Azores Situation Report Wednesday 16^th March 2022

From our colleague in the Azores

The Regional Health Authority in the Azores will only release Covid-19 epidemiological and vaccination data on Fridays and not daily.

Government of the Azores says it will revoke the use of mask in the coming weeks 

“If this record of a decrease in cases and hospitalizations is maintained, none in intensive care, for a few more weeks, and realizing that this decrease is consolidated, there will no longer be mandatory use of a mask”, said the regional secretary for Health and Azores Sports, Clélio Meneses.

The official was speaking at a press conference in Angra do Heroísmo, on the day that marks two years of the first case of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes covid-19, detected in the region.

According to the head of the Health Ministry in the Azores, the possibility of revoking the mandatory use of a mask is being analysed, one of the only measures to control the covid-19 pandemic in force in the region, while maintaining the “protection of the most vulnerable”.

“The use of a mask in spaces with people who are vulnerable or due to illness or age may still be necessary”, he said.

Government of the Azores spent 80 million euros to fight the pandemic 

The Regional Government of the Azores spent around 80 million euros on the management of the covid-19 pandemic, revealed the regional secretary for Health, on the day that marks two years of the first case detected in the region.

The Azores diagnosed the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which causes the covid-19 disease, on March 14th 2020 (communicated the next day).

In two years, the region recorded 65,041 cases of infection, 62,917 recoveries and 94 deaths

Santo Cristo festivities take place again in São Miguel 

The Santo Cristo parties, suspended two years ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will take place again this year, in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, in a new format, between 14th and the 26^th of May.

The parties, which refer to the image of “Ecce Homo”, take place in the city of Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, on the fifth Sunday after Easter.

The festivities of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, considered the second largest religious manifestation in the country after the pilgrimages to Fátima, annually bring thousands of pilgrims from all over the world to the island of São Miguel, coming from the nine islands of the Azores, from the mainland, as well as well as the United States of America and Canada.

 

 

 

Azores Situation Report – Wednesday 9th March 2022  

From our colleague in the Azores

During the last week up until the 8th of March there were 2,962 new cases of Covid-19 reported.  During the same period, there were 3,951 recoveries.  Sadly, there were also 7 deaths.

Hospitalisations: 

As of today, there are 22 patients hospitalised, 14 of them at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital on the island of São Miguel (one in intensive care), three at the Horta Hospital on the island of Faial and five at the Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island.

Current situation: 

The archipelago currently registers 2,916 active positive cases: 1,737 on the island of São Miguel, 615 on the island of Terceira, 180 on the island of Faial, 154 on the island of Pico, 129 on the island of São Jorge, 63 on the island of Graciosa, 25 on the island of Flores, 12 on the island of Santa Maria and one on the island of Corvo.

Parliament of the Azores repudiates invasion and defends withdrawal of Russian forces 

The parliament of the Azores unanimously approved a draft resolution repudiating the invasion of Ukraine, calling for the “immediate withdrawal of Russian forces” from that country and expressing the region’s solidarity with the Ukrainians.

Bolieiro appeals to Azoreans to receive Ukrainian refugees 

The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, launched an appeal to Azorean citizens, companies and regional institutions, to support refugees from Ukraine by providing shelter.

“For now, this appeal is made to all Azoreans, families, companies, institutions, who are available to receive families, to communicate with us, to make a reception to the Ukrainian people, suffering in an unjust war”, highlighted the chief executive. Azorean, at the end of an audience granted to a Ukrainian citizen, residing in Portugal, who has a business in the Azores.

Maritime Authority and Navy warn of waves that can reach 10 meters in the Azores 

The National Maritime Authority and the Navy warned of the worsening of the state of the sea in the Azores, this Tuesday, with waves that could reach 10 meters, appealing to the population to redouble care.

“The sea wave will be characterized by a wave coming from the west quadrant, with a significant height that can reach four metres and a maximum height of ten metres, with an average period ranging between nine and 12 seconds. Winds with an average intensity of up to 35 km/hour and gusts of up to 75 km/hour are expected, coming from the west/southwest quadrant,” the authorities said in a press release.

The National Maritime Authority and the Navy appeal to the population to redouble care, “both when preparing to go to sea, and when they are at sea or in coastal areas”.

In this sense, they recommend that fishermen reinforce the mooring and maintain a “close surveillance of the moored and anchored vessels”.

They also recommend that the population avoid “walks by the sea or in areas exposed to maritime agitation” and that recreational fishing activities are not practiced, “especially along the cliffs and cliff areas often hit by the breaking waves”.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) today issued yellow warnings for the western and central groups of the Azores, referring to maritime agitation, precipitation and wind, on Tuesday.

 

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 2^nd March 2022

From our colleague in the Azores

During the last week up until the 1st of March there have been 3,615 new cases of Covid-19 reported.  During the same period, there were 7,232 recoveries.  Sadly, there were also 3 deaths.

Hospitalisations:

As of yesterday, there were 33 patients hospitalised, 21 of them at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital on the island of São Miguel (two in intensive care), seven at the Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island and five at the Horta Hospital.

Current situation: The archipelago currently registers 3,920 active positive cases: 2,478 on the island of São Miguel, 642 on the island of Terceira, 298 on the island of Pico, 213 on the island of Faial, 104 on the island of São Jorge, 110 on the island of Graciosa, 45 on the island of Flores, 19 on the island of Corvo and 11 on the island of Santa Maria.

President of the Government of the Azores infected, but asymptomatic 

The president of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, is infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the Covid-19 disease, but is asymptomatic.

He immediately cancelled his public agenda for the next few days to work remotely during this period.

Azores with “open arms” to welcome family members of immigrants 

The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, appealed for peace in Ukraine and guaranteed that the region has “open arms” to receive family members of Ukrainian immigrants.

“We have a Ukrainian community in the Azores, which, if they understand being able to welcome and receive their relatives here, will be with open arms that the Autonomous Region of the Azores will welcome Ukrainians who decide to come looking for peace in the Azores”, said the chief executive. Azorean, in statements to journalists, in Ponta Delgada, while he was meeting with the operational commander of the Azores, Lieutenant General Luís Morgado Baptista.

Azores estimate to spend this year around 10 ME on health facilities 

The Government of the Azores expects to spend, this year about 10 million euros in health facilities that urgently needed interventions.

4.4 magnitude earthquake felt on the island of São Miguel 

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale and epicentre 57 kilometres east-southeast of Água Retorta, on the island of São Miguel, Azores, was felt this Friday in several parishes in the municipality of Povoação.

 

Azores Situation report Wednesday 16^th February 2022

We are pleased to share at the request of the British Embassy in Lisbon the attached communication informing that SEF has started today to notify British nationals who are resident in Madeira and the Azores under the Withdrawal Agreement, who are registered on the Brexit portal, to schedule appointments.

This is a pilot project that will only run in Madeira and the Azores aimed at ensuring the process works smoothly before opening it to mainland Portugal.

The notifications have started today. SEF will send an email to those registered on the Brexit portal asking them to schedule appointments.

The first appointments will start on 21 February, where residents will be asked to provide their biometric data for the new card and will have the chance to update information with SEF (e.g. new address, renew residency).

For the purpose of this pilot, the appointments will take place in SEF’s delegations, specifically:

• In the Azores: Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) and Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira)
• In Madeira: Funchal

It is very important that British nationals resident in Portugal under the Withdrawal Agreement, are registered on the Brexit portal, order to be notified. We therefore, continue to recommend all those who have not done so far, to access the portal and register as soon as possible.

We would be very grateful if you could help us share this important message.

There is no need to contact SEF regarding appointments. This is a separate process from regular residency aimed at residents under the Withdrawal Agreement. All who are registered on the portal will be notified by SEF.

For those whose residency documents have or are expiring, this is a reminder that the certificate with the QR code issued through the SEF portal is an official residency document that is valid until the new card is issued. There is no need to renew one’s residency if already registered on the portal.