguel Albuquerque also thanked Cristiano Ronaldo for having donated ventilators to the same hospital.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102981/Grupo_Pestana_entregou_hoje_cinco_dos_20_ventiladores_doados_ao_hospital_do_Funchal

German Honorary Consulate to reopen

The Honorary Consulate of Germany in Madeira will reopen. It had not had an office since 2017. The new office will be located at Edifício Concordia, in Amparo. Sérgio Filipe Correia Sousa will be the Honorary Consul of the Federal
Republic of Germany in the the Autonomous Region of Madeira. He will succeed Ricardo Dumont dos Santos, who had been in office for two decades. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on Thursday, at 18h30, at Forte de São Tiago.
Martin Ney, the German Ambassador, will attend the ceremony.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102840/Consulado_da_Alemanha_reabre_na_Madeira

Madeira situation report from Daniel Fernandes, September 2nd 2020

Covid-19 update

There were 4 new Covid-19 cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. There were no new cases on Saturday and on Sunday. There were 3 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, one from a passenger who had arrived from the Lisbon
and Tagus Valley Region and two from passengers who had arrived from South Africa. There was 1 new case on Tuesday, from a passenger who had arrived from Italy.

As for the Porto Santo transmission chain, the epidemiological
investigation meant 21 people had to go into isolation, with 3 of them testing positive. The remaining 18 people remain in isolation because they could still test positive in the following days.

There are currently 44 active cases, of which 33 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 11 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 162 cases and 118
recoveries.

There are 22 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 22 in isolation at their own accommodation.

There are currently 5 suspected cases under an epidemiological investigation and analysis. As of Tuesday, there had been 1,621 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not confirmed.

There are 7,824 people under active monitoring and 9,290 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 44,426 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 18h00). Overall, as of Monday, 77,163 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 201 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 11,746.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,036 calls, with 174 people being monitored.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/09/01/ram-tem-mais-um-caso-activo-de-covid-19-proveniente-de-italia-ha-mais-5-casos-suspeitos/

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102539/Covid-19_Madeira_regista_segundo_dia_consecutivo_sem_novos_casos

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102619/Tres_novos_casos_de_covid-19_na_Regiao


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102558/Amiga_de_Jorge_Gabriel_coloca_21_pessoas_em_isolamento_no_Porto_Santo_

Madeira to intensify contacts to prevent the end of the UK travel corridor to Madeira

Bookings from the English market increased by 64% in a week, after Portugal was added to the UK travel corridor.

However, after a national increase in Covid-19 cases, there are now fears that Portugal will be removed from the UK travel corridor later in the week, which would mean travellers returning to UK from Portugal would have to go into
quarantine.

These fears led the Madeira Regional Government to send letters to the Portuguese and British Governments, to the UK Ambassador to Portugal and to the Portugal Ambassador to the UK, explaining that the epidemiological situation in
Madeira is different from that in the rest of the country. According to Eduardo Jesus, the Madeira Tourism Secretary, the aim is for regional distinctions to be made so that Madeira is not unfairly punished once again. Indeed, he
reminded that under the European Commission’s guidelines, countries must provide regional data about the Covid-19 pandemic.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102622/Mercado_ingles_cresce_64_na_Madeira_uma_semana_apos_inclusao_no_corredor_aereo

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102581/Madeira_reforca_comunicacao_para_manter_turistas_do_Reino_Unido

30 Covid-19 tests carried out after GNR police officer tested positive

A GNR police officer tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, 30 police officers from the Madeira Territorial Command of the GNR, who had been in close contact with the infected police officer, were tested for Covid-19 and are now
awaiting for the test results.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102690/Covid-19_Militar_da_GNR_da_Madeira_infetado_motiva_realizacao_de_30_testes_a_contactos_proximos

Mandatory Covid-19 testing for teachers and school staff

From today, all teachers and school staff from Madeira’s primary
schools (1º Ciclo) will be tested for Covid-19. And from the 4th of September, all teachers and school staff from Year 5 to Year 9 schools (2º Ciclo and 3º Ciclo) will tested for Covid-19.

All teachers and school staff who had travelled to the Region or who had returned and carried out a negative Covid-19 test must be tested once again, between 5 and 7 days after the first test. Teachers and school staff in this situation
must inform their school leadership so that a new test can be scheduled.

All testing will be carried out at Escola dos 2.º e 3.º Ciclos Dr. Horácio Bento de Gouveia, just as it happened when kindergartens and nursery schools reopened in May.

All students from schools in the Region will receive 2 reusable face masks, for use in accordance with the health authorities guidelines, and information regarding the new guidelines and contingency plans for their schools. The face
masks are produced in compliance with the health authorities guidelines.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102631/Covid_-_19_Governo_manda_testar_docentes_e_funcionarios_das_escolas_da_Regiao_ja_a_partir_do_dia_2

Delay to the return of cruise ships

Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government,
said cruise ships will not be returning to Madeira on the 15th of September, as originally scheduled. He explained this is due to cancellations that followed an increase in Covid-19 cases throughout the world and to cruise companies
that are still not confident with the idea of reopening cruise tours. He added that there is still no idea when cruise ships will be returning because cruise companies are unable to make decisions due to the uncontrolled nature of the
pandemic in the whole of Europe and in the whole world.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102725/Regresso_dos_cruzeiros_a_Regiao_sem_data_definida_

Madeira must not shut its borders again

Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, said Madeira must not shut its borders again, even though its reopening is a calculated risk. He expressed his satisfaction with the success of the testing and
monitoring systems. However, he also said there had been worrying situations such as the start of a transmission chain in Porto Santo. As a result, he stressed once again the importance for people to comply with the guidelines. He
appealed for people to wear face masks, not to be tempted into keeping too short a distance from other people, to follow the hygiene rules and not to get into gatherings. He reinforced the appeal by describing a bad and risky situation
that took place in the last weekend, in which there were too many people drinking poncha (a traditional Madeira alcoholic drink) while not maintaining social distancing.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102694/Albuquerque_Madeira_nao_pode_voltar_a_fechar_apesar_dos_riscos

Free entry on Porto Moniz natural swimming pools

In September, the Municipality of Porto Moniz is providing free entry to
the municipality’s natural swimming pools under the “Porto Moniz Revitaliza + Voucher Card” scheme. The scheme is aimed at visitors who eat in the municipality’s restaurants or who stay in accommodation in the municipality. Customers
will receive 1 voucher for each €15 spending in a municipality restaurant. For example, a family who spent €45 in a restaurant will receive 3 vouchers for free entry in the natural swimming pools. Customers who stay in accommodation in
the municipality, including local accommodation, will receive 1 voucher per person, no matter how much it cost.

Vouchers can be collected daily, from 10h00 to 18h00, in the customer office (balcão de atendimento) at Espaço Multiusos do Porto Moniz. Receipts proving consumption/stay must be presented so that they can be converted into vouchers.

https://www.facebook.com/portomoniz.pt/photos/a.470543329733051/3268212736632749/?type=3&theater

Water supply disruption

There will be a water supply disruption on Thursday, from 09h00 to 13h00, in the parish of Tabua. The disruption will affect the following areas: Candelária, Lugar da Serra, Lugares, Praia, Ribeira, Terça and Zimbreiros.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102735/Interrupcao_de_abastecimento_de_agua_em_algumas_zonas_na_Tabua

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 26th August 2020

There are five new cases of Covid-19 in the Algarve, the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) has just revealed in its epidemiological bulletin this Tuesday, August 25th.

In accumulated terms since the beginning of the pandemic, there are now 1039 total cases in the Algarve region.

In Alentejo, where there were no new cases yesterday, there are now 11 more infected with the new coronavirus, bringing the cumulative total to 898.


An illegal party on beach at Monte Gordo broken up

An illegal party with about 40 people on a beach support in Monte Gordo, municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, forced, on Friday, the Maritime Police to disperse the participants.

The authorities received a complaint that led the Maritime Police to send two agents to the scene.

According to the National Maritime Authority (AMN), the authorities identified the person responsible for the party, “having made the respective report of news” and ended the event.


Covid.19: Testing capacity in the Algarve will exceed 400% – Government

Portugal will have a broad and reinforced diagnostic network to detect the possible reappearance of covid-19 and other viruses, in order to respond in a “swift and integrated” way to new outbreaks, the government said yesterday.

According to the Secretary of State for Health, António Lacerda Sales, who announced the plan at a press conference in Lisbon, the investment is 8.4 million euros.

“Portugal is today one of the countries that tests most per hundred thousand inhabitants in Europe”, said the minister during the usual press conference to update the information related to covid-19.

The objective of expanding laboratory capacity is to double the testing capacity to about 22,000 tests per day, he said, referring that currently 10,000 tests are carried out per day at the National Health Service (SNS).

“In Alentejo and the Algarve, for example, the forecast is for an increase in testing capacity of more than 400%”, he stressed.


Monchique’s example to guarantee animal welfare is «very plural»

The minister threw the dogs pastries, gave the alpacas carrots to eat, and visited the cat houses installed in old washing machines. In between, he also attended the dog vaccination campaign in Alferce, met the volunteers who take care of the abandoned animals, as well as the new works by sculptor and ceramists Sylvain Bongard, in Largo dos Chorões, and also discovered the ongoing projects (or planned) promoted by the Câmara de Monchique to guarantee the welfare of pets in this municipality.

In the end, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of Environment and Climate Action, made a “very positive assessment” of his visit, saying “From the part that touches me, I learned a lot”.

It was just after 10 am, when João Pedro Matos Fernandes, accompanied by Rui André, Mayor of Monchique, went to see the vaccination of dogs, taking place in the warehouse of the Junta de Freguesia de Alferce.

Ana Silva, the municipal veterinarian, explained that this was the “first action taken this year outside Monchique”. “Here, the Junta de Freguesia guaranteed us all the conditions, such as a bathroom, alcohol-gel, and space for people to wait”.

Outside, in the shade of the trees, many dogs with their owners waited for their turn, not always with much patience. “Some of these are guard dogs, they are not used to seeing a lot of people”, explained a man who tried to keep a huge dog calm and quiet.

Up to that time, 40 animals had already been treated, who received the rabies vaccine, chip (if they didn’t already have it) and deworming.

“Thank you for your passion, for your work on behalf of animals and the community”, said Minister Matos Fernandes, to the municipal veterinarian and to the young veterinary nurse Zélia Carrilho, who attended and to everyone.

Situation Report Azores 28th August – 29th August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Government of the Azores announced on Thursday 27th Aug. new measures to support companies in tourism sector which have been severely affected by the pandemic, this will include help to support the ‘on-going’ operational costs of companies. One of the announced supports is the creation of a programme to support the operating costs of companies of up to 75% non-refundable support. This will be awarded for eligible expenses, for example, water and energy, rents and rentals, communications, insurance, surveillance and security.
“The maximum amount per company will be 100 thousand euros and, in the case of a group of companies, the maximum amount is fixed at half a million euros”, announced Vasco Cordeiro, adding that 10 million euros are planned to finance this program. The time frame for this initiative is July 1st, 2020 and March 31st, 2021.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 3994 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 25th of August, eight positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel and Terceira have been diagnosed. There have also been three recoveries. All the cases have been detected at the airports during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay.
So far, 217 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 27 active positive cases, of which 24 are on the island of São Miguel, two on Terceira Island and one on Pico Island.

Situation Report Azores 25th August – 26th August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Command of the PSP has said that over the last few days 3 men have been arrested for Domestic Violence. On August 23rd, a 43-year-old man was arrested for the alleged crime of domestic violence in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira island. On the same day, a 43-year-old man was arrested for the same offence at the police station in the municipality of Ribeira Grande. At Lagoa police station, São Miguel, a 61-year-old man was also arrested for the crime of domestic violence.
On August 21st, at the criminal investigation station, a 41-year-old man, accused of domestic violence, was kept in preventive detention after being interviewed.
According to the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI), in 2019, the Azores recorded the highest incidence rate of domestic violence per thousand inhabitants in the country (4.1), followed by the Autonomous Region of Madeira (3.3).
The lowest rate of domestic violence was registered in Beja (2.2), while the national average was 2.8, according to RASI data.
In 2019, according to the report of the Portuguese Victim Support Association (APAV), about 42% of homicides in Portugal were registered in the context of domestic violence.
The number of cases of domestic violence during confinement imposed by the covid-19 pandemic has increased by up to 60%, warned the European department of the World Health Organization in May.

The Azorean airline Azores Airlines, belonging to the SATA group, will resume direct connections between Terceira Island and the city of Porto, from September 16th, the company revealed today.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 5,441 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region since the 21st of August, seven positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel have been diagnosed. There has also been one recovery.
All the cases have been detected at the airport during the required screening procedure or on the follow-up test carried out on all arrivals to the region on the 6th day of the stay.
So far, 209 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 27 active positive cases, of which 24 are on the island of São Miguel, two on Terceira Island and one on Pico Island.

Situation Report Azores 21st August – 22nd August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The British Government has announced that Portugal and the Autonomous regions of The Azores and Madeira will be added to the list of travel corridors, following the weekly review of data carried out by the Common Biosafety Centre. The measure takes effect from 04:00 on Saturday, so passengers traveling from Portugal to the UK will not need to stay in quarantine for two weeks at home, but those arriving before this date will have to comply in the same the 14 days of self-isolation.
Everyone traveling from abroad to the UK will continue to be required to complete a form with personal information and contact details for tracking purposes. Here is a useful document for all travellers going to the Azores.
https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Recommendations-for-a-safe-trip-to-the-Azores_compressed.pdf
There is more information here https://covid19.azores.gov.pt/?page_id=6304
Over the las few days the Regional Health Authority has reported that, from 3,442 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region recently, six positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed, five on the island of São Miguel and one on the island of Pico.
Five of the cases were diagnosed as a part of the screening tests carried out on passengers from abroad on arrival and after the sixth day of stay in the Region, they are two men, 32 and 47 years old, and three women, aged between 21 and 43 years old. The other diagnosed person, a man who is 39 years old, has been in close contact with a high risk, positive case, part of the chain of transmission registered on the island of São Miguel.
There has been another recovery, a 46-year-old man, bringing to 151 the number of recovered cases from COVID-19 disease. 202 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, with 23 active positive cases currently, of which 20 on the island of São Miguel, two on Terceira Island and one on Pico Island.

Situation Report Azores 16th August – 19th August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, as a result of 1,203 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region in the last 24 hours, a positive case of COVID-19 on Terceira Island has been diagnosed and there have been four recoveries.
The diagnosed case is a 51-year-old man, a non-resident, who arrived in the Autonomous Region of the Azores on August 17th by air from the continent, he obtained a positive result when he was tested on arrival. He is in a stable clinical condition and the procedures defined for confirmed cases, testing and surveillance of close contacts have already been taken care of by the Municipal Health Delegation.
The four recoveries are three men aged between 30 and 56 years old, and one woman, aged 25 years old, all located on the island of São Miguel, the number of recovered cases are now 150.
Thus, so far, 196 cases of infection with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 19 active positive cases, of which 17 on the island of São Miguel and two on Terceira island.

Situation Report Azores 13th August – 15th August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Portuguese Navy and the Ponta Delgada Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Delgada), has provided assistance to a UK flag, sailing vessel “Della Myra”. The yacht is being crewed by an 80 year-old British man. It was sailing about 178 nautical miles (about 330 kilometres) west of the island of Faial, with food shortages, engine problems and damaged sail. The oceanic patrol vessel Sines was immediately sent out to provide support to the sailboat, this included logistical assistance and support for engine repair.
After the Navy ship arrived to where the yacht was, a technical team boarded the sailboat to supply foodstuffs and repair the propulsion damage.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that the 1,316 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region, in the last 24 hours, did not reveal new positive cases of Covid-19, but there has been a recovery. The recovered case is a 53-year-old woman, bringing the total recoveries in the Region to 143.
So far, 193 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes Covid-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 25 active positive cases, all on the island of São Miguel.
Situation Report Azores 11th August – 12th August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
There are 27 active cases of Covid-19 on the island of São Miguel. The most recent cases have occurred due to community transmission in the night spots of the island. The health department is concerned and because of this situation, the Government of the Azores, in an extraordinary meeting of the Government Council held today, by videoconference has determined that for the island of São Miguel, between 00:00 hours on 13 August and 24:00 on September 1, the following:

  1. Closure of drinks and similar establishments, with dance spaces;
  2. Closure, from 10:00 pm, of bars and other beverage establishments, with or without a show, with or without terrace service;
  3. From 22:00 onwards, fuel filling stations can maintain their operation, exclusively for the purpose of selling fuel and supplying vehicles to the public.

In addition to these, and within the framework of a number of other measures already in force, the Government Council decided to extend the public calamity situation until midnight on September 1, the islands of Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, Pico and Faial, as well as the alert situation on the islands Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores and Corvo.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, as a result of the 2,497 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region in the last 48 hours, four positive cases of Covid-19 on the island of São Miguel were diagnosed, as well as four recovered cases.
The diagnosed cases are three men aged 32, 33, and 39-years-old. All of them have had close contact with two positive cases diagnosed in the last two days. This is a local transmission chain under investigation in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.
They are all in a stable clinical condition and the procedures defined for confirmed cases, testing and surveillance of close contacts have already been taken care of by the Municipal Health Delegation.
A woman has also been diagnosed positive. She disembarked in the Region from a connection with the mainland. On her required sixth day test, she was positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The four recovered cases are all men aged between 38 and 54
Thus, so far, 192 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 27 active positive cases, all of them on the island of São Miguel.

Situation Report Azores 9th August – 10th August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The President of the Regional Government of the Azores “Vasco Cordeiro” presented his ‘preliminary’ proposal for an ‘Agenda for the Social and Economic Recovery of the Region’ at the weekend. It is a strategic, ‘consultative’ document that includes 250 ‘suggested’ measures for ‘discussion’, primarily aimed at supporting the tourism sector.
The document is wide-ranging and contributions are being welcome from everyone: https://agendarelancamento.azores.gov.pt/
Meanwhile, the Regional Health Authority reported on Saturday 8th Aug that, as a result of 1,404 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region in the previous 24 hours, six positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel were diagnosed.
The diagnosed cases are four men, aged between 13 and 45 years old, and two women, aged 22 and 37 years old, five of whom landed in the Region by air from the mainland on 6th and 7th August, having obtained a positive result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on arrival.
One of them who arrived on July 6th and obtained negative results in the screening tests then, started showing signs and symptoms of infection. The person contacted the Azores Health Line and was validated as a suspected case and subjected to the collection of more biological samples and respective laboratory analysis, with subsequent positive result. This person had already been infected in his/her country of origin. Documentation was submitted and information that supported its recovery from the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, so the patient will now be under active surveillance under the coordination of the Municipal Health Delegation.
Covid-19 Situation
On Sunday after 1211 tests were taken three more positive cases have been diagnosed. They relate to a man, who is 45 years old, and two women, 27 and 34 years old, who disembarked in the Region from air connections with the mainland, having performed screening tests prior to boarding and proof of negative results for the SARS-CoV-2 virus was presented upon arrival in the Region.
Following their stay in the Region, new screening tests were carried out after the sixth day, with all three showing a positive result.
All of them are in a stable clinical condition and the procedures defined for confirmed cases, testing and surveillance of close contacts have already been taken care of by the Local Health Delegations
So far, 188 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 27 active positive cases, all of them on the island of São Miguel. The last time the island had this many active cases was around 15th May this year.

Situation Report Azores 7th August – 8th August 2020 – From our colleague in the
The Camera of Ponta Delgada has presented a program called “Animar PDL”, which will cost 200 thousand euros. This is a series of events in hotels, restaurants and on the streets, created to mitigate the effects of the covid-19.
The events started on Thursday and 229 artists are going to perform in 65 different events. Over the next few weeks 18 wandering performers will walk through the streets in the historic centre of Ponta Delgada.
Also planned are 16 live concerts, a sample of live art, three DJs will perform, 15 solo performers will entertain, an open-air cinema, two children’s shows and a concert of viola da terra.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that the 1,548 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region, in the last 24 hours, did not reveal new positive cases of COVID-19.
The Region maintains a total of 179 cases of infection with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, and there are currently 19 active positive cases, all of them on the island of São Miguel.
Children under 12 will not pay for air travel to the Azores (conditions apply)
The Government of the Azores announced this Friday the creation of a national and international campaign so that children up to 12 years old do not pay for air travel to the region, as a way to relaunch tourism due to the covid-19.
The proposal is part of a set of 250 measures on the agenda for the social and economic relaunch of the region in the post-pandemic of the covid-19, which was presented today by the President and Vice President of the Government of the Azores, Vasco Cordeiro and Sérgio Ávila , respectively. The document, available online, reads that ” financial support will be given for campaigning, national, European and international, aimed at families, in which, with two paying adults, children up to 12 years old do not pay for the trip by plane”.
About this measure it is also said that it will be “operationalized” through a contract between the Regional Government, the “airline, the participating tour operators” and “those responsible for offering promotional packages”. The document states that the initiative will start in the second half of 2020, without specifying more details.
In the presentation of the agenda, the Vice-President of the Government highlighted that the document is organized in two pillars: one that aims to “relaunch the economy of the Azores” and the other to “build more resilient Azores”. In the tourism sector, the Regional Government intends to carry out a campaign, at national and European level, in which “the possibility of visiting three islands without paying the inter-island air fare” is offered, with the minimum stay requirement of “two nights on each of the islands “.

Situation Report Azores 4th August – 5th August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Government has awarded more than 1,000 ‘Clean & Safe Azores’ seals on all the islands of the archipelago, said the Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism Marta Guerreiro.
According to the minister, 18 training courses were held in the areas of Hospitality, Local Accommodation, Rural Tourism, Tourist Entertainment and Maritime Tourism, Rent-a-car, Travel Agencies, Tours and Tourism Information Professionals, Restaurants and Tourism Offices, 1,470 enterprises enrolled, and a total of 1,852 people completed the on-line courses.

The Government of the Azores will reorganise the ‘covid-19 test area’ at João Paulo II airport in Ponta Delgada, this is to “streamline” the testing procedures for passengers who disembark on the island of São Miguel. There have been delays at the current facility, leading to complaints.
The Regional Health Authority has reported that the 1,295 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the Region in the last 24 hours did not reveal new positive cases of COVID-19.
Yesterday, as a result of the 890 tests carried out, a positive case of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel was diagnosed.
The diagnosed case is a 47-year-old man, not resident in the Azores, who landed in the Region by air from the continental on August 2nd, having obtained a positive result for the virus on arrival SARS-CoV-2.
He is in a stable clinical condition and the procedures defined for confirmed cases, testing and surveillance of close contacts have already been taken care of by the Municipal Health Delegation.
The Region maintains a total of 176 cases of infection with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, and there are currently 17 active positive cases, all on the island of São Miguel.
In case of symptoms, do not go to a Hospital or Health Centre, 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 has also provided the Azores Non-Medical Clarification Line COVID-19, at 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 2nd August – 3rd August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores

The Regional Health Authority has reported that, after 1,101 tests carried out by the two reference laboratories in the Region in the last 24 hours, a positive case of COVID-19 on the island of São Miguel has been diagnosed.
The case refers is a 25-year-old woman who is not resident in the Azores and arrived in the Region from by air from the Continent on August 1st, she tested positive for the SARS-CoV- virus when she arrived.
She is in a stable clinical condition and the procedures defined for confirmed cases, testing and surveillance of close contacts have already been taken care of by the Municipal Health Delegation.
There has also been a recovery, a 65-year-old man who landed in the Region, on Terceira Island, on July 14th.
In summary, 175 cases of infection with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, have been detected in the Region, and there are currently 16 active positive cases, all of them on the island of São Miguel.

Situation Report Azores 31st July – 1st August 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Health Authority has reported that, after 1,100 tests carried out in the two reference laboratories in the last 24 hours, two positive cases of Covid-19 on the island of São Miguel have been diagnosed.
One of the diagnosed cases is a 58-year-old man, not resident in the Azores, who landed by air from the continent on July 24th, with a negative test document. When he took his 6th day test, this one turned out to be positive.
The other case is a 44-year-old woman, resident on the island of São Miguel, who disembarked in the Region from the continent on July 30th, and on arrival obtained a positive result in the screening test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
So, with another positive case on Wednesday and in the Region as a whole, 174 cases of infection with the new coronavirus have been diagnosed, with currently 18 active positive cases, of which 17 on the island of São Miguel and one on the island of Terceira.
In other news, a security guard from a private company in Ponta Delgada was the victim of a frenzied attack yesterday at dawn.
The victim was attacked with a ‘close range’ weapon, suffering injuries to the head, neck and shoulder and requiring hospital treatment. According to the latest information, he has been discharged and is recovering from his injuries. The attacker was caught in the act and arrested at the scene, the 30 year-old man is being held by the PSP in Ponta Delgada.

Madeira Situation Report 29th August by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 16 new cases in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. There were 6 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, of which 2 were imported from South Africa and from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region while 3 were a result
of a local transmission chain in the Municipality of Porto Santo and 1 was from a local transmission chain in the Municipality of Funchal.

There were 6 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, of which 4 were imported from Italy and Poland and 2 were a result of a local transmission chain in the Municipality of Funchal. And there were 4 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, which were a
result of local transmission chain in the Municipality of Funchal.

As for the Porto Santo transmission chain, the epidemiological investigation meant 23 contacts have been traced, with 3 being confirmed cases and 20 tests coming back negative. The epidemiological investigation into the Funchal
transmission chain meant 9 contacts have been traced, with 6 being confirmed cases and 3 tests coming back negative. All contacts traced in both transmission chains remain in isolation and the epidemiological investigation is ongoing.
Pedro Ramos, informed that a hotel in Porto Santo is ready to host Covid-19 patients who require a place for isolation.

There are currently 40 active cases, of which 29 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 11 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 158 cases and 118
recoveries. There are 21 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 19 in isolation at their own accommodation.

A passenger were identified as a suspected case on Friday. An epidemiological investigation and analysis is underway. As of Friday, there had been 1,617 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not confirmed. There are 9,732 people under
active monitoring and 10,496 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 40,070 samples had been collected until Friday (at 17h00). Overall, as of Thursday, 72,381 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 190 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 11,545. The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available
every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 2,012 calls, with 174 people being monitored.

It was also announced that the laboratory at Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital is now able to carry out about 1,800 Covid-19 tests per day. The testing capacity at the start of pandemic was 50 tests per day and the testing capacity in the
Autonomous Region of Madeira is now approaching 2000 tests per day.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/28/ram-com-40-casos-activos-de-covid-19-e-nova-transmissao-local-no-funchal

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102245/Covid-19_Seis_novos_casos_detetados_na_Regiao

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102335/Covid-19_Mais_seis_casos_positivos_na_RAM


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/28/criancas-da-ram-com-mais-de-6-anos-tambem-vao-ter-de-usar-mascara-na-escola/

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102223/Porto_Santo_unidade_hoteleira_sera_acionada_em_caso_de_necessidade


Face masks compulsory for children in school
premises

Children older than 6 years old must wear face masks in school premises. This policy is part of the school reopening plan that will be implemented when schools reopen. Schools are scheduled to reopen in September.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/28/criancas-da-ram-com-mais-de-6-anos-tambem-vao-ter-de-usar-mascara-na-escola/

More testing sites to be available in the Mainland

Pedro Ramos revealed the Madeira Regional Government will soon sign a contract with another laboratory so that Madeira-bound passengers in the Mainland can be tested for Covid-19 before flying to Madeira. He said there will be 14 more
sample collection points in the Mainland.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102220/Covid-19_Havera_mais_14_postos_de_colheita_fora_da_Regiao

President of the Regional Government appeals for tourists to wear masks on the streets

Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, has asked hotel staff to advise tourists to wear masks in public places and on the streets. He stressed the importance of “making a small sacrifice in order to
prevent cases similar to those that happened in Porto Santo”.

He said the situation in Porto Santo seems to be under control. However, he said people should not get carried away and mentioned the worsening pandemic situation in Italy, Spain and even in the Portuguese Mainland. He added that people
in Madeira must be careful and wise, keep social distancing, wear face masks and try to carry on with life while taking all precautions.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102284/Albuquerque_faz_apelo_a_hotelaria_Pecam_aos_turistas_o_uso_da_mascara_na_rua_

Jet2holidays increased its offer in Madeira

Jet2holidays added 100,000 further seats for destinations in Greece, Turkey and Portugal (Faro and Madeira) so as to meet demand. The flights are operated from Stansted Airport. On the other hand, it has cancelled its offer for the
Balearic Islands until the 30th of November and extended the suspension of its programmes to Mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and Croatia until the 12th of September.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102336/Jet2holidays_reforca_programas_de_ferias_para_a_Madeira

Madeira Report 22nd August by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There was 1 new Covid-19 case on Saturday and another on Monday. Both cases are from non-resident passengers who had been screened at Funchal Airport. On Tuesday, it was announced that 11 patients had recovered.

There are currently 24 active cases, of which 23 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other active case was a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 142 cases and 118
recoveries.

There are 18 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 6 in isolation at their place of residence. The 3 patients who had been hospitalised at the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, including 1 in the intensive care
unit, have recovered and have returned home.

On Tuesday, 2 passengers were identified as suspected cases. An
epidemiological investigation and analysis is underway. As of Monday, there had been 1,601 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not confirmed.

There are 7,506 people under active monitoring and 10,496 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 38,075 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 17h00). Overall, as of Monday, 69,014 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 262 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 11,355.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,983 calls, with 169 people being monitored.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101923/Covid-19_Novo_caso_detetado_no_aeroporto_da_Madeira

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102064/Madeira_conta_hoje_com_mais_um_caso_de_covid-19


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/25/11-novos-casos-recuperados-de-covid-19-entre-eles-os-doentes-hospitalizados-dois-novos-casos-suspeitos/

Ten people in quarantine in Porto Santo

Ten people are in quarantine in Porto Santo after having been in
close contact with a tourist who had been on holiday at the island and tested positive for Covid-19 after returning to Lisbon. Rogério Correia, the Porto Santo health delegate, said the tourist had tested negative for Covid-19 on
arrival at Funchal Airport and then traveled to Porto Santo two days after her arrival. She had traveled to Porto Santo on the Lobo Marinho ferry. She arrived in Porto Santo on the 7th of August and left on the 24th of August. She
started feeling ill a few days after her arrival at the golden island. However, according to the health authority, she didn’t care about the symptoms, which got worse after returning to the mainland. She only sought medical help after
her return to Cascais and tested positive for Covid-19. The health delegate said the tourist hadn’t had a very active social life while in Porto Santo and that all close contacts and been identified, tested and found to be asymptomatic.
The health delegate assured that so far, there are not any positive cases of Covid-19 in Porto Santo. Due to the 14-day incubation period, he raised the possibility that the tourist had been infected on the mainland, before traveling to
Madeira.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/102172/Dez_pessoas_foram_testadas_e_estao_em_quarentena_no_Porto_Santo

Playgrounds reopened in Santa Cruz

The Municipality of Santa Cruz informed that all municipal playgrounds have reopened. There are disinfectant dispensers in each playground and it will be regularly disinfected. There are:

a) Information on the respiratory etiquette and rules must be displayed.

b) Mandatory use of face masks by children aged 10 or older and their companion.

c) Maintain social distancing – a minimum of 2 metres.

d) Avoid gatherings around equipments

e) Respiratory etiquette must be complied with.

f) It is forbidden to eat, drink and to share materials and equipments and to bring toys to the playground.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/23/parques-infantis-reabriram-em-santa-cruz-mas-com-numerosos-cuidados/

Madeira at yellow and orange level for high temperature warning

The Madeira archipelago is under yellow and orange warning for
high temperature until Sunday (30th August), with maximum temperatures expected to reach 32ºC. The south shore and mountain regions are expected to be the most affected areas. Air humidity is expected to be low, with temporary levels
below 30%, wind will reach between 10-35 Km/h, with wind gusts reaching 50-70 Km/h at the far east and far west and in mountain areas.

The barbecue spots in forest areas will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to the risk of forest fires. The Areeiro/Eira do Serrado forest road will also be closed during the same period of time. Surveillance will be increased by
the Forest Police.

People are asked to behave responsibly, not to light fires in forests and to avoid behaviours that could be dangerous to forests.


https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/incendios-instituto-de-florestas-interdita-churrascos-na-madeira-devido-a-risco-elevado

Madeira Report 22nd August by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There was 1 new Covid-19 case on Wednesday, 2 new cases on Thursday and on Friday. There was also 1 recovery on Wednesday. There are currently 33 active cases, of which 32 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal
Airport, while the other active case was a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 140 cases and 107 recoveries.

There are 23 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 7 in isolation at their place of residence. There are also 2 patients in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça while 1 patient remains in the Covid-19 intensive care
unit at the same hospital. Yesterday, 3 passengers who had arrived at Funchal Airport were identified as suspected cases. An epidemiological investigation and analysis is underway. As of Friday, there had been 1,599 suspected cases, of
which 1,459 were not confirmed.

There are 7,564 people under active monitoring and 10,809 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 34,042 samples had been collected until Friday (at 17h00). Overall, as of Sunday, 65,132 samples had been processed in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira. As for testing on Madeira-bound passengers, before flying from the mainland, 12,986 tests have been carried out so far.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 109 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 11,093. The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available
every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,964 calls, with 168 people being monitored.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/22/mais-dois-casos-de-covid-19-mais-tres-casos-suspeitos-em-estudo/

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101735/Madeira_com_mais_um_caso_ativo_e_um_suspeito_de_covid-19_

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101807/Mais_dois_novos_casos_de_covid-19_e_outros_dois_em_estudo_

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101865/Covid-19_Mais_dois_casos_na_Regiao_e_tres_suspeitos

Covid-19 test booking slots unavailable for flights in August and September at Porto laboratory

ADC Porto Ocidental, a laboratory in Porto that has an agreement with the
Madeira Regional Government for testing Madeira-bound passengers, has reached its maximum capacity for testing before flights in August and in the first fortnight of September. This is the information a Madeiran passenger received
automatically when she tried to book a test well in advance of her flight from Porto to Madeira.

This laboratory has a maximum capacity of 50 tests per day, which are carried out 72 hours before a flight so that test results can be provided before a flight. Tests are booked according to the order of arrival of a request (along with
evidence of a flight booking) and it is not possible to bested on weekends and holidays.

This passenger’s personal experience shows how popular this testing scheme has been with passengers flying into Madeira from the Portuguese mainland. Since Wednesday, two additional laboratories were added to the scheme, one in Porto
and another in Loulé. So far, this scheme is available in 22 locations in the mainland and negotiations are underway with additional laboratories.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101728/Covid-19_Laboratorio_do_Porto_com_capacidade_esgotada_para_voos_deste_mes_e_setembro

Machico Municipality delivered PPE to cultural and sporting institutions

On Thursday, the Municipality of Machico delivered PPE to cultural and sporting institutions located the municipality. The delivery ceremony took place at Museu da Baleia da Madeira (Whale Museum), in Caniçal, after the municipality
contacted the institutions in order to learn what their needs were.

Overall, 27 kits of PPE were delivered. The cultural institutions received gloves, hand-sanitising gel and face masks while the sporting institutions received surface disinfectants, face masks, gloves and thermometers. In addition to
these deliveries, the Municipality of Machico has already provided similar PPE kits to the municipality’s businesses, such as hairdressers, barbers, beauticians and taxi drivers.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101818/Machico_entrega_kits_de_protecao_as_instituicoes_culturais_e_desportivas_do_concelho

Water supply disruption

There will be a water supply disruption on Monday, from 9h30 to 15h00, due
to planned work on the water supply chain. The disruption will affect the Parish of Imaculado Coração de Maria (Rua Jaime Bruno Pereira, Rua das Lajes, Vereda das Lajes and Rua Álvaro Justino de Matos).


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101797/Intervencao_na_rede_vai_afetar_abastecimento_de_agua_no_Imaculado_Coracao_de_Maria


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. The following areas will be affected:

FUNCHAL

24th August – 09h00 to 12h00

  • Caminho de S. Roque (number 15)
  • Estrada Dr. João Abel de Freitas (numbers 13 to 174)
  • Rampa do Muro da Coelha (numbers 3 to 5)

24th August – 09h00 to 11h30

  • Caminhos da Partilha (number 45)
  • Caminho da Fonte (numbers 25 and 42)
  • Travessa Ribeira das Vacas (number 9)

24th, 25th and 26th August – 09h00 to 12h00

Rua dos Estados Unidos da América (numbers 104, 112 and 114)

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/2020/08/21/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-61-2020/

Madeira report by Daniel Fernandes Wednesday 19th August 2020

Covid-19 update

There was 1 new Covid-19 case on Saturday, 2 new cases on Monday and 2 new cases on Tuesday. There were also 3 recoveries on Saturday, 1 recovery on Monday 1 recovery on Tuesday.

There are currently 29 active cases, of which 28 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other active case was a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 135 cases and 106
recoveries.

There are 23 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel and 3 in isolation at their place of residence. There are also 2 patients in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça while 1 patient remains in the Covid-19 intensive care
unit at the same hospital.

Yesterday, a passenger who had arrived at Funchal Airport was identified as a suspected case. An epidemiological investigation and analysis is underway. As of Tuesday, there had been 1,594 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not
confirmed.

There are 7,487 people under active monitoring and 11,245 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 32,036 samples had
been collected until Tuesday (at 16h30). Overall, as of Sunday, 62,364 samples had
been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 117 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 11,093.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,938 calls, with 168 people being monitored.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101394/Madeira_com_mais_um_novo_caso_de_covid-19_mas_outros_tres_recuperaram

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101432/Covid-19_Madeira_sem_novos_casos_e_com_mais_um_recuperado

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101528/Madeira_com_mais_dois_novos_casos_de_covid-19


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/18/mais-dois-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-um-novo-caso-recuperado-casos-activos-sao-29/

3 people injured in gas explosion in Câmara de Lobos

Three members of the same family (father, mother and son) were injured as a result of a gas explosion at an apartment in Câmara de Lobos. The explosion took place on Tuesday at around 08h30. The father is in intensive care due to
second-degree burns. Although the cause of the explosion are unknown, this is another reminder that all care should be taken when dealing with gas appliances at home.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/18/explosao-de-gas-feriu-tres-pessoas-em-apartamento-em-camara-de-lobos/

Increased police patrol in Porto Santo

Police in Porto Santo have increased their presence on the streets of Porto Santo since Friday, after several episodes of vandalism, robberies and violence in the last few weeks. Officers from GNR, PSP and the Maritime Police have been
seen on the streets and on the beach.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101413/Porto_Santo_GNR_e_elementos_de_investigacao_criminal_reforcam__contingente_policial_

15 free wireless internet hotspots in Câmara de Lobos

The Municipality of Câmara de Lobos has set up 15 free wireless internet hotspots in the town centre of the municipality’s 5 parishes. According to Pedro Coelho, the Mayor of Câmara de Lobos, this means Câmara de Lobos has become the
first municipality in Madeira to have a municipal wi-fi network that covers all of its parishes and areas beyond urban areas.

This is a result of a successful application for the project “WIFI4EU – Free
wifi for Europeans”, a project financed by the European Commission that allows citizens and visitors in the European Union to have free and secure wireless internet access in the main places of interest. The Municipality received
€15,000 for use in setting up the wireless infrastructure in areas that had previously not had free wireless internet hotspots. The use of these hotspots is free and without any time limits.

The following areas have had free wireless internet since 2017: Largo do Poço, Jardins do Ilhéu, Varadouro, the bus station next to Miradouro do Espirito Santo (Churchill), Mercado Municipal and Praça da Autonomia. Two more hotspots
were set up to complement these, one at Largo São Sebastião (next to Igreja Matriz) and one at Praia do Vigário.

The following places have free wireless internet hotspots for the first time, thanks to the WiFi4EU project:

– Estreito de Câmara de Lobos – Largo do Centro Cívico do Estreito, Largo do Patim/adro da Igreja e Praça do Mercado Municipal;

– Jardim da Serra – Rua das Corticeiras;

– Curral das Freiras – Praça Central;

– Quinta Grande – Parque Infantil.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101480/Camara_de_Lobos_tem_a_partir_de_hoje_15_pontos_de_acesso_a_rede_Wi-Fi

Water supply disruptions

There will be some water supply disruptions in the following days. The following areas will be affected:

Today (09h00-13h00) – Câmara de Lobos (Torre & Espírito Santo)

Thursday (15h00-18h00) – São Jorge Parish (Achada de António Teixeira, Achada do Pico, Achada Grande, Açougue Velho, Barranco, Calhau, Covas, Cruz, Fajã Alta, Furna Pedro Jorge, Jogo da Bola, Lombo do Cunha, Lombo do Pico, Pé do Pico,
Poço e Vale, Pomar, São Pedro & Tranquada)


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101462/Camara_de_Lobos_Sitios_da_Torre_e_Espirito_Santo_vao_ter_falta_de_agua_no_dia_19

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101602/Vai_faltar_agua_em_Sao_Jorge_esta_quinta-feira

Madeira Situation report 15th August from Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There was one new Covid-19 case on Wednesday and 2 new cases on Thursday and 1 new case on Friday. A patient recovered on Monday.

There are currently 30 active cases, of which 27 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 3 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 130 cases and 100
recoveries. A passenger was identified as a suspected case during screening at Funchal Airport. An epidemiological investigation is underway. As of Friday, there had been 1,589 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not confirmed.

There are 25 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 2 in isolation at their place of residence, 2 are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça while 1 is in intensive care at the same hospital.

There are 7,946 people under active monitoring and 11,230 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 28,406 samples had been collected until Friday (at 17h00). Overall, 58,311 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24
20) received 125 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 10,976.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,911 calls, with 167 people being monitored.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101193/Covid-19_Ha_um_novo_caso_na_Regiao_e_quatro_suspeitos

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101268/Madeira_com_mais_dois_casos_ativos_de_covid-19_e_tres_em_estudo


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/14/madeira-chega-aos-30-casos-activos-de-covid-19-ha-tambem-um-novo-caso-suspeito/

Spa reopened at VidaMar Resort Hotel Madeira

VidaMar Resort Hotel Madeira’s Thalasso Sea SPA has reopened with a special campaign for guests staying at the hotel or simply using the spa services. The spa’s opening hours are from Wednesday to Sunday, between 10h00 and 19h00. The
spa has been given the Clean & Safe seal.

It has adopted the following
safety guidelines, due to the pandemic: bookings must be made beforehand, the use of masks is mandatory unless it is during treatment/massaging sessions, there is the possibility of receiving treatment sessions in outdoor areas,
individual facilities are thoroughly disinfected after each use and there is a mandatory time span between each booking.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101317/VidaMar_Resort_Hotel_Madeira_reabre_spa

New support packages for workers, businesses and the unemployed

The Madeira Regional Government approved a new €28 million extraordinary support package to provide support and protection for workers, businesses and the unemployed. The support packages are the “Incentivo Regional à Normalização da
Atividade Empresarial” (Regional Stimulus to the Normalisation of Business Activity), “Complemento Social Regional” (Regional Social Complement and “Programa Qualificar + para Empregar” (Qualify + to Employ Scheme). According to the
Regional Government, “30,000 workers, 1,000 companies and 200 unemployed will benefit from this new measures.”


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101287/Novos_apoios_para_30_mil_trabalhadores_mil_empresas_e_200_desempregados

Youths making the most of free entry to museums managed by the Regional Government

International Youth Day is being celebrated through free entry, for youths aged between 12 and 29, at all museums managed by the Madeira Regional Government. This scheme started on Wednesday (12th August) and will end today. Guided
tours are being provided for groups of youths or youths visiting with relatives. So far, large numbers of youths have been taking part in this scheme. A list of all museums managed by the Regional Government can be found on the
following website:

https://cultura.madeira.gov.pt/en


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/13/jovens-tem-aderido-a-entradas-gratuitas-em-museus-sob-tutela-do-governo-regional/


Doca do Cavacas to be closed on Monday

The resort of Poças do Gomes – Doca do Cavacas will be closed on Monday due to maintenance work. The connecting tunnel between Poças do Gomes and Praia Formosa will also be closed.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101341/Doca_do_Cavacas_encerra_na_proxima_segunda-feira

Water supply disruption on Monday

There will be a water supply disruption on Monday (17th August), from 14h00 and 19h00, due to scheduled maintenance work to prevent water leaks on the water supply network. The disruption will affect the following areas (all in Machico
Municipality): Poço do Gil, Paraíso and Ribeira Seca.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101289/Vai_faltar_agua_em_Machico_esta_segunda-feira

Madeira Situation Report – 12th August 2020 by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were no new Covid-19 cases on Monday and 2 new cases on Tuesday and no new cases on Sunday. A patient recovered on Monday.

There are currently 26 active cases, of which 23 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 3 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 126 cases and 100
recoveries. As of Tuesday, there had been 1,585 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not confirmed.

There are 23 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 2 in isolation at their place of residence and 1 is in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are 8,150 people under active monitoring and 11,262 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 26,485 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 18h00). Overall, 55,561 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 40 calls from Sunday to Monday and 49 calls from Monday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 10,851.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,881 calls, with 165 people being monitored.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101012/Covid-19_Madeira_sem_novos_casos_pelo_segundo_dia_consecutivo

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/11/dois-novos-casos-positivos-de-covid-19-na-ram-2-novos-casos-suspeitos/

Porto Santo bars closed early as a protest

The main bars in Porto Santo closed at 22h30 on Tuesday evening, as a protest against the maximum capacity limit of 50%. Zarco, Taskaki, Boutique da Poncha and Mr Outlet were some of the bars which closed early.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101109/Bares_da_noite_do_Porto_Santo_fecharam_em_sinal_de_protesto

Botanical Garden Cable Car reopening

The Botanical Garden Cable Car is reopening on the 14th of August. To celebrate its reopening, there will be a special discount of 20% on a trip.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101065/Teleferico_do_Jardim_Botanico_reabre_a_14_de_agosto

Meals from Pingo Doce can be delivered at home through Bring Eat

It is now possible to have home delivery of meals from Pingo Doce, through a partnership with Bring Eat, a home delivery service. Pingo Doce ensures its meals are delivered in Funchal, Câmara de Lobos and Caniço. Meals can be purchased
online, through the app or by phone. The meals will be sourced from the restaurant at Pingo Doce La Vie and bookings can be made on Bring Eat’s website (www.bringeat.pt), its app or by phone (+351
304 500 510). Payment can be made by cash, debit card or MB Way.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100969/Pingo_Doce_associa-se_a_Bring_Eat_e_passa_a_entregar_encomendas_de_take_away_em_casa_

Exhibition celebrating the arrival of Gibraltarians during the Second World War

An exhibition celebrating the 80th anniversary of the arrival of about
2,000 Gibraltarians, mostly women and children, in Madeira has opened at the Funchal town hall. They arrived in Madeira between July 23rd and August 13th 1940, were well-received and found refuge that enabled them to live in peace
during wartime. Many Gibraltarians and their relatives visit Funchal every year to remind them of their stay and to show their relatives the place were they found plenty of happiness. Indeed, 38 Gibraltarians had been expected to
celebrate this year’s anniversary but were unable to, due to the pandemic. Since they are over 80 years old, doctors advised them against travelling to Madeira, which would have required travelling through 4 airports. The exhibition can
be viewed in the atrium (átrio) of the Funchal Municipality town hall until the 18th of August and includes work from students from Funchal schools, from the Funchal Senior University and from a group of customers from Ginásio
da Barreirinha (gym).


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101077/Funchal_celebra_os_80_anos_da_chegada_dos_gibraltinos_a_Madeira_com_exposicao_no_atrio_da_CMF_

Water supply disruptions

There will be water supply disruptions today and tomorrow, in the following places:

Today

Parish of Santa Maria Maior (Rua de Santa Maria – between Rua Brigadeiro Oudinot and Rua da Boa Viagem) – 15h00-17h00

Tomorrow

Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Saraiva) – 09h00-12h00

Municipality of Porto Santo (Serra de Fora & Porto dos Frades) – 14h00-18h00

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101054/Corte_de_agua_entre_a_Rua_Brigadeiro_Oudinot_e_a_Rua_da_Boa_Viagem

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101090/Interrupcao_de_agua_quinta-feira_em_Camara_de_Lobos

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/101101/ARM_informa_que_vai_faltar_agua_no_Porto_Santo

Madeira by Daniel Fernandes Monday 10th August 2020

Covid-19 update

There were 3 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday and no new cases on Sunday. A patient recovered on Sunday.

There are currently 25 active cases, of which 22 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 3 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. So far, there have been 124 cases and 99
recoveries. As of Saturday, there had been 1,583 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not confirmed.

There are 20 patients in isolation at a
dedicated hotel, 2 in isolation at their place of residence and 3 are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are 8,015 people under active monitoring and 10,479 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 24,082 samples had been collected until Sunday (at 16h00). Overall, 53,240 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 46 calls from Friday to Saturday and 38 calls from Saturday to Sunday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 10,762.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,866 calls, with 164 people being monitored.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/08/ram-com-mais-3-casos-de-covid-19-ha-mais-2-casos-suspeitos-total-e-agora-de-26-casos-activos/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/09/ram-sem-novos-casos-de-covid-19-ha-um-doente-recuperado/

Increase in monitoring of safety and distancing guidelines in Porto Santo

Dr. Rogério Correia, the health delegate at Porto Santo, warned there will be a greater monitoring of compliance with the safety and distancing guidelines during the evenings. Although these guidelines are being complied with, there is
a trend for compliance to more relaxed during the evenings, in part due to alcohol consumption. He warned “there will only be an active island if Porto Santo is a safe island”.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100864/Rogerio_Correia_diz_que_controle_no_Porto_Santo_sera_mais_apertado_a_partir_da_proxima_semana

Number of deaths increased in Madeira during the pandemic

There were 919 deaths among the Region’s residents between March 17th and July 19th. The number of deaths increased this year despite the lack of deaths from Covid-19. The number of deaths in the same period of time last year and in
2019 was 851 and 916 respectively. There were 243 deaths in April 2020 (232 deaths in April 2018 and 219 deaths in April 2019); 231 deaths in May 2020 (214 deaths in May 2018 and 213 deaths in May 2019). The were fewer deaths in June
2020 (182) than in June 2018 (215) and in June 2019 (197). As of July 19th, the data from July suggest there will be a similar trend to April-May.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100902/Estatistica_Numero_de_mortos_aumentou_na_Madeira_durante_a_pandemia

Authorities praise the public for their behaviour at Rally Vinho da Madeira

Members of the public watching Rally Vinho da Madeira were
praised by the authorities for their behaviour during the event. They complied with the event’s safety and distancing guidelines. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Madeira Regional Government, said the event had been “a great success
regarding safety and prevention”, with spectators having “complied with the regional and national guidelines issued by the health authorities”. There was “a spirit of civic duty and solidarity”. He finished by pointing out that this
event had been an example, “at a time when we need some well-organised festivals and events”.

Despite this, there was still plenty of criticism on social media and in the media about the fact this event had taken place while other events, such as Festa da Flor (Madeira Flower Festival), which attract plenty of tourists to the
Region, had been cancelled. They were also critical of the lack of social distancing among spectators in several places.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/09/autoridades-civis-nao-poupam-nos-elogios-ao-rally-vinho-da-madeira/

Madeira by Daniel Fernandes Saturday 8th of August

Covid-19 update

There were 2 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, 2 new cases on Thursday and no new cases on Friday. All these new cases were imported.

So far, there have been 121 cases. There are currently 23 active cases, of which 20 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 3 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. There
have been 98 recoveries. Screening at Funchal Airport has detected 3 suspected cases that are currently under epidemiological investigation and testing. As of Thursday, there had been 1,580 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not
confirmed.

There are 18 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 2 in isolation at their place of residence and 3 are in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. There are 7,772 people under active monitoring and 9,976 people in
self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 22,419 samples had been collected until Friday (at 16h00). Overall, 51,314 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 254 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 10,678. The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available
every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,857 calls, with 164 people being monitored.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/05/dois-novos-casos-de-covid-19-ram-tem-ja-21-casos-activos/


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/06/madeira-com-23-casos-de-covid-19-hoje-surgiram-dois-casos-activos-ha-mais-dois-suspeitos/


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/07/mais-tres-casos-suspeitos-de-covid-19-tres-internados-no-hospital-23-casos-activos/

Increased police patrol at Rali Vinho Madeira to be funded by the Regional Government

The Madeira Regional Government will fund the increase in the
number of PSP police officers on duty during Rali Vinho da Madeira 2020. This decision was taken to ensure compliance with the regional, national and international sanitary and safety rules on the Covid-19 pandemic. The event organisers
have designed a Covid-19 contingency plan and a safety plan for drivers and spectators.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/06/governo-regional-vai-pagar-a-psp-para-reforcar-fiscalizacao-durante-o-rali-vinho-madeira/

Portuguese President on holiday in Porto Santo

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Portuguese President, has been on holiday in Porto Santo. He arrived on Thursday and is due to leave today. It is his 10th visit to Madeira since becoming President, although the current visit is not an
official visit. He has been spending time walking and swimming at Porto Santo beach. He has also been approached by beachgoers and has not refused to take selfies with them!

He noticed that while in the past beachgoers were more likely to go to the beach earlier in the day, this year they have been more likely to go to the beach later in the day. He was also spotted eating ice-cream from Lambecas, Porto
Santo’s most famous ice cream parlour, and visiting a bar that serves poncha (traditional Madeira alcoholic drink).

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100659/Marcelo_ja_chegou_ao_Porto_Santo


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100732/Marcelo_nadou_durante_30_minutos_nas_aguas_limpidas_do_Porto_Santo_

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100693/Marcelo_desfruta_de_uma_das_maravilhas_do_Porto_Santo

“If not for Covid-19, this would have been the best ever tourist year” in Porto Santo

Idalino Vasconcelos, the Mayor of Porto Santo, expressed his sadness with
the fact 2020 would have been the best tourist year in Porto if the Covid-19 pandemic had not happened. He said Porto Santo is a safe and crime-free destination, doesn’t have big social problems and has one of the best beaches in
Europe.

He highlighted the praise Porto Santo received from “European Best Destinations” and “Forbes” as a safe tourist destination. Once again, he asked for all health guidelines to be complied with. He also mentioned UNESCO recently approved
Porto Santo’s bid to be included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100722/Se_nao_fosse_o_covid-19_teriamos_hoje_o_melhor_ano_turistico_de_sempre_Idalino_Vasconcelos

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. The following areas will be affected:

ARCO DA CALHETA

11th August – 09h30 to 10h30

– Sítio do Pinheiro

CANHAS

11th August – 09h30 to 10h30

– Eiras, Chope, Pomar, Cancela – Vacaria, Malhadinha (including Britadeira and Cova Grande), Levada do Poiso (including Britadeira AFA), Ovo Girão

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/2020/08/07/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-59-2020/

Madeira report Wednesday 5th August 2020 by Daniel Fernandes

Covid-19 update

There were 5 new Covid-19 cases on Monday and 1 new case on Tuesday. The 5 cases from Monday were from 5 passengers who had been under epidemiological investigations and analysis, after screening at Funchal Airport. The other 2
suspected cases turned out to be negative. The case from Tuesday was from another passenger who had already been under epidemiological investigation and analysis.

On Monday, 2 passengers were placed under
epidemiological investigation and analysis, with 1 coming back positive and another coming back negative. On Tuesday, 2 more suspected cases were identified and were waiting for the test results. As of Tuesday, there had been 1,576
suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not confirmed.

So far, there have been 117 cases. There are currently 19 active cases, of which 16 were imported and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 3 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. There
have been 98 recoveries.

There are 14 patients in isolation at a dedicated hotel, 4 in isolation at their place of residence and 1 is in the Covid-19 unit at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.

There are 7,314 people under active monitoring and 9,390 people in self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 20,315 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 17h30). Overall, 48,447 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 126 calls from Sunday to Tuesday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 10,424.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,832 calls, with 161 people being monitored.


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/03/casos-de-covid-19-aumentam-na-madeira-hoje-ha-mais-5-total-agora-e-de-18/


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/04/mais-um-caso-confirmado-de-covid-19-na-ram-ha-hoje-mais-dois-casos-suspeitos/

Another Lisbon laboratory where travellers to Madeira can be tested

Passengers traveling from mainland Portugal to Madeira can now be tested for Covid-19, free of charge, in 6 laboratories, after the Madeira Regional Government signed a deal with LUMILABO. This laboratory has the capacity to carry out
250 tests per day and has 13 sample collection points. Testing can be booked by phone (21 7210480) or by email (geral@lumilabo.pt or mail@lumilabo.pt). Sample
collections take place from Monday to Saturday (07h00-19h00).

The Madeira Regional Government had already signed an agreement with 5
labs in the Portuguese mainland: 1 in Lisbon (Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas (CEDOC)), 1 in Coimbra (Laboratórios da Universidade de Coimbra), 1 in Porto (ADC Porto Ocidental), 1 in Vila Real (ADC Vila Real) and 1 in Barcelos
(ADC Barcelos).

Madeira estabelece protocolo com laboratório em Lisboa para testes gratuitos para covid-19

Madeira residents can be tested for free before traveling to Azores

Madeira residents can be tested for Covid-19, free of charge, at SYNLAB, before traveling to the Azores archipelago. The laboratory is located at Rua do Bom Jesus (number 18). Testing must be booked by contacting SYNLAB by phone
(291143454) or by email (agendamentos.funchal@synlab.pt). The ticket receipt or the electronic ticket of the flight to the Azores must be presented and samples can be collected from
Monday to Friday (11h00-12h00 & 14h00-18h00).


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100483/Covid-19_Testes_de_despiste_antes_de_viagem_para_os_Acores_sao_realizados_no_SYNLAB_do_Bom_Jesus

Bathing ban at Praia das Palmeiras for several days

Bathing is banned at Praia das Palmeiras (Palmeiras Beach),
located in Santa Cruz due to a rupture of the waste water lifting station in the municipal market. The rupture was detected on Friday. On Tuesday, it was found that the rupture had led to a discharge of sewage into the sea, which
resulted in a bathing ban in the area between the swimming pool at Praia das Palmeiras and Praia de São Fernando (São Fernando beach – next to Hotel Vila Galé). The complexity of the necessary repair work means bathing in Santa Cruz is
forbidden for several days. The red flag was raised at Praia das Palmeiras. Although the seawater swimming pool at Praia das Palmeiras can still be used, bathing could be banned if the problem has not been resolved by the time the sea
water is renewed.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100467/Santa_Cruz_Praia_das_Palmeiras_interdita_a_banhos_durante_alguns_dias

Biggest ever heroin haul seizure in Madeira

Polícia Judiciária (PJ) made the biggest ever heroin haul seizure in Madeira after arresting a woman carrying about 10 Kg of heroin, the equivalent of about 120,000 individual doses. The arrest was made during an operation in the last
weekend, after a four-month investigation. The 55 year-old woman was in possession of about 10 Kg of heroin at the time of her arrest, shortly after landing at Funchal Airport. The woman was remanded in custody. The PJ is continuing its
investigation.

https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/policia-judiciaria-faz-maior-apreensao-de-heroina-registada-na-madeira

Water supply disruptions

There will be several water supply disruptions today:

(09h00-12h00) – Caminho da Ladeira (Santo António)

(09h00-12h00) – Parish of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos – Castelejo, Rochas Altas, Casa Caída and Fajã das Galinhas

(14h00-17h00) – Parish of São Jorge – Farrobo, Achada Grande, Achada Felpa, Achado do Vigário, Covas, Corrida, Achadinha, Lombo do Cunha, Pé do Pico, Pico, São Pedro and Tanque

And there will be a water supply disruption tomorrow, from 14h00 to 18h00, in Porto Santo, affecting the following areas: Lombas and Matas.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/04/cmf-anuncia-corte-na-distribuicao-de-agua-amanha-em-santo-antonio/


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/04/arm-avisa-para-interrupcao-no-abastecimento-de-agua-potavel-no-estreito-de-camara-de-lobos/


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/04/fornecimento-de-agua-interrompido-em-sao-jorge-no-dia-5-de-agosto-das-14-as-17h/

https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/04/arm-avisa-para-mais-um-corte-de-agua-desta-feita-no-porto-santo/

Madeira Situation Report by Daniel Fernandes, Monday August 3rd 2020

Covid-19 update

There were 2 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday and 3 new cases on Sunday. The 3 cases from yesterday are from 3 tourists who had arrived from Switzerland. They had already been in isolation and under monitoring after a member of the group
had tested positive on arrival last week. And 7 travellers are under epidemiological investigations and analysis after screening at Funchal Airport.

In more positive news, a patient who had arrived in Madeira and who had been in isolation in a designated hotel has recovered. So far, there have been 111 cases, 98 recoveries and 13 active cases. Ten of the active cases were imported
and identified through screening at Funchal Airport, while the other 3 active cases were a result of a local transmission chain. And 8 patients are in isolation in a designated hotel while 5 are in isolation in a temporary home.

There are 6,467 people under active monitoring and 8,413 people in
self-monitoring. Monitoring is being carried out by the health authorities of the Region’s Municipalities through the ‘MadeiraSafetoDiscover’ app. As of Saturday, there had been 1,570 suspected cases, of which 1,459 were not confirmed.

As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 17,794 samples had been collected until yesterday (at 18h00). Overall, 45,654 samples have been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 113 calls from Friday to Sunday. Overall, the total number of calls made to this helpline is 10,424.

The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,811 calls, with 160 people being monitored.

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100260/Covid-19_Dois_novos_casos_identificados_na_Madeira


https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/08/02/mais-3-casos-de-covid-19-na-ram-outros-sete-casos-suspeitos-sob-investigacao/

President of the Madeira Regional Government does not believe mandatory use of masks will deter visitors to Madeira

Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, acknowledged the use of a face mask is “boring” but he does not believe its mandatory use in public places will deter visitors from coming to Madeira. Although he was
aware this policy would be controversial, he believes it is preferable to have this policy in place than to face transmission chains and uncontrollable situations.

He reinforced this by highlighting two crucial developments coming up.
The first is connected to the pandemic situation in countries such as Spain, France and Germany, which is “reaching alarming levels”. Madeira will be very exposed to tourists from these countries. The second is the reopening of schools
and nurseries in the first fortnight of September. He said there will be 43,000 students and 6,000 teachers which will mean more gatherings and a greater risk of transmission. Furthermore, the Region is expecting the arrival of 70,000
tourists in August and 80,000 in September.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100155/_Nao_acredito_que_ninguem_deixe_de_vir_a_Madeira_por_causa_do_uso_da_mascara

Return of Jet2 to is a “happy day to Madeira”

Eduardo Jesus, the Madeira Tourism Secretary, was very pleased with the return of Jet2 flights to Madeira after several months without any. Jet2 is the biggest British tourism operator to Madeira and today it will carry hundreds of
people though several flights to the archipelago. He said this is happening despite the quarantine requirements for
tourists when returning to the UK. He added that Jet2 had managed to motivate a
large number of tourists who believe Madeira is a safe destination and who are still willing to come to Madeira on holiday, even if it means being in quarantine after their return. He believes Jet2 and the British market have shown
great trust in Madeira due to the policies adopted by the Regional Government to ensure it is a safe destination and to the “exemplary control of the pandemic” in the Region. He finished by saying “the recovery is underway” and “it is
necessary to believe and to use these positive news” to motivate the entire tourism industry.


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100310/Regresso_da_companhia_aerea_Jet2_e_um_dia_feliz_para_a_Madeira_diz_Eduardo_Jesus

Roadworks at Via Rápida (VR1)

The exit road of VR1 at junction 18 (nó 18 – Gaula– marked in red on the map), heading from Funchal towards Ribeira Brava, will be closed to traffic due to scheduled work on the road pavement, from August 4th (10h00) to August 5th
(02h00).

As a diversion, Vialitoral suggests drivers exit at the previous junction (junction 19 – Boaventura) or at the following junction (junction 17 – Porto Novo). Vialitoral asked drivers to comply with all existing road signs. All similar
information is available and constantly updated on the following website:

www.vialitoral.com


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100162/Vialitoral_encerra_saida_da_via_rapida_em_Gaula_no_sentido_Funchal_-_Ribeira_Brava

Water supply disruptions

There will be water supply disruptions tomorrow due to scheduled work on the water supply chain to prevent water leaks. The disruptions will affect the following areas:

Municipality of Câmara de Lobos – Vila, Pé do Pico and Espírito Santo (09h00 to 12h00)

Municipality of Santana – Corrida, Curral Velho, Fonte da Pedra, Lombo de Antão Alves, Pico, Pinheiro, Serra de Água, Silveira and Serrado (14h00 to 18h00)

https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100178/Abastecimento_de_agua_afetado_em_Camara_de_Lobos_a_4_de_agosto


https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/100180/Remodelacao_na_rede_deixa_Santana_sem_agua_em_varios_sitios_na_proxima_terca-feira

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. The following areas will be affected:

FUNCHAL

4th August – 09h00 to 11h30

– Calçada da Cabouqueira (numbers 17, 21, 62, 64, 76 and 80

5th August – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Rua do Lazareto (number 239)

– Beco do Ribeiro Seco (São Gonçalo)

5th and 6th August – 09h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00

– Rua dos Álamos (numbers 3 and 5)

6th August – 09h00 to 12h00

– Rua Nova da Igreja (S. Gonçalo) & Rua Prof. Modesto Trindade

– Beco do Carteiro

– Travessa Pedra Mole

– Calçada do Pico (numbers 12 and 14)

CAMPANÁRIO

4th August – 09h00 to 11h30

– Caminho da Pedra de Nossa Senhora & Caminho da Gloria

– Ribeiro dos Melões (including Via Litoral)

– Vigia (partial)

4th August – 09h30 to 09h45 & 16h00 to 16h15

– Chamorra de Baixo, Cima e Porta Nova

ARCO DA CALHETA

5th August – 09h30 to 11h30

– Faias

CALHETA

5th August – 09h30

– Pico Atouguia

SÃO VICENTE

5th August – 09h00 to 09h30 & 17h00 to 17h30

– Ginjas, Miradouro (Ginjas) and Parque Empresarial de São Vicente

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/2020/08/01/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-57-2020/

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 19th August 2020

Covid 19 Situation

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) today pointed out the existence of 1007 cases of covid-19 in the Algarve, 11 more than yesterday, and totalling 17 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic

Marcelo: Portugal on the UK’s safe list makes a “brutal difference” for the Algarve

It is “great news” that makes “a brutal difference” in the economy – and the general panorama – of the Algarve. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Portimão commented about the inclusion of Portugal in the list of safe destinations in the United Kingdom.

He stated “It is great news. Great news for the mayors here in the Algarve for many others from other parts of the country but first of all for the 300,000 Portuguese who live and work in the United Kingdom. It is also good news for the almost 50 thousand Britons who live and like to live in Portugal and also for all those who wanted to move from one country to another”.


João Fernandes: Algarve must “make the most» air corridor to the United Kingdom”

The inclusion of Portugal in the United Kingdom’s list of safe countries to travel was deserved “for some time” and will open a window of opportunity that the Algarve region “should make the most of”, according to João Fernandes, president of Turismo do Algarve. The British Government’s decision, announced yesterday by the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Transport, comes at a time when “we still have four months to go”, until winter arrives.

“We have September and October still with good weather for bathing, but above all, we have new motivations for visiting, which find their peak season in this period, namely golf, which is one of the main reasons for visiting the region”, he said.

It should also be borne in mind that “September will be marked by the realization of the Portugal Masters”, in golf, and in October there are Formula 1 and Moto GP events in Portimão.

“At this moment, we start for four months of the year when we still have opportunities. We have to guarantee that we have exhausted its potential”, added a satisfied João Fernandes. This was, moreover, “a news that we had hoped for and which we had deserved for some time”. “There is a feeling here that, finally, the security that exists in Portugal is recognized, specifically here in the Algarve, the main tourist destination of the British», he illustrated.


Turismo do Algarve wants tourists to visit the region outside the usual “high season” period.

Turismo do Algarve is intensifying the creation of partnerships with some of the main European airlines that fly to the region, with the aim of reinforcing the effort to promote the destination and to attract the interest of new visitors until the end of this year. British Airways, Eurowings, Ryanair, Easyjet, AirFrance and Edelweiss are some of the companies that are already collaborating in the creation of joint marketing campaigns, to enhance reservations for stays in the region even during 2020.

Based on a multiplatform dissemination strategy, which integrates and combines digital and printed channels carefully selected in some of the main markets (such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland), these actions aim to promote the Algarve as a safe destination and place highlighted the diversity of experiences that the region has to offer.

According to João Fernandes, president of Turismo do Algarve, “with these campaigns we want to encourage last minute reservations, a trend that, given the current context, has been growing significantly”.

João Fernandes adds that “many people cancelled or postponed the holidays they had already scheduled because of the pandemic and it is mainly these tourists that we want to arrive, showing them that they are still in time to schedule these holidays in a destination that is fully prepared for the receive, with security, quality and flexibility. In addition to the diversity and richness of the region’s offer, the mild climate that the Algarve has throughout the year is another of our strong arguments, which we hope to capitalize on at this time and which we believe will be an important stimulus for travellers to book your holidays outside the traditional periods of high season”.


Aljezur: GNR detects 122 infractions in action to inspect illegal camping

On Thursday the GNR carried out several inspection actions to combat illegal caravanning and wild camping, within the scope of the “Safe Summer 2020” operation, in the municipality of Aljezur, with a special focus on the Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina Natural Park.

According to a statement by that security force, of the inspection actions, “122 records were prepared, of which 97 were for offence resulting from wild camping as well as motorhome and illegal parking in prohibited places and 25 for non-compliance with the traffic sign regulation”.

The action that was carried out with the reinforcement of the Coastal Control Detachment (DCC) of Sines and in collaboration with the Regional Directorate for Nature Conservation and Forests of the Algarve, aimed to “mitigate wild camping activities and illegal caravanning”.


Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 19th August 2020

Almancil – GNR Breaks up an illegal party with more than 200 people attending

The Faro Territorial Command, through the Territorial Detachment of Loulé, on August 16, stopped an illegal party with more than 200 people, in the locality of Almancil.

In the course of several complaints informing the realization of a private party, the military of the Guard carried out several actions with a view to ascertaining the location of the event, having determined the exact location, and so proceeded to inspect the party. The event was widely publicized by the organizing company on social networks, with exclusive entrance for customers with table reservation and the location transmitted only 12 hours before its start, with several guest artists.

Promoters of the event were previously alerted by GNR to the measures in force due to the pandemic COVID-19 and warned not to hold the party. In addition, the Health Authority was asked to give an opinion, which was negative, as all preventive, protective and safety measures required for such an event were not safeguarded.

Nevertheless, the organizers continued with the event, with the GNR military arriving at the place and ending the party immediately, ordering all people to leave the place. The operation had the reinforcement of the Intervention and Public Order Group (GIOP) and the Cinotechnical Intervention Group (GIC) (Dog Unit).

The event organizers were identified and the facts forwarded to the Loulé Judicial Court.


Hotel occupancy with the lowest value ever for the month of July

Figures revealed yesterday by the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA) account for falls in all markets. Portuguese and Spanish vacationers gave some encouragement to the high season 2020.

The average national occupancy rate / room was 32.6 percent, that is, 50.9 percentage points (pp) below that seen in July 2019 (-61.0 percent). Since January, this indicator has been 63.2 percent lower (-38.5pp) than in the previous year.

According to the latest data released by the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA), on Monday, August 17, the average occupancy rate / bed was 32.0 percent, 2.0pp above the verified in July 2019 (+5.9 percent) With the decrease seen, the occupancy rate registered the lowest value ever for the month of July.

This year-on-year variation is justified by the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, whose impact on hotels began to be felt at the beginning of March with reservation cancellations, evolving abruptly to a situation of progressive closure of accommodation units.

All geographic areas suffered severe falls, which ranged between -38.5pp (-53.0 percent) in Monte Gordo and Vila Real de Santo António and -59.6pp (-68.6 percent) in Albufeira.

The area of ​​Faro and Olhão registered the highest occupancy rate, 39.3 percent, while the lowest occurred in the Albufeira area, with 27.3 percent.


Covid.19: Algarve registers exponential increase in requests for food support

According to a “JN” (news) survey of 308 city councils in the country to which 178 responded, there is a worrying reality: the Algarve is one of the regions most affected by hunger.

The support of the Chambers is provided through baskets, meals and vouchers. For example, in the municipality of Lagos alone, the increase was 220% of families supported per month, representing about 660 monthly baskets, when before the pandemic, there were 120.

In the municipality of Loulé, two canteens were created, having prepared more than 24 thousand meals, adding to more than 1100 baskets delivered.

According to the same source, Faro supports 900 people, Albufeira 771 residents, Portimão 775, plus 532 baskets for families per month. Olhão supports 600 people and delivers 550 food kits.

Speaking to TVI, the president of the Food Bank against Hunger in the Algarve said that 24,000 people are supported, which is a historical value, since, before the pandemic, 16,000 people were supported. Nuno Alves stressed that he expects a further increase in requests for support after the summer.

For this person, many of these people were employed, “they had a normal life and never thought about resorting to food support”. There has been additional aid in addition to the food emergency network, businesspeople in the region and foreigners. Until November, the Food Bank has reserves to provide support. Nuno Alves hopes that the next big fundraising campaign will materialize to help from that period. However, due to the unpredictability of the pandemic, there is no certainty about the expected results.

Algarve Situation Report Saturday 15th of August

According to DGS on Friday the number of confirmed cases in Algarve since the start of the pandemic is 957, an increase of 11 since Thursday. Local health authority has reported 229 active cases as at 13th August 2359 hrs. A total of nine are in hospital and there are none in ICU. A total of 700 have recovered

The epidemiological situation in the Algarve “is stabilized”, after two weeks “with, practically, every day with a number of new single digit daily cases”, explained Ana Cristina Guerreiro, the Regional Health Delegate, at the press conference balance sheet of the pandemic, which took place today, the 14th, in Loulé.

Numbers achieved “at the height of summer, at a time when the population of the Algarve has tripled” and which, in practice, means that the Algarve has a ratio of less than 20 infected per 100 thousand inhabitants, that is, it is within the norms Europeans consider it a safe region.

According to José Apolinário, Secretary of State who is the coordinator of the State of Alert in the Algarve, the number of active cases “has been decreasing since the beginning of the month”, thanks to the “work and commitment” of the regional entities, whether in the sector health and civil protection. He gave the example of the outbreaks that arose in the Civil Construction sector, which, according to Ana Cristina Guerreiro, became “a great concern”, but which are now under control.

“As soon as these outbreaks emerged, we immediately carried out verification and awareness actions in shipyards with more than 20 workers”, he recalled. According to the Regional Health Delegate, many of the new cases are “imported”, since they are from foreigners or Portuguese who are on vacation in the Algarve. “Every day we have cases of foreigners. Usually, people arrive here without symptoms and develop them when they are here” she said. There have also been cases related to “emigrants and foreigners working here”


GNR issues 116 administrative offenses.

The National Republican Guard (GNR), through the Territorial Detachment of Portimão, the Regional Directorate of the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) of the Algarve and the Municipality of Vila do Bispo – Municipal Civil Protection Service, carried out on 13th August, an inspection in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, against wild camping and motorhome.

The operation took place in the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Natural Park and involved 22 personnel. Taking place between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm, it resulted in a total of 116 vehicles being checked surveyed, of which 91 were misdemeanours resulting from camping and wild caravanning were identified, as well as illegal parking in non-permitted places, and 25 for non-compliance with the traffic sign regulation.

Wild camping and campervans “is a problem that has been identified for a long time and constitutes a factor in the destruction of habitats, some of which are protected, in addition to representing an illegal occupation which results in a degradation of the places used by uncontrolled deposition of waste”, explains the ICNF. Thus, these inspection actions aim to “discourage illegal and strongly degrading practices in an area of ​​high natural value but also tourism”.


Algarve report Wednesday 12th August 2020

Data from the epidemiological bulletin of this Tuesday, August 11

Yesterday the Algarve had three more cases of Covid-19 according to the epidemiological bulletin of this Tuesday, August 11 released by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

The number of infected with the new coronavirus in the Algarve since the beginning of the pandemic is now 934.

In Alentejo there are also three more cases this Tuesday compared to yesterday’s DGS bulletin with the cumulative total rising to 770.


Man arrested for theft of more than 200 kilos of carob in Algoz

A 43-year-old man was arrested yesterday suspected of stealing carobs, with 212 kilos in his possession, in the town of Algoz, Silves municipality, according to the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The arrest occurred following a complaint that a man was stealing carob from a piece of land, so the GNR military went “immediately to the place”, where they surprised the suspect, “who was caught in possession of 212 kilograms of subtracted carob, already packed in bags for transportation”.

In a statement, the GNR reported that the suspect was arrested and the carob recovered, adding that the facts were referred to the Silves Judicial Court.

In this context, GNR highlighted the Campo Seguro operation, which takes place throughout the national territory, in which the soldiers of this security force remain attentive to the phenomenon of theft of agricultural products, especially in the Algarve region.


Algarve report Monday 10th August 2020

Covid-19: DGS records another death in the Algarve and three new cases

The Algarve has one more death caused by Covid-19 and three new cases of the disease, according to the epidemiological bulletin this Sunday, August 9, which has just been released by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). This is the second day in a row with deaths in the region, according to DGS data.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, in accumulated numbers, there have already been 929 infections in the Algarve and 17 deaths, according to DGS.

This is the second consecutive day that the Directorate General for Health counts deaths in the Algarve after more than two months without deaths in the region.

A man from the municipality of Aljezur, over 70 years old, who had been hospitalized “for several weeks in intensive care” is the latest mortal victim of Covid-19 in the Algarve, this being the death that was reported in the epidemiological bulletin of the Directorate- General Health

The two men the other from Loule, according to the same source, “were hospitalized for several weeks in intensive care”.

José Gonçalves, Mayor of Aljezur, regretted the death of the citizen who, “he knew well”.

There are currently 17 confirmed deaths from Covid-19 in the Algarve, according to DGS. In the figures of the Regional Health Authority, however, there are 19 fatalities accounted for, since two deaths of people who died in the region were also included in their data, despite being from other districts.


Truck of Hope ends tour of the Algarve in Lagoa

Truck of Hope has done a thousand tests in the Algarve.

Camião da Esperança (Truck of Hope) is from today and until August 14 in the municipality of Lagoa next to the Senhora da Rocha promontory doing molecular and serological tests to Covid-19 and advising the population about public health care and practices during the pandemic.

Camião da Esperança (Truck of Hope) is a mobile unit prepared to carry out tests on the new coronavirus and with a team of health professionals available for medical advice consultations and free nursing treatments to the population.

The molecular test (detects the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus) requires a medical prescription has resulted in 24 hours (through Unilabs) and a cost of 100 euros.

The serological test (detects the presence of antibodies) does not need a prescription has an immediate result and costs 40 euros. The opening hours to the public are from 9 am to 2 pm.


Algarve Saturday 8th of August

Covid-19 Statistics

The number of cases yesterday increased by six bringing the total to 909 since the start of the pandemic. The total of deaths stands at 17 registered.

There are 252 active cases of whom 10 are in hospital and three in intensive care. A total of 640 have recovered i.e. 70.4%

Covid-19: Outbreaks in the Algarve related to family gatherings

Many of the new covid-19 outbreaks are related to family gatherings, especially in the Algarve, the Directorate-General for Health warned today, recalling that there are currently 178 active outbreaks in the country. However, the authorities are now paying particular attention to the south of the country: “Everyone wants to socialize and everyone is at risk and this is what is happening in the Algarve”, warned Rui Portugal.

“Outbreaks are, at this moment, mainly based on family,” said Rui Portugal, explaining that it is the meetings of people who do not live together that are potentiating the new cases. “Despite being from the same family and having the same names, they have to realize that if they are in different nuclei, contagions from one nucleus to another may occur,” he warned, asking everyone to continue to maintain the rules of social distance.

Rui Portugal also recalled that the danger is not limited to groups of young people: “At this stage, a lot of attention is paid to the risk that occurs in a more social gathering, for all generations”. Labour issues are no longer “worrying the same way they did”, and are now replaced by reunions during vacation times.


ABC to test Algarvians travelling to Madeira

Through an agreement established with the Regional Government of Madeira, the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC) begins to test, as of today, the citizens of the region who travel to Madeira departing from the Mainland.

The tests are free and mandatory to be booked up to 72 hours before the flight, which can be done by email (harvesting.estadio@abcmedicalg.pt, with the title “Viagem à Madeira” and reference in the email body to the postal code of residence) or by phone (966418469, between 3 pm and 7 pm), according to a statement from ABC.

Both when scheduling and when testing, the following are required: name, phone number, email and passenger’s card number / passenger’s National Health Service number; destination address in Madeira; copy of airline ticket / travel receipt.

The tests are carried out between 17h30 and 20h00, at Estádio do Algarve.


Loulé distributes thousands of masks made in the municipality to cafes, shops and restaurants

Thousands of masks made by the seamstresses of the studio where the Carnival costumes are created, as well as professionals who joined this project, are being distributed by the Municipality of Loulé, from the coast to the interior. This action has as partner the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), an entity that designed and conceived the model of the masks, guaranteeing the safety standards appropriate to the prevention of Covid-19.

This initiative started in May, with the distribution of masks to residents of social districts, the elderly and professionals in the areas of intervention and civil protection and to families who resorted to the Loulé Solidário line during the peak of the pandemic. In this first phase, more than 2,500 masks were distributed throughout the municipality.

Now, at a time when many tourists are on vacation in the municipality of Loulé, the municipality decided to extend this preventive action and distribute social masks (reusable) by the local commerce in the municipality, as a way to reinforce the safety of these professionals, as well as the image of the municipality as a safe destination.

All restaurants, shops or cafes are receiving kits containing 2 masks, disinfectant wipes and explanatory leaflet.

The CLDS 4G team Castro Marim (Com) Vida is already taking its first steps on the ground, traversing the hills of the Castro Mountains. The objective is to raise the awareness of the elderly about the care to be taken with the sun, with the right to offer a solar kit. During the month of August, it is already possible to find Odiana’s CLDS4G team to intervene directly in situ and with the population.

The motto is awareness actions with a double objective: on the one hand, to inform and raise awareness about the care to be taken with sun exposure in the elderly; on the other hand, breaking the isolation of the elderly, aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The timing of this action is done in accordance with the circuit of the Mobile Health Unit in Castro and takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, in order to avoid fear or feelings of insecurity on the part of seniors. This is the first action of CLDS 4G on the ground, with a fragile population. During the visit, all the elderly receive an awareness kit consisting of a straw hat, a fan, a sample of sunscreen and a leaflet. Specific recommendations are also made addressing dehydration, adequate food and clothing and the importance of sun protection.


Wednesday 5th August 2020

Covid-19 Algarve – 9 more cases

The Algarve now has nine more cases of Covid-19 and 901 cases accumulated since the beginning of the pandemic according to the epidemiological bulletin of this Tuesday, August 4th released by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

Small 3.9 magnitude Earthquake 68 kms south of Albufeira

No damage recorded

A 3.9 magnitude earthquake (Richter), with an epicentre 68 kms south of Albufeira, has been felt in several locations in the Algarve.

The quake was recorded at 19.03 hrs and took place at sea, 12 kms.

There were several reports from people who felt the shock in Albufeira and Loulé.

NOTE

This level is classified as a “minor earthquake” around a hundred thousand of which take place each year globally.


Vila Real de Santo António fire fighters help to put out fire in Ayamonte

“A reason to be proud”. This is how those responsible for the Eurocity of Guadiana see the collaboration between the firemen of Portugal and Spain in the extinguishing of a fire yesterday, Monday in Ayamonte, Spain.

And it was, thanks to the quick action of forest firemen, including the Portuguese, but also of the security forces, which also included the GNR the fire has not evolved further.

Commander of Vila Real de Santo António fire fighters welcomed this type of collaboration.

He says that: “Besides being a border area we belong to the Eurocity of Guadiana and we trust that through this entity we can develop more extensive broader protocols for mutual aid and strengthen ties in the field of assistance and civil protection”.


Faro launches book with fresh recipes for the elderly

The Municipality of Faro launched a cookbook prepared by the Municipality’s Support Office for the Elderly with the support of Provectus and the Prato Certo (In Loco) in a project entitled “Fresh Cuisine for seniors”.

Aware that the feeding of the elderly is a concern especially with the arrival of high temperatures, the Elderly Support Office created this project that presents food suggestions and proposals that include, for example the need to drink water.

In this book to increase water consumption dozens of recipes are suggested to make the summer fresher and healthier for everyone for example, flavoured waters among others.

This book has already been sent by mail to about 250 elderly people in the municipality who have been in contact with the Department of Social Development and Education of the municipality, in the last two years.

The county’s elderly who do not receive the book can request it at that service, located in Plaza José Afonso, nr.1.


Detained Italian who had a greenhouse with 255 cannabis plants in Monte de Paderne

A 44-year-old Italian man who had a cannabis greenhouse with 255 plants in Paderne was arrested yesterday’s morning by the GNR Criminal Investigation Centre in Albufeira.

According to the investigation that took place about a month ago, it was initiated following a complaint.

GNR has not yet found evidence that the detainee had the plants for later sale, but “taking into account the size of the plantation” there is evidence to that effect.

In addition to the 255 cannabis plants were seized 31 bags of fertilizer, a revolver 4 adapted calibre, 72 various calibres of ammunition, a computer, a tablet and two mobile phones.


Mãe Soberana (Sovereign Mother) classified as Intangible / Spiritual Cultural Heritage of Portugal

Inclusion of the Mãe Soberana (Sovereign Mother) in this list was published yesterday in the Diário da República.

The confirmation of the inclusion of this cultural and religious event in the municipality of Loulé in this list, took place yesterday.

This classification is the recognition of “a work we did in 2015 for the preparation of all necessary documentation and submission to the success of Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Mercy) of the service registration application in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory.”

This recognition is “a major step towards affirming this identity, which is not only “louletana” (from Loulé) but also of the whole Algarve, because we are talking about the most important Marian manifestation south of Fátima”.


Monday 3rd August 2020

Rural Fires – Faro District at Red Alert

The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) placed the districts of Santarém and Faro on alert of red level readiness, due to the increased risk of fire, and called for the care of the populations.

“We are going to have a very severe weather picture with an increase in wind speed. In the next two days we will have a very strong wind, not only during the day, but also at night, and with reduced recovery of the moisture retained during the night,” said Miguel Cruz, district grouping commander, at a press conference at ANEPC headquarters in Carnaxide.

“In this light, the appeal is to avoid any activity that could cause any ignition,” said the official, adding that the special red alert status for districts has been determined”.

Special alert states determine the degree of readiness for fire-fighting means to respond.

In yellow alert are the districts of Porto, Braga and Viana do Castelo and in orange alert the remaining districts of mainland Portugal.

Mainland Portugal will enter an Alert Situation yesterday at 20.00 hrs until the 4th, in view of the forecast of “a significant increase in the risk of rural fire”, the Government announced yesterday.

All details have been posted on the Safe Communities Portugal Facebook page


Shark sighted Tavira

The alleged sighting by people of a shark on Terra Estreita beach, in Tavira, Algarve, led, on Sunday afternoon, to the raising of the red flag in three beaches for about an hour and a half. During this period, a water scooter travelled the coast, but found no sight of the shark.

Rui Andrade, Commander of the Captaincy of Tavira, said that the alert was given by the lifeguard from Terra Estreita beach, located in Santa Luzia, Tavira, at about 13.20 hours, following reports by bathers who said they had seen a shark approaching the coast.

“In order to safeguard the integrity of the people, as always happens in these cases, we ordered the flag to be hoisted on three beaches, Terra Estreita, Barril and Ilha de Tavira. Then, the area was covered by a personal watercraft, but there were no sightings”.

The occurrence concluded at about 14.45 hours, when the green flag was raised again and bathers on the three beaches were able to return to the water.


Saturday 1th of August

Covid 19 Situation

Yesterday, the Algarve region has 266 active cases and 583 people who have already recovered from the disease, according to the report of the District Civil Protection Commission of Faro.

The counties with the most active cases are Loulé (53), Albufeira (49) and Faro (43), while Castro Marim, Alcoutim and Vila do Bispo do not register any infection. The number of recovered people rose to 583, with a rate of 67.3%, lower than the previous week’s Situation Point.

In the Algarve hospitals 10 patients are hospitalized, five of them in intensive care and 93 have been discharged since the beginning of the pandemic, while 642 people are under active surveillance.

Regarding deaths, the Regional Health Authority, which provides the data to the District Civil Protection Commission of Faro, reveals that 17 people have already died from covid-19 in the region, although the Directorate-General for Health only registered 15. According to one source of the Regional Health Administration, these “two deaths occurred in the region, but people did not have residence in the Algarve”, he revealed to JA.


Marcelo says that specific plan to support the Algarve is a “national priority

The existence of a specific plan to support the Algarve is a “national priority”, this Friday, July 31, defended the President of the Republic, after a meeting with business associations in the region, in Tavira.

At the end of this hearing, at the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considered that the Algarve “needs a redoubled and specific attention”. “There is no other region in the country that depends so much on tourism, a sector that hit the bottom,” he said. The Government has already announced the elaboration of a specific recovery plan for the region, something that Rui Rio, president of PSD, also mentioned, in a recent visit to the Algarve, to be necessary.

“When the Government spoke of a specific plan for the Algarve and I saw the opposition leader talking about it, I thought it was a good sign that they understood that this is a national priority. It is neither the government nor the opposition. It belongs to everyone”, stated Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, speaking to journalists.


The Municipality of Silves has distributed food baskets to 23 households in the municipality.

The baskets are the result of a donation made by elements of the foreign community and were destined to socioeconomically deprived households, residing in several parishes in the municipality, and referenced by the municipal Social Action Sector.

In a press release, the municipality states that the baskets delivered were made up of essential products, including dairy products, olive oil, grain, beans, canned goods, pasta and crackers.

In the same note sent to the media, the Municipality of Silves “thanks the entire foreign community involved for the generous offer of these products, which naturally made a big difference in the daily lives of these families” who were more vulnerable due to the pandemic situation that we currently go through.


Algarve Situation Report Wednesday July 29th 2020

Covid-19:

67.4% of Algarvian patients with Covid-19 have recovered, according to the regional data to which South Information had access.

Thus, of the 841 cases that the Regional Health Authority reports in relation to yesterday, 27 July, there were already 567 people recovered, while the number of deaths has remained at 17 since the beginning of June. This means that the number of active cases across the region now stands at just 257.

The municipality that still has the most active cases is Albufeira (50), followed by Loulé and Faro, both with 46. Castro Marim, despite having had three confirmed cases, a long time ago that has no active case.

Vila do Bispo and Alcoutim remain the only two municipalities in the Algarve where, so far, no positive cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed.

In the past few days, an outbreak that affected 6 people of the same family was reported, two of whom worked in a restaurant in Armação de Pêra. The restaurant, as well as an ice cream parlour, were closed as a precaution, but the outbreak is already contained.

However, for some days now, the figures communicated by the Regional Health Authority to mayors and other officials in the Algarve are below the numbers announced by DGS. The first totals 841 (no new cases today), the second 853 (no new cases for two days).

https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/07/covid-19-674-dos-doentes-algarvios-ja-recuperaram-pelo-que-casos-ativos-diminuem-mapa/


Progressive recovery measures do not satisfy companies in the Algarve – hoteliers

The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA) considered today that the progressive recovery measures approved on Monday by the Government “do not satisfy” companies in the region’s tourism sector.

“These measures may, perhaps, adjust to the needs and requirements of other sectors of activity in the rest of the country, but they do not, of course, satisfy the situation in the Algarve,” said Elidérico Viegas.

The leader spoke after a meeting of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques, with businessmen and unions in the region, held at the headquarters of Turismo do Algarve, in Faro.

“The Secretary of State came to announce the measures that the Government approved for the country, not for the Algarve, nor for tourism. What was expected was that there could be positive discrimination measures for the region, much more affected than the rest of the country, given its dependence on a single sector of activity “, stressed the leader of AHETA.

Extraordinary support for the progressive resumption, which will be in effect between August and December, may be requested by companies with a break in revenue equal to or greater than 40% “as of the end of next week”, announced on Monday the Minister of Labor , Solidarity and Social Security.

The additional support for companies with a break in sales of 75% or more can only be requested in September, but will have retroactive effects to August, said the minister.

Extraordinary support for the progressive recovery was provided for in the Economic and Social Stabilization Program (PEES) but did not include new additional support for companies with a break in sales equal to or greater than 75%.


Albufeira – Beach safety reminder

The Albufeira Town Council (Algarve) launched a campaign on the municipality’s beaches, alerting bathers to risky behaviours, not only due to the covid-19 pandemic but also due to the instability of the cliffs, was announced today.

Under the motto ‘Albufeira safe beaches’, the awareness campaign calls on users of the beaches to adopt “protective measures and respect for the signs existing at the entrance to the beaches”, the municipality said in a statement.

Through information available in Portuguese and English, the rules for responsible use in the 25 bathing areas of the municipality and the duties of bathers are pointed out in actions promoted by the Municipal Civil Protection Service.

Started on June 6, the campaign will continue until September, with awareness actions reinforced on the beaches through a tent that provides information between 9:30 am and 11:30 am.

For the Mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, cited in the document, the objective is to alert vacationers “to the importance of a preventive attitude, calling attention to avoid behaviours that jeopardize the health and safety of all”.

According to the mayor, the municipality “did not spare efforts to ensure that the bathing season runs safely”, not only due to the pandemic caused by the covid-19, but also due to the danger of the cliffs falling.

The initiative aims to alert to the problem of cliff instability due to natural erosion, with the adoption of preventive measures, namely, when beach users seek shelter from the sun and wind at the base of the cliffs, whose risk of falling debris is permanent.


Beaches

Beachgoers complain about Non-Compliance with Rules

Users of Manta Rota beach have complained about non-compliance with rules to contain the covid-19 pandemic, but the Vila Real de Santo António City Council has ensured that the bathing areas of municipality “is obeyed as stipulated”.

Célia Santos frequents the Algarve beach and told the Lusa agency that, last Sunday, she was able to verify on the beach of Manta Rota that the beach was “crowded” and people were positioned “without taking into account any measure of contingency and social distancing”.

“The capacity of the beach is largely exceeded and there is no inspection of compliance with it. There is no social distance. There is no indication of the capacity of the beach, such as signs or flags”, criticized the user of that beach in the district of Faro.

The same source pointed out that he could also see on the beach access walkway “crowded people”, who “did not wear masks” and “did not respect social distance.

“The standards are not being monitored or respected. There is no intervention by the authorities. The enjoyment of these public spaces in the context of the covid-19 pandemic is an attack on public health”, also considered Célia Santos.

Carlos Sousa, who has been on vacation in the area for about a week and has been attending the Algarve beach, said that “the situation of non-compliance or greater proximity between people usually occurs”.


Algarve Situation Report Monday 27th July 2020

The President kept his promise to visit the Home of Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Boliqueime.

The visit took place yesterday afternoon, in the presence of the home director, the Mayor of Loulé – Vítor Aleixo, the Secretary of State for Fisheries and Coordinator of the response to the pandemic by covid.19 in the Algarve, José Apolinário and the District Commander Civil Protection, Vaz Pinto, among other entities.

The Boliqueime home registered an outbreak of covid-19 in early April, with dozens of infected users and employees (40), and 5 fatalities among users.

The President of the Republic, assumed that “it was an honour and a pleasure” to have visited the home for the first time, leaving the promise that he will return, “when we all take off our masks”.

Between selfies and many nods, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was toasted by the directors of the home and by the parish priest of Boliqueime who offered an image of the patron saint, São Sebastião.

Then, the President went on foot to the Mother Church, where he attended a mass. From 8:00 pm, he met with the mayors of the Algarve at a working dinner in a restaurant in Querença, also in the municipality of Loulé.

This is the third visit that the head of state has made to the Algarve this month, after Vila Real de Stº António and Lagos.


President of the Republic meets community representatives in Loule

Yesterday President Safe Communities Portugal David Thomas attended small group meeting in Loulé with the President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to discuss Covid-19.

The meeting lasted two hours and the president gave his view on various social, economic and political issues concerning both Portugal and overseas, concerning the pandemic.

Safe Communities were able to ask a number of questions reflecting feedback we had received from the foreign community over the last 4 months. We wish to thank the Mayor of Loulé Vitor Aleixo for his very kind invitation.

The President said, I had a meeting with the British community that lives here in Loulé and there was a great effort on their part to do everything, to the extent of their possibilities, to show how they are received, how they live here, how they like to live here, how they want to work for the good relationship between the two countries. Naturally, in the economic part, in the business part, but also in the personal part “, he revealed.

“This is very important, because diplomacy is not just about ambassadors, ministers, governments and heads of state. It is made of people. And the people who live here – and there are many, almost 50 thousand – know the Algarve very well, since the vast majority live here. They know what the reality is, they present the reality and that has a lot of strength to convince, to persuade, first, their compatriots and, later, the political leaders, he reinforced.

In addition to the community residing in this Algarve municipality, there are others working proactively to lift restrictions. The Head of State even spoke of mayors “who are making videos and testimonies of those who live here reach British society. It all helps a lot, it takes time, but it helps”.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was also hopeful that restrictions on flights from Portugal would be lifted by the United Kingdom even before the end of the summer.

“We all expect that and we are working to make it happen. Summer only ends in September. It would be bad if they are not lifted” he said.