The Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 9 February 2022
Brief Covid-19 update
Since the start of February, updates on the Covid-19 situation will be published monthly. However, hospitalisation information, such as the number of hospital admissions, admissions to Covid-19 Units and Covid-19 Intensive Care Units, will be issued daily by the Madeira Health Service.
On Tuesday, there there were 60 patients in hospital, 4 of whom in intensive care.
There were also 3 deaths on Tuesday. Overall, there were 19 deaths in the last 7 days. There have now been a total of 183 deaths.
https://covidmadeira.pt/novas-regras-sanitarias-a-partir-do-dia-1-de-fevereiro-na-ram/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2022/02/08/mais-tres-mortes-com-covid-19-na-ram/
New Covid-19 rules
The following new Covid-19 rules have been in place in the Autonomous Region of Madeira since the start of February:
ISOLATION OF PATIENT WHO TESTED POSITIVE
– All positive cases, regardless of age, must undergo isolation for 5 days and will be discharged at the end of the 5th day. On the 6th day, they can resume their usual activity, without carrying out a COVID-19 test;
– The Health Authority may order a period of isolation of more than 5 days, depending on the clinical situation of the citizen.
ISOLATION OF THOSE WHO HAD CONTACT WITH PATIENTS WHO TESTED POSITIVE
– All people who had contact with a positive case, regardless of age, are no longer required to isolate;
– Citizens aged 18 or older, who have been inoculated with 3 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, will not have to isolate and test on the 5th day;
– Citizens aged 18 or older, who are not vaccinated or who have incomplete vaccination, will not have to isolate, but must carry out a rapid antigen test on the 5th day after contact with a positive case. This test is free of charge and will be made available through the S-ALERT/CITIZEN application. A text message will be sent with a code. The test can be carried out at one of the adhering testing sites in the Region.
– Professionals, residents or visitors from critical sectors such as Education, Care Homes and Health Care will not have to isolate or be tested on the 5th day, if they have been inoculated with 3 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine;
COVID-19 CONTROL ON ARRIVAL IN THE REGION
Airport, Ports and Marinas – Travellers will be required to provide the following documents:
1- Complete vaccination certificate (3 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine);
Or
2- Incomplete vaccination certificate (2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine) and a certificate of recovery within 180 days
Or
3- Incomplete vaccination certificate (1 dose of vaccine) and a certificate of recovery within 180 days
Or
4- Certificate of recovery within 180 days
Covid-19 screening at airports and ports/marinas will end. A Covid-19 vaccination/recovery certificate will continue to be required.
VACCINATION AGAINST COVID-19
– Vaccination against COVID-19 is crucial to the continuing return to normal life. As such, all people aged 5 or older, who are able to do so, are advised to start or to continue the Covid-19 vaccination process, in accordance with international recommendations.
– People aged 16 or older will be able to inoculated with the 4th dose of the Covid-19 vaccine if they have the following pre-existing conditions: immunocompromised, cancer, dialysis, transplants;
– The Covid-19 booster dose will be provided to those aged 5 or older (upon approval from the European Medicines Agency);
TESTING STRATEGY
This is the end of mass testing and the start of a move into a strategy of Sentinel Surveillance, through the testing of those who are symptomatic and asymptomatic, in the community, by sampling.
– Mass weekly Covid-19 testing for the population is no longer a policy
– Covid-19 testing will only be advised for those who show symptoms, who have a fever (38ºC or more), regardless of their Covid-19 vaccination status;
– An internal platform for monitoring of the Covid-19 situation in the Region (VeSentinela-RAM);
– The creation of the Internal VeSentinela-RAM platform to monitor the Covid-19 situation in the Region;
– The remaining health and social care units are advised to strengthen their contingency plans and to implement an adequate surveillance system, through regular testing by sampling;
GENERAL COMMUNITY POLICIES
This is the end of weekly rapid antigen testing. A vaccination/recovery certificate will now be required. The use of face masks in outdoor and indoor areas, 1.5m distancing, and regular hand and surface disinfection will continue to be recommended.
– The following rules must be complied with in all indoor and outdoor areas (if not eating or drinking): the use of face mask, hand disinfection, 1.5m distancing;
– Access to restaurants, bars, nightclubs, gyms, sports, and other cultural, social and similar activities: a full Covid-19 vaccination certificate (with 3 doses of the vaccine – 14 days after the booster shot) must be provided;
Or
– A recovery certificate within180 days
Or
– A rapid antigen test, valid for a week, will be required for those who are not vaccinated or have incomplete vaccination. This test must be paid for.
– Covid-19 tests and vaccination/recovery certificates are not required for essential activities such as: public services, supermarkets, public transport; pharmacies, markets, places of worship, and healthcare providers.
– Citizens living outside the European Union: Must use the sanitary pass for access to all activities during their stay in the Region;
– Citizens living in the European Union: Must the digital certificate for access to all activities during their stay in RAM;
COMMUNICATION OF SURVEILLANCE RESULTS
– Updates on the Covid-19 situation will now be published monthly, through the Internal VeSentinela-RAM platform (Vigilância Sentinela – VeSentinela-RAM).
– Hospitalisation information, showing the number of hospital admissions, admissions to COVID-19 Units and COVID-19 Intensive Care Units, will be issued daily by the Madeira Health Service.
The Regional Government asks citizens to use the S-Alerta Cidadão app (https://s-alerta.pt/CIDADAO/) for self-management of care and communication of symptoms.
https://covidmadeira.pt/novas-regras-sanitarias-a-partir-do-dia-1-de-fevereiro-na-ram/
Power cut
Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts due to scheduled work on the electricity supply network. These cannot be postponed and will take place in the following days and places:
QUINTA GRANDE
February 10th – 09h00 to 13h00
– Estrada Municipal da Partilha-Cruz das Moças
QUINTA GRANDE
February 11th – 09h00 to 13h00
– Estrada Municipal da Partilha-Cruz das Moças
RIBEIRA BRAVA
February 11th – 09h00 to 13h00
– Barreiro (partial)
– Vale (partial)
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 number (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.
The Madeira Regional Government announce new and updated Covid-19 rules. These include:
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service 
Pedro Ramos, Madeira’s Health and Civil Protection Secretary, said mass testing helped to protect the population after the arrival of the Omicron variant. However, he added that mass testing cannot take place for ever. Indeed, he stressed the most important thing is for the population to vaccinate against Covid-10
On Sunday, nearly 80 children (aged 5-11) were inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine in Porto Santo. Pedro Ramos, Madeira’s Health and Civil Protection Secretary, was pleased with this development and, informed that 480 booster shots had been provided and that 800 people would be insulated on Monday.