Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 22nd September 2021
By Daniel Fernandas
Covid-19 update
There were 62 new Covid-19 cases, 128 recoveries and no deaths from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report, which was published a week ago. The number of new Covid-19 cases halved in the last 7 days.
On Wednesday, there were 12 new Covid-19 cases (1 imported case from the UK & 11 cases of local transmission) and 15 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital remained the same as the day before (5 patients hospitalised, none in intensive care).
On Thursday, there were 7 new Covid-19 cases (2 imported cases from the UK & 5 cases of local transmission) and 22 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital increased to 6, none of whom in intensive care.
On Friday, there were 13 new Covid-19 cases (8 imported cases – 3 from the UK, 2 from Spain, 2 from Northern Region and 1 from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region & 5 cases of local transmission) and 24 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital decreased to 5, none of whom in intensive care.
On Saturday, there were 13 new Covid-19 cases (all cases of local transmission) and 19 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital decreased to 4, none of whom was in intensive care.
On Sunday, there were 8 new Covid-19 cases (4 imported cases – 3 from the UK and 1 from Brazil & 4 cases of local transmission) and 10 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital decreased to 3.
On Monday, there were 4 new Covid-19 cases (all cases of local transmission) and 22 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital increased to 4, none of whom in intensive care.
And on Tuesday, there were 5 new Covid-19 cases (1 imported case from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region & 4cases of local transmission) and 16 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital increased to 5, none of whom were in intensive care.
There were 94 active cases on Tuesday, of which 24 had been imported while the other 70 cases had been a result of local transmission. As of Tuesday, there had been 11,604 cases, 11,435 recoveries and 75 deaths.
On Tuesday, there were 29 patients in isolation in a dedicated hotel, 60 patients in isolation in their own accommodation and 5 patients in hospital, none of whom were in intensive care.
On the same day, there were 51 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis, which were all linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19, to calls made to the SRS24 helpline, to referrals by SESARAM (Madeira Regional Health Service) and to airport screening.
There were 39,575 travellers under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There were also 238 people, who had contact with positive cases, being monitored by the health authorities of several Madeira municipalities and of Porto Santo.
As for Covid-19 testing on passengers who had arrived at Funchal and Porto Santo airports, 309,348 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 15h30).
As for Covid-19 rapid antigen tests, a total of 312,695 tests had been carried out by September 19th, 238,484 of which as part of mass testing campaigns.
By Tuesday, 625,288 samples from RT-PCR tests had been processed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 431 calls in the last 7 days. Overall, it had received 64,147 calls.
The Covid-19 mental health helpline (Linha de Acompanhamento Psicológico da Direção Regional de Saúde – 291 212 399 – available every day from 09h00 to 21h00), which was set up to provide emotional and mental support to anyone in Madeira received 10 calls in the last 7 days. Overall, it has received 3,861 calls.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/09/15/12-novos-casos-de-covid-19-73-suspeitos-15-recuperados/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/09/16/7-casos-de-covid-19-22-recuperados-72-suspeitos-142-activos/
Covid-19 vaccination update
On September 18th, a shipment of 23,400 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses arrived in Funchal.
According to a real-time Covid-19 vaccination tracker, 83% of the Region’s population have been administered 1 vaccine dose while 80% of the population have been fully vaccinated. A total of 378,948 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the Region.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/09/18/chegaram-mais-23-400-vacinas-da-pfizer-a-regiao/
https://web.sesaram.pt/COVID19_INFO
Madeira Regional Government offer to send help to the Canary Islands
Miguel Albuquerque (President of the Madeira Regional Government) sent a letter to Ángel Víctor Torres (his Canary Islands counterpart) to express his and his Government’s full solidarity in the wake of the La Palma volcanic eruption. He also offered to send whatever assistance is needed. Several Civil Protection teams have been made available for deployment. These include a Mountain Search and Rescue brigade, paramedic teams (including doctors and nurses), and a helicopter carrying a multi-mission team.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/09/20/governo-da-madeira-disponibiliza-meios-para-ajudar-canarias/
Free wireless internet in Porto Santo
The Municipality of Calheta has set up free wireless internet in several municipal public spaces, as a result of a successful application for the project “WIFI4EU – Free wifi for Europeans”, a scheme financed by the European Union to enable citizens and visitors in to have free and secure wireless internet access in public areas such as parks, squares, and public buildings.
A certified company set up Wi-Fi hotspots in the following places in Porto Santo:
– Praça do Município
– Assembleia Municipal (municipal assembly)
– Junta de Freguesia (town hall)
– Praça do Barqueiro
– Balneários municipais (municipal changing rooms)
– Padrão dos Descobrimentos
– Alameda do Infante
– Beach (next to Bar do Henrique)
– Praça de Táxis (Cab rank)
– Jardim do Posto de Turismo (Garden at the Tourism Office)
– Centro de Saúde (Health Centre)
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. It cannot be postponed and will take place in the following days and places:
FUNCHAL
September 22nd – 09h00 to 11h30 (TODAY)
– Travessa João Carlos Gomes
CAMPANÁRIO
September 22nd – 09h00 to 12h00 (TODAY)
– Furnas
– Lapa
– Estrada da Amoreira (numbers 3 to 33)
– Estrada da Lapa (until Bar Marujo)
– Estrada Dr. Francisco Justino Gonçalves (numbers 2 and 14)
– Caminho da Furna
– Amoreiras
FUNCHAL
September 24th – 00h00 to 07h00
– Estrada Comandante Camacho de Freitas (number 82)
– Rua Encosta Pico dos Barcelos; Galeria and Bar
– Urbanização do Pico dos Barcelos
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 plan for this week is to continue to inoculate the population throughout the Region.
Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts due to scheduled work on the electricity supply network. 
On the same day, there were 37 suspected cases under epidemiological investigation and analysis, which were all linked to patients who tested positive for Covid-19, to calls made to the SRS24 helpline, to referrals by SESARAM (Madeira Regional Health Service) and to airport screening
At this stage, there is no need to book a vaccination spot. Anyone interested in being inoculated will simply need to visit any vaccination centre. The Covid-19 vaccine can be administered to any Madeira resident aged 12 or older, at any vaccination centre and without booking.
As of September 5th, a total of 367,976 
On September 4th, Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) opened a new route from Switzerland to Madeira (Funchal). The weekly flight from Geneva will be operated by Edelweiss, a SWISS subsidiary. An Airbus A320
As of August 29th, a total of 360,389 Covid-19 vaccine doses (197,206 1st doses & 181,470 2nd doses/full vaccination) had been administered since the start of the campaign on December 31st. This means that on that day, 78% of the population had been administered the first vaccine dose while 71% of the population had been fully vaccinated.
Ireneu Barreto, the Representative of the Republic for the Madeira Region (Representante da República para a Região da Madeira), will lead the celebration ceremony of the 143rd anniversary of the Madeira Regional Command of the Public Security Police (Comando Regional da Polícia de Segurança Pública). Magina da Silva, the National Director of the PSP (Diretor Nacional da PSP), will also be attending the ceremony.