Azores Situation Report Wednesday 30th June 2021

 

From our colleague in the Azores

Missing workers 

The body found yesterday in the parish of Ribeira Quente, on the island of São Miguel, belongs to one of the women who disappeared on Friday, following a flood that dragged the car which they were driving, into the waterway.

The remains were found today about a mile off the coast of the fishing village of Ribeira Quente, municipality of Povoação, in the area where a fisherman found alleged human remains on Sunday, after the end of the day’s search operation.

On Monday, the searches ended at around 17:00, due to the rising tide, which “complicates operations, as there are no longer safe conditions for professionals in the field”, explained a representative from Civil Protection.

The operation resumed on Tuesday, at around 8:00 am, and was expected to end at 6:00 pm, high tide time.

Yesterday, 12 entities and 46 elements, two vessels and two drones were involved in the searches.

On Friday, heavy rain caused the dragging of a vehicle from the Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Povoação, where the two employees, who would be providing home support, were driving.

The vehicle in which the two women were driving was located that day at the bottom of a stream, stopped and overturned, next to Povoação, but no occupants were seen.

The searches for the two women have involved elements of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA), the five fire brigades of São Miguel, the municipal civil protection service of Povoação, the Captaincy of the Port of Ponta Delgada, the Police Maritime, the North Coast Lifeguards Association and the PSP.

Shortage of Doctors 

The Order of Doctors has identified a shortage of about 200 doctors in the Azores, a need recognized by the regional secretary of Health, who said yesterday that he is already making efforts to establish professionals in the region.

“We were all aware that there was a lack of doctors in different specialties and on different islands and, in fact, the shortage is significant”, said the President of the Medical Council of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Margarida Moura, after meeting with the regional secretary of Health and Sports, Clélio Menezes.

The representative of the Order of Physicians in the region, who took office in February, stated that there are “nearly 200 doctors, 54 from General and Family Medicine and the others divided by other specialties”, identifying the islands of Santa Maria, São Jorge and Pico as the most, needy.

Regarding hospital specialties, at the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, in São Miguel, anesthesiology is “a very needy specialty”, while at the Hospital do Santo Espírito da Ilha Terceira the specialty most lacking is obstetrics and gynecology.

At the Hospital in Faial, there are “many specialties where there are not even resident doctors, there are contracts with external doctors”, said the person in charge.

Asked by the press when all Azores residents will have access to a family doctor, the regional secretary did not want to commit to dates: “I can’t give a date for this, I’ll only give goals when I’m sure we’ll meet them”, he stated.

The government official guaranteed that he is “working for this” but pointed out, “an added difficulty: there are many doctors on the way to retirement”.

“I am very concerned about this situation”, he added, referring to a “widespread problem of the need for general practitioners and family medicine”.

Covid-19 Report

26^th June 2021 

19 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, two in Graciosa and 17 in São Miguel, resulting from two tests in an unconventional laboratory and 1,397 carried out in reference laboratories in the Region.

On Graciosa, two cases were diagnosed concerning two travellers, one in Santa Cruz and one in São Mateus, with positive tests on the 6th day (one resident and the other non-resident).

In São Miguel there was also a positive case of a non-resident traveller, with a positive analysis on the 6th day. The remaining cases refer to community transmission.

In the municipality of Ribeira Grande there were three new cases (one in Rabo de Peixe, one in Matriz and one in Santa Bárbara). In the municipality of Ponta Delgada there were three new cases (one in São José, one in São Pedro and one in São Sebastião). In the municipality of Lagoa there are 11 new cases (five in Água de Pau, three in Rosário, two in Lagoa and one in Cabouco).

16 recoveries were recorded.

27^th June 2021 

22 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, one in Faial and 21 in São Miguel, resulting from 1,151 tests carried out in reference laboratories in the Region.

On Faial, a new case was registered in the parish of Angústias, municipality of Horta, of a non-resident traveller, with a positive analysis on the 6th day.

In São Miguel there was also a positive case of a traveller, resident, with a positive analysis on the 6th day. The remaining cases refer to community transmission. Thus, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande there were five new cases (two in Rabo de Peixe, one in Lomba da Maia, one in Conceição and one in Ribeira Seca). In the municipality of Ponta Delgada there were seven new cases (two in São José, two in São Pedro, one in Covoada, one in Santa Clara and one in São Vicente Ferreira). In the municipality of Lagoa there were seven new cases (six in Água de Pau and one in Santa Cruz). In the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo there is a new case in Ribeira Seca and in the municipality of Nordeste there was also a new case in Vila de Nordeste.

23 recoveries were recorded.

28^th June 2021

31 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, all on the island of São Miguel, in the context of community transmission, following 691 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region.

There were six new cases in the municipality of Ribeira Grande (three in Ribeirinha, two in Matriz and one in São Brás). There were eight new cases in the municipality of Ponta Delgada (one in each of the parishes of Arrifes, Fajã de Cima, São José, São Pedro, Relva, Fajã de Baixo, São Sebastion and Livramento). There were 17 new cases in the municipality of Lagoa (eight in Água de Pau, four in Santa Cruz, three in Rosário and two in Cabouco).

5 recoveries were registered, with four on the island of Faial, in the parish of Praia do Norte, and one on the island of Terceira, in the parish of Santa Cruz, municipality of Praia da Vitoria. 

29^th June 2021 

22 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, all on the island of São Miguel, following 1,838 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region and four in a private laboratory.

In the municipality of Lagoa, there were nine new cases (six in Santa Cruz and three in Água de Pau). Eight new cases are registered in the municipality of Ribeira Grande (two in Lomba da Maia, two in Rabo de Peixe and one in each of the parishes of Pico da Pedra, Matriz, Ribeirinha and Ribeira Seca). In Vila Franca do Campo, a case was diagnosed in Ponta Garça.

Out of the 22 new cases, one concerns a traveller, resident, who tested positive on the 6^th day and the others in the context of community transmission.

In the same period, there were 40 recoveries, two patients are hospitalised, both in the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada, one in Intensive Care Unit.

The archipelago currently has 287 active positive cases: 277 on the island of São Miguel, five on the island of Faial, two on the island of Graciosa, one on the island of Terceira, one on the island of São Jorge and one on the island of Santa Maria. Two primary local transmission chains are active in Faial, one in the parish of Praia do Norte and the other in Castelo Branco, municipality of Horta. To date, 203 have been extinguished on all islands. There are 840 people under active surveillance.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 6,310 positive cases of covid-19 have been diagnosed in the Azores and 5,853 people recovered from the disease. There were 33 deaths, 82 people who left the archipelago and 55 cases with history of previous cure. To date, 571,324 tests have been carried out for SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19 disease.

From last December 31st, 2020 to June 23rd, 204,508 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered in the Azores, corresponding to 114,502 people aged 16 years or more who received the first dose, and 90,006 people who received both doses, under the Regional Vaccination Plan.

 

Azores Situation Report Saturday 26th June 2021

 

From our colleague in the Azores 

Missing workers 

The very bad weather felt this morning, in São Miguel, caused the death of two employees of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Povoação. The vehicle in which they were on duty to provide home support care was found between Lomba do Carro and Lomba do Boton heavily damaged, after being dragged off the road due to the overflowing of a stream.

According to the Mayor of Povoação,”at this moment, we still don’t have information on the bodies. The river is being swept from top to bottom to see if anything is found. The firefighters are also trying to open the van that it was so damaged that it is still not possible to see if anybody was left inside”.

Pedro Melo therefore assumes the worst scenario, given that women’s clothes were found in searches carried out on the river.

Vaccinations 

The Azores have administered more than 200 thousand doses of vaccines against covid-19, with 47% of the population with at least one dose and 37% with full vaccination, revealed today the regional secretary of Health.

“In Portugal, with the first dose, the average of vaccinated is 46%, in the Azores this average is 47%. In Portugal, with complete vaccination, that is, with the second dose or with the application of the Janssen vaccine, which is a single dose, the average number of vaccinated people is 29%, in the Azores this average is 37%”, stated the head of Health in the Azores.

So far, 204,508 doses of vaccines against covid-19 have been administered in the Azores, with 114,502 people having at least one dose (47.2% of the population, according to Pordata data from 2019) and 90,006 people with vaccination completed (37.1%).

Extended Hours 

The Government of the Azores extended the opening hours of restaurants in municipalities at the highest levels of risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, justifying the decision with the vaccination rate and the age groups of the new cases.

“There is clearly an age repercussion of vaccination, protecting the most vulnerable, especially people over 50 years of age. It is between 50 and 55 that we are now vaccinating and it is with this guarantee of the result of the vaccination that we are also able to adopt lighter measures in what is the control of the pandemic”, said the regional secretary of Health and Sports of the Azores, Clélio Meneses.

The municipalities’ restaurants at the two highest risk levels (medium high and high risk) in the Azores were forced to close at 20:00, which prompted criticism from entrepreneurs on the island of São Miguel.

From 00:00 on Saturday, the opening hours of the restaurants are extended from 20:00 to 22:00 in medium-high and high-risk municipalities, but cafes remain closed in high-risk ones.

In medium-risk municipalities there are no longer restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages between 20:00 and 22:00, in low-risk municipalities the opening hours are extended from 22:00 to 23:00 and in very low-risk municipalities if the operation until 23:59.

As for the prohibition of circulation on public roads in high-risk municipalities, it ceases to be in force between 21:00 pm and 05.00, and is only applied from 23:00 pm until 05.00.

According to Clélio Meneses, in addition to the vaccination rate (greater than 40% with the first dose on the island of São Miguel), the decision was based on the age level of the positive cases, since in January there were 424 cases in the Azores in people over 50 years old and, in June, that number dropped to 111.

“In January, over 80 years old, there were 32 cases, in the current month of June there are five cases; in January, between 70 and 79 years old, the Azores had 43 cases, in June we have 12 cases; in January, between 60 and 69 years, there were 139 cases, in June, there are 33 cases; and between 50 and 59 years of age, in January there were 210 and, in June, 61”, he exemplified. “The reduction in the level of hospitalizations and, above all, the seriousness of these hospitalizations”, at the moment, four patients are hospitalized with covid-19 in the Azores, none of them in intensive care.

23^rd June 2021 

20 new positive cases of covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, one on the island of São Jorge and 19 on the island of São Miguel, following 2,880 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region and one in an independent laboratory.

On the island of São Jorge, there was a positive case in Velas of a traveller, non-resident, who tested positive on the 6^th day.

On the island of São Miguel, there was a positive case of a traveller, resident in the parish of São José, municipality of Ponta Delgada, who tested positive on the 6^th day. All the other cases concern community transmission. Thus, the municipality of Ribeira Grande registered seven new cases (five in Conceição, one in Rabo de Peixe and one in Matriz). There were eight new cases in the municipality of Ponta Delgada (five in São José, two in Fenais da Luz and one in Fajã de Baixo). There are four new cases in the municipality of Lagoa (three in Rosário and one in Santa Cruz).

28 recoveries have been registered.

24th June 2021 

15 new positive cases of covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, all in São Miguel, resulting from 2,619 tests carried out in reference laboratories in the Region.  

A non-resident traveller, in the parish of São Pedro, municipality of Ponta Delgada, obtained a positive result on arrival. Another non-resident traveller, in the parish of Fajã de Baixo, municipality of Ponta Delgada, obtained a positive result on the 6th day. All other cases are in the context of community transmission.

In the municipality of Ribeira Grande there were six new cases (two in Rabo de Peixe, two in Matriz, one in Ribeirinha and one in Conceição). In the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo there was a new case in Ponta Garça. In the municipality of Ponta Delgada there were four new cases (one in each of the parishes of São Pedro, Capelas, São Vicente Ferreira and Fajã de Baixo). In the municipality of Lagoa there are four new cases, all in Água de Pau.

During the epidemiological investigation, it was found that a positive case, initially located in the parish of são José, municipality of Ponta Delgada, is residing in the parish of Rabo de Peixe, municipality of Ribeira Grande, so the data in the tables in attached, reflect this change.

28 recoveries were recorded.

25^th June 2021 

17 new positive cases of covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, all on the island of São Miguel, following 2,644 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region and one in an independent laboratory. One of the cases concerns a traveller, resident in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, who tested positive on the 6^th day; all the other cases are related to community transmission.

The municipality of Ribeira Grande registered four new cases (two in Pico da Pedra, one in Matriz and one in Ribeirinha). In the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, there was a new case in the parish of Ponta Garça. There were five new cases in the municipality of Ponta Delgada (two in Arrifes, two in Fajã de Baixo and on in Capelas). There are seven new cases in the municipality of Lagoa (six in Água de Pau and one in Santa Cruz).

One of the positive cases reported in the communiqué of June 23rd, from the municipality of Velas on the island of São Jorge, submitted documentation demonstrating a previous infection and recovery, and therefore is not considered an active case in the Region.

28 recoveries have been registered and as of yesterday, three patients are hospitalised, all at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada, none in intensive care.

The archipelago currently has 279 active positive cases: 265 on the island of São Miguel, four on the island of Terceira, eight on the island of Faial, one on the island of São Jorge and one on the island of Santa Maria. Two primary local transmission chains are active on the island of Faial, one in the parish of Praia do Norte and the other in Castelo Branco, municipality of Horta. To date, 203 have been extinguished on all islands. There are 998 people under active surveillance today.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 6,217 positive cases of covid-19 have been diagnosed in the Azores and 5,769 people recovered from the disease. There were 33 deaths, 80 people who left the archipelago and 56 cases with history of previous cure. To date, 566,247 tests have been carried out to detect SARS-CoV-2, which causes covid-19 disease.

From last December 31st, 2020 to June 23rd, 204,508 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered in the Azores, corresponding to 114,502 people aged 16 years or more who received the first dose, and 90,006 people who received both doses, under the Regional Vaccination Plan

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 23^rd June 2021

 

From our colleague in the Azores 

Armed Forces Medical Team .

The Armed Forces health team has concluded its support for the vaccination process against Covid-19 in the Azorean islands without a hospital, having inoculated more than 6,700 people since June 6th.

The military team did not reinforce the vaccination in São Miguel because the “installed capacity” on that island is “sufficient”, the secretary of Health of the Government of the Azores said.

In a press release, the General Staff of the Armed Forces states that the team consisting of two doctors, six nurses and a pharmacist worked from the 6th to the 20^th of June to support the regional process of vaccination in the Azorean islands without a hospital.

“During this period, the military vaccinated more than 6,700 people in vaccination centres on the islands of Santa Maria, Flores, Graciosa, São Jorge and Pico, in collaboration with local health authorities.”

On June 14th, the Head of State of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, admitted the possibility that that military team would also participate in the reinforcement of vaccination in São Miguel, an island that registers the highest number of cases of Covid- 19.

The regional secretary of Health, Clélio Meneses, said that the Armed Forces health team did not participate in the vaccination process on the largest Azorean island because, “at this moment”, the “installed capacity is sufficient for vaccines” available to the region.

The government official recalled that around 25,000 vaccines are expected to arrive on the island of São Miguel in the coming days.

The regional secretary of Health of the Government of the Azores also praised the “fundamental” work of the military team in supporting vaccination.

“Right now, we have to thank the extraordinary work developed in cooperation with the local capacity installed in this operation”, he pointed out.

The smallest Azorean island, Corvo, had already been the target of a vaccination process in February and March, which allowed the inoculation of 89% of the vaccinated population of the island.

19^th June 2021 

42 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, two in Faial and 40 in São Miguel, resulting from 2,772 tests carried out in reference laboratories in the Region and two in non-conventional laboratories.

In Faial there were two new cases, both in the parish of Castelo Branco, municipality of Horta, and one of these cases, relating to a resident traveller, with a positive result on arrival, gave rise to a new chain of local transmission on this island.

In São Miguel, all cases refer to community transmission. Thus, the municipality of Ribeira Grande registered eight new cases (four in the Matriz and one in each of the parishes of Rabo de Peixe, Ribeirinha, Pico da Pedra and Lomba da Maia). In the municipality of Ponta Delgada there were 20 new cases (five in Arrifes, four in São Pedro, four in Fenais da Luz, three in São José, two in Fajã de Cima, one in Covoada and one in Feteiras). In the municipality of Lagoa there were 12 new cases (five in Água de Pau, three in Rosário, three in Santa Cruz and one in Cabouco).

During the epidemiological investigation it was found that in São Miguel, a positive case initially allocated in the parish of Água de Alto, municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, is residing in the parish of Santa Clara, municipality of Ponta Delgada. Data shown in the respective tables reflect this change.

26 recoveries were recorded.

20^th June 2021 

20 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, one in Terceira, one in Santa Maria and 18 in São Miguel, resulting from 2,389 tests carried out in reference laboratories in the Region.

On Terceira, there was a positive case in the parish of Porto Martins, municipality of Praia da Vitória, concerning a traveller, resident, with a positive result on the sixth day, after traveling outside the archipelago.

In Santa Maria there was also a positive case, in Vila do Porto, resulting from an inter-island traveller, non-resident, with a positive test on arrival.

In São Miguel, all cases refer to community transmission. Thus, the municipality of Ribeira Grande registered seven new cases: five in Matriz and two in Ribeirinha. In the municipality of Ponta Delgada there were eight new cases (four in Fenais da Luz, one in Fajã de Cima, one in São Pedro, one in São José and one in São Roque). In the municipality of Lagoa there were three new cases (two in Santa Cruz, one in Água de Pau).

27 recoveries were recorded.

21^st June 2021 

27 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, one on the island of Terceira, and 26 on the island of São Miguel, following 1,016 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region.

On the island of Terceira, there was a positive case in the parish of Cabo da Praia, municipality of Praia da Vitoria, concerning a traveller, non-resident, who tested positive upon entering the port of Praia da Vitoria.

On the island of São Miguel, there was a case of a traveller residing in the parish of São Pedro, municipality of Ponta Delgada, who tested positive result upon arrival from a travel outside the archipelago. All other cases concern community transmission. Thus, the municipality of Ribeira Grande registered 11 new cases (six in Rabo de Peixe, two in Matriz, one in Lomba da Maia, one in Ribeirinha and one in Conceição). There were five new cases in the municipality of Ponta Delgada (two in Arrifes, two in São Pedro and one in Santa Clara). There were 10 new cases in the municipality of Lagoa (six in Água de Pau, and one in each of the parishes of Cabouco, Rosário, Santa Cruz and Ribeira Chã).

No recoveries have been registered.

22^nd June 2021 

43 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, one on the island of Faial and 42 on the island of São Miguel, following 2,700 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region and one in an independent laboratory.

On the island of Faial, there was a new case, in the parish of Praia do Norte, related to the existing local primary transmission chains on the island.

On the island of São Miguel, two cases concern travellers, both non-residents, one who tested positive on the 6^th day and one before starting an inter-island travel, who tested positive upon arrival from mainland Portugal. All other cases were diagnosed in the context of community transmission.

The municipality of Ribeira Grande registered 14 new cases (eight in Matriz, two in Pico da Pedra, one in Rabo de Peixe, one in Ribeirinha, one in Conceição and one in São Brás).

There were 14 new cases in the municipality of Ponta Delgada (three in Capelas, two in Arrifes, two in the Fenais da Luz, two in Relva, one in Fajã de Cima, one in São José, one in Ginetes, one in São Vincente Ferreira and one in Candelária).

There were 10 new cases in the municipality of Lagoa (five in Rosário, four in Santa Cruz and one in Água de Pau).

In the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, three new cases were diagnosed (two in Água de Alto and one in São Miguel) and the municipality of Povoação registered a positive case (Ribeira Quente)

In the same period, there were 78 recoveries.

There are four patients hospitalized at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in São Miguel and one in the Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island, none in intensive care. There are 998 people under active surveillance.

Two primary local transmission chains are active on the island of Faial and 203 local transmission chains have been extinguished so far.

The archipelago currently has 312 positive active cases: 287 on the island of São Miguel, 11 on the island of Terceira, 10 on the island of Faial, 1 on the island of São Jorge and 1 on the island of Santa Maria. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 6,165 positive cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed in the Azores and 5,685 people recovered from the disease. There were 33 deaths, 80 people who left the archipelago and 55 cases with history of previous cure.

To date, 558,104 tests have been carried out to detect SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19 disease. From December 31st, 2020 to June 17th, 187,119 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered in the Azores, corresponding to 109,258 people aged 16 years or more who received the first dose, and 77,861 people who received both doses, under the Regional Vaccination Plan.

 

Azores Situation Report Saturday 19th June 2021

 

From our colleague in the Azores 

Digital vaccination certificates 

Passengers arriving in the Azores with full vaccination against Covid-19, 14 days after the full vaccination, will no longer be required to take a screening test.  This will happen as soon as the digital certificate is implemented in the region.

Continental Portugal began issuing digital vaccination certificates against Covid-19, on Wednesday 16^th June, and it is possible to order it on the SNS24 portal.  The PCR and recovery test certificates have had a “positive response from the Directorate-General for Health and shared services of the Ministry of Health so that there will be integration of data from the vaccination that took place in the Autonomous Region of the Azores into national systems”.

The verification system of these certificates, through a mobile reading application, is in the phase of completion of pilot tests, and, according to the European Digital Certificate Regulation, the European verification systems must all be in force from the 1st of July.

The process is proceeding as desired. The 1st of July is the official date for the beginning of the certificate, the region expects that all registries will be integrated and that all Azoreans can have access to the certificate.

The Azores require a screening test for the new coronavirus that causes Covid-19 to anyone who arrives from outside the region, within 72 hours prior to travel or arrival, ensuring its cost, when performed in agreed laboratories in national territory or by regional health services.

A test is also required for passengers departing the island of São Miguel (the only one with identified community transmission) to another island and, in both cases, it is necessary to repeat the analysis six days after the first.

Vaccination of tourism professionals 

The Regional Government of the Azores has decided to integrate tourism professionals, namely taxi drivers, guides, receptionists and SATA crew, in priority groups for vaccination against Covid-19, announced the regional director of Health, Berto Cabral.

“We decided to vaccinate taxi drivers and other people who work in the tourism sector,” said Berto Cabral, at a press conference in Angra do Heroísmo.

The range of professionals integrated in this group will be decided by the regional direction of Tourism, but Berto Cabral gave as an example, drivers, tourist guides and receptionists.

As for the 5,550 Janssen vaccines (single administration) that have recently arrived in the region, they have already started to be administered, according to the regional director, with 4,000 remaining on the island of São Miguel and 1,500 on the island of Terceira.

Berto Cabral stressed that this vaccine will allow “an acceleration of vaccination in these islands” especially in the age group above 50 years and in “situations in which the logistical process can be more complex”.

As an example there is the case of prison inmates, who will only have to go to the vaccination posts once.

He also pointed out the case of the crews of the SATA airline, which “are prevented from flying 48 hours after the inoculation” and will only have to go through the process once.

“Given that the tourist season is already underway, it is also not possible to exclude the possibility that some of these people [tourism professionals] will be vaccinated with this [single-dose] vaccine and have their vaccination process completed faster”.

“Now, above all what is important is to speed up the process,” he added.

As for AstraZeneca’s vaccine, the Azores are working on changing the rules, similarly to what was done by the Directorate-General for Health, so that the second dose is brought forward by four weeks.

16^th June 2021 

16 new positive cases of covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, one on the island of Faial and 15 on the island of São Miguel, following 2,785 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region.

The case diagnosed on the island of Faial, in the parish of Praia do Norte, concerns a traveller, resident, who tested positive on the 6^th day.

On the island of São Miguel, one of the new cases concerns a traveller, resident, in Fajã de Baixo, municipality of Ponta Delgada, who tested positive on the 6^th day. The other cases concern community transmission. Thus, the municipality of Ribeira Grande had four new cases (one in each of the parishes of Maia, Conceição, Ribeirinha and Matriz). There were five new cases in the municipality of Ponta Delgada (one in each of the parishes of Fajã de Baixo, Arrifes, Pilar da Bretanha, São Pedro and São Roque). There were six new cases in the municipality of Lagoa (three in Água de Pau, two in Santa Cruz and one in Cabouco).

There has been a total of 28 recoveries, and as of today, there were eight patients hospitalised, five in the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada and three in the Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island.

17^th June 2021 

23 new positive cases of covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, one on the island of Terceira and 22 on the island of São Miguel, following 2,417 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region.

The case diagnosed on the island of Terceira, in the parish of Santa Cruz, municipality of Praia da Vitoria, concerns a traveller, non-resident, who tested positive on the 6th day. On the island of São Miguel, all cases concern community transmission.

The municipality of Ribeira Grande registered four new cases (one in each of the parishes of Rabo de Peixe, Conceição, Ribeirinha and Ribeira Seca). There were 13 new cases in the municipality of Ponta Delgada (one in Fajã de Baixo, three in Arrifes, five in São Pedro, one in Fajã de Cima, one in Fenais da Luz and one in São José). There were five new cases in the municipality of Lagoa (two in Santa Cruz, two in Água de Pau and one in Rosário).

A total of 30 recoveries has been registered, and there are eight patients hospitalised, five in the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada and three in the Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island. None of these patients are in intensive care.

18^th June 2021 

30 new positive cases of covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, one on the island of São Jorge, five on the island of Faial and 24 on the island of São Miguel, following 2,417 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region.

On the island of São Jorge, there was a positive case in the municipality of Velas, concerning a traveller, resident, who tested positive on the 6^th day, after travelling to the island of São Miguel.

There are five new cases on island of Faial. One refers to a traveller living in the parish of Praia do Norte, municipality of Horta, who tested positive on the 6^th day. The other four result from the identification of a primary local transmission chain, also in the parish of Praia do Norte, municipality of Horta, related to the positive cases on 6^th day after travel from outside the region.

On the island of São Miguel, all cases concern community transmission. The municipality of Ribeira Grande registered six new cases (two in Rabo de Peixe, two in Conceição and two in Ribeirinha). In the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, there was one case in Água de Alto. In the municipality of Ponta Delgada, there were 10 new cases (three in Fajã de Baixo, three in Arrifes, one in Pilar da Bretanha, one in São Pedro, one in São Roque and one in Fajã de Cima). There were seven new cases in the municipality of Lagoa (five in Água de Pau, one in Cabouco and one in Ribeira Chã).

It was verified that a positive case, a non-resident citizen who was in the parish of São José, municipality of Ponta Delgada, left the archipelago and is no longer considered a positive case in the Region.

A total of 19 recoveries have been registered, and as of yesterday 10 patients were in hospital, seven at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada and three at the Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island. None of these patients are in intensive care.

The archipelago currently has 311 active positive cases: 292 on the island of São Miguel, 11 on the island of Terceira, seven on the island of Faial and one on the island of São Jorge. There is a new primary local transmission chain on the island of Faial, in the parish of Praia do Norte, municipality of Horta, following the recent positive cases on the 6^th day tests after travels from outside the region. It is the only active local transmission chain in the archipelago and so far, 203 have been extinguished. There are 1,000 people under active surveillance today.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 6,033 positive cases of covid-19 have been diagnosed in the Azores and 5,554 people recovered from the disease. There were 33 deaths, 80 people who left the archipelago and 55 cases with history of previous cure. Up to date, 549,227 tests have been carried out in the archipelago to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes covid-19 disease.

From December 31st, 2020 to June 14th, 170,906 doses of covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the Azores, corresponding to 101,900 people aged 16 years or more who received the first dose, and 69,006 people who received both doses, under the Regional Vaccination Plan.