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:
Closure of drinks and similar establishments, with dance spaces;- Closure, from 10:00 pm, of bars and other beverage establishments, with or without a show, with or without terrace service;
- 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.