Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 26th May 2021
Introduction
I hope you are becoming familiar with our new site which, after 7 months of development, was launched last week. We have received very positive feedback and it seems that one of the objectives to improve ease of access and navigation has been met. We will be featuring this in the Algarve Resident on Thursday and Portugal News on Friday this week. Please visit the site for more information on safety and security here.
Good news is that this coming Sunday is the warm return to Kiss Fm of Owen Gee, host of Solid Gold Sunday, after a break for several months due to health reasons. Safe Communities Portugal has a feature on the show “Crime Check” and I will be on the show at around 09:15 hrs. More details later.
We have seen over the last week or so increasing temperatures and very little rain, if any at all, in the south of the country. The land is becoming drier, and with the high winds recently the rural fire risk has increased. This could be a long and hot summer if May has been anything to go by. The greater the period without rain and with the high temperatures and winds the higher potential for rural fires. Often these have taken place toward the latter part or end of the summer season when the ground is at its driest.
It is therefore important to start making preparations by familiarizing yourselves with all the preventive and self-protections measures should a major fire materialise. Our new website features risks, warning and major incidents all accessible through the home page so please study these pages particularly if you live in the high-risk parishes.
Whilst on the subject of rural fires a reminder to take care when using BBQs during periods of very high or maximum fire risk. There are laws on this subject in public areas. In your garden please follow the advice concerning safety available on our website and the Facebook post yesterday. Should use of a BBQ result in a fire the user can be held liable.
The current law concerning the Situation of Calamity expires at 23:59 hrs 30th May 2021. The President of the Republic yesterday ruled out any return to a State of Emergency, but from what health officials said and the Prime Minister there is likely to be increased focus on the situation in Lisbon, where yesterday around one half of the new cases were recorded.
In fact, when asked yesterday if the increase in cases in the region could be related to the reopening of tourism in the country, namely for British tourists, António Costa stressed that “there is no correlation established at this moment between this reopening” and the rise in infections. “The cases are more associated with family celebrations and housing conditions than with British tourists,” he said. The fact that new cases in the Algarve have not increased would appear to confirm this.
A reminder that the official bathing season starts Saturday 29th May 2021. Safe Communities has already summarized the law published last week in the form of the table which, since posting on our Facebook page, has reached many people. We are now awaiting the relaunch of the Praia App which will, among other things, determine the capacity of individual beaches throughout the mainland. Please download this to avoid a wasted journey should you chose a beach that has already reached maximum capacity. Once available we will publish.
Yesterday Mike Evans and I visited the Director of Faro Airport, Alerta Borges, and his colleagues to discuss a number of issues concerning Covid-19. A most useful visit, the details of which we will post shortly.
Have a Safe Day
Headlines
European Council: 1.5 billion doses of anti-covid vaccines by the end of the year, 100 million are to donate.
On the second day of the extraordinary European Council, leaders were more optimistic about the evolution of the pandemic and vaccination. By the end of September, the EU is expected to add more than 1 billion doses delivered, enough to inoculate the entire population. The leaders’ agreement is to until December to donate at least 100 million to the poorest countries.
This time, the conclusions of the European Council bring greater optimism regarding the evolution of the pandemic. The 27 no longer complain that it is necessary to speed up vaccination and production, but recognize that the pace “has accelerated” and now “must be maintained”.
The figures taken by the President of the Commission to the extraordinary European Council on Monday and Tuesday support this new stance. Almost half of European adults have already taken at least one dose of the vaccine. So far, 300 million doses have been delivered and the number will rise to 413 by the end of June. Between July and September, another 529 million are expected, which brings the total to more than 1 billion.
Until the end of the year, the value will continue to rise. If the estimates are confirmed and without any new setbacks for pharmaceutical companies, the EU will total 1.5 billion by 31 December. Only the doses delivered until the end of September are enough to vaccinate the entire European population – 450 million – and there are still vaccines left.
With the situation in the EU improving, the debate is also turning to the rest of the world. In the conclusions, there is no reference to the idea of suspending patents to increase production and access to vaccines. The discussion was arranged at the dinner at the Porto Summit and the Global Health Summit, where it was clear that the EU does not see the temporary breach of intellectual property rights as a way to increase the doses delivered across the globe.
Alternatively, they offer to donate “at least 100 million doses, by the end of the year”, to the poorest countries that remain in a health crisis. According to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, they will be used “to vaccinate health workers and vulnerable groups around the world”.
The figure had already been put forward by Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, at the Global Health Summit last week. Now it is confirmed by the leaders, who are still committed to helping with vaccine production efforts and developing local production capacity.
Covid-19
This Tuesday Portugal recorded 3 deaths and 375 new cases of Covid-19, according to the daily report of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). The key figures recorded were:
Confirmed Cases: 845.840 (+ 375 / + 0.04 %)
Number of admitted: 237 (-2 /-0.84 %)
Number of ICU admitted: 52 (-5 /-8.77 %)
Deaths: 17.021 (+ 3 / + 0.02 %)
Recovered: 806.648 (+ 669 / + 0.08 %)
Active cases: 22,171 (-297 /- 1.32%)
Safe Communities comparisons/trends show that: deaths were higher than last weeks’ weekly average, new daily cases were much lower than yesterday and below the weekly average; and recoveries nearly double new cases
In hospital there was a decrease reversing trend from last few days and were the 4th lowest for over a year since 27th March 2020 (then 191) and those in ICU decreased for third day and one of the lowest 9th September 2020. There was also a welcomed moderate decrease for one day in active cases.
Lisbon and Tagus Valley region accounts for almost half of all new cases.
Health
Costa rejects link to increase cases in Lisbon with tourism and celebrations.
The Prime Minister asked for caution to avoid a greater increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 in the Lisbon region, also stressing “there is no correlation” with the reopening of tourism or the celebrations of Sporting.
“The message of caution is a message that we have to keep permanently because it is very clear to everyone that the pandemic has not yet disappeared. Fortunately, vaccination has been evolving at a good pace, but we are far from being covered by the entire population,” he said. António Costa was speaking to Portuguese journalists in Brussels at the end of a two-day European Council.
Asked at the time about the situation in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, where there has been an increase in the number of infections, the Head of Government repeated the idea: “We will have to continue to be prudent until the pandemic is eradicated and the municipality of Lisbon is no different from the other 277 counties on the continent and, therefore, the rules that apply to the 278 counties also apply to Lisbon”.
Asked if the increase in cases in the region could be related to the reopening of tourism in the country, namely for British tourists, António Costa stressed that “there is no correlation established at this moment between this reopening” and the rise in infections. “The cases are more associated with family celebrations and housing conditions than with British tourists ,” he said.
There also “doesn’t seem to be much evidence” of a connection with Sporting’s celebrations, he added. “There are some cases of people who, unfortunately, are infected and participated in the festivities, but to be authentic of the images I saw on television of the people who were at the festivities and the number of cases verified would say that there is not a strong correlation there”, he concluded.
Covid-19: Marcelo considered number of cases and excludes return to State of Emergency.
The President of the Republic considered today, in view of the advance of vaccination against Covid-19, the indicators of case numbers and transmission index, and from this excluded a return to the State of Emergency.
Speaking to journalists, outside the National Palace of Ajuda, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa argued that, as the vaccination progresses, “the youngest will still be subject to contagion” with the new coronavirus, “but this will not necessarily have repercussions in hospitalizations, intensive care and deaths “.
Asked if in the Lisbon region there could be setbacks in one or more stages in the deflationary process, the Head of State replied: “The Government has the competence to make this assessment. What I think is that the return to the country of a State of Emergency is out of the question in any case “.
The President of the Republic defended that in addition to the new cases of infection per 100 thousand inhabitants and the transmission rate “there are other indicators that are no less important: the number of deaths, the number of intensive care and the number of hospitalized persons”, and that have to be taken into account.
On the other hand, he pointed out that vaccination against Covid-19 makes the current situation “different than what happened a year ago”.
“We have five million doses of vaccines already, and a pace that will be accelerated, namely, as I said, in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, of tens of thousands of doses per day, covering groups at risk,” he said.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa added that, “despite the high number of cases between 20 and 40 years, this has not had repercussions so far in hospitalizations and in intensive care” and maintained that “it is this consideration that has to be done at every moment”.
“This is a consideration that must be made by those who have the power to do so, and it is the Government,” he insisted.
Vaccinations – weekly report
Lisbon, 25 May 2021 (Lusa) – More than half a million vaccines against Covid-19 were administered in the last week in Portugal, which has 34% of the population with the first dose taken, said today the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) ).
According to the weekly vaccination report released by the DGS, 3,526,688 people are already vaccinated with the first dose and 1,654.55 have already completed the vaccination, with a total of 516,911 doses being administered in the last week.
The vaccination of the age group of people over 80 years old has changed slightly compared to the previous week, with 96% (646,721 elderly people) now with the first dose already administered and 90% (607,257) with the two doses taken.
In the age group between 65 and 79 years, 92% of the people in this group (1,471,719) have already received the first dose, a percentage that drops to 30% (473,148) with regard to complete vaccination.
In the group between 50 and 64 years old, 44% (941,130) have already been vaccinated for the first time and another 13% (285,780) have already received two doses of vaccine against Covid-19.
By regions, DGS data indicates that the North continues to lead in the number of vaccines administered, with a total of 1,756,275 doses, closely followed by Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, where 1,705,909 doses have already been administered.
The Centre is the third region in the country where most people received the vaccine (983,974), followed by Alentejo (292,725), Algarve (199,146), Madeira (132,162) and the Azores (107,122).
With regard to the vaccination coverage of the population by regions, Alentejo leads in the percentage of people who have already received a dose of the vaccine (41%), while the Center has 40%.
Vaccinations
The Secretary of State for Health, Diogo Serras Lopes, assumed this Monday that extending the self-scheduling of vaccination against Covid-19 to people over 50 is a “matter of days” and will occur “very soon”.
“I do not have a specific date yet. I think it is possible [that it will be this week], but if it is not, it is a matter of days. It seems quite evident, not least because the vaccination is taking place at a very fast pace. No, there is no reason for this rhythm to slow down from now on, although there is some prevalence of second doses that decreases the capacity of first doses, “he said.
At this time, the self-scheduling system for vaccination only covers people over 55 years old, after it was initially designed for users over 65 years old and later extended to the population over 60 years
With the increase in the number of cases in the last two weeks in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, Diogo Serras Lopes was also questioned if a possible vaccination of younger age groups in this region could be a solution in parallel with the reinforcement of the testing capacity already announced for the next few days and similarly to what has already happened in other regions of the country, such as in the Algarve, where the population is younger.
“Let’s see. Right now, we already have more than 90% of the population over 60 years old vaccinated and over 50 years old we are relatively close to reaching 80%, if we haven’t already. The population that has the highest prevalence of serious disease or death is already with a very high degree of protection. I don’t know if it makes sense to have a specific vaccination for a younger population in Lisbon, but, if it makes sense, it will obviously be something that we will consider “, he asserted.
Intensification of testing and contact history in Lisbon and Tagus Valley.
The Secretary of State for Health, Diogo Serras Lopes, said that there will be an intensification of testing and the history of contacts with positive cases in the region of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley.
In Vila Franca de Xira, at the ceremony that marked the transition from private clinical management to the State, the Secretary of State stated that “what is going to be done is to reinforce in some way the mechanisms that already exist, in order to be able to test more people and go a little further in the link between people confirmed with Covid-19 or who have been in contact with a person who has been confirmed as Covid-19.
“We are well aware of the experience that we have already accumulated that cutting transmission is absolutely essential” he added, referring that the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon already experienced a similar epidemiological situation at the beginning of last summer and did not rule out a possible setback in the region in the respective rules of deflation.
“There are multiple factors that have been explaining this increase in cases in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, but we already had a relatively similar situation in June and July 2020. The mechanisms at that time were implemented and today are much more streamlined”, he said. .
Diogo Serras Lopes also stressed that “the rules are clear” and, if necessary, it is possible that the municipalities will move to more restricted rules according to the number of cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in 14 days.
The Secretary of State also said that the intensification of testing will follow the same model as previous approaches, “with PCR tests, rapid tests and the application of tests both sectorally – where outbreaks are effectively sectorial – as well as in family or neighbourhood contexts”.
International Travel
France plans to apply certificate for travel as early as June.
The French Government is considering the entry into force in the country in June of the digital certificate of Covid-19, which the European Union intends to launch as of July 1, in closer coordination with neighbouring countries, including Portugal.
The Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, in an interview this Monday with radio RMC and BFMTV, said that the objective is to make decisions in the first week of June “to anticipate a little” in relation to the EU calendar the entry into force of the document that allows traveling in the community space.
“It is a possibility” that people arriving in France from “countries where the situation is safe” can use the certificate as early as June, “he said.
Beaune said that, together with the French Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, this Monday will also have a meeting with leaders from seven nearby countries with which France has the largest tourist flows, including Spain or Portugal, to “try to have exactly the same rules “.
The French official insisted that the European certificate “is a real coordination progress” that will allow a person to cross the EU’s internal borders if he proves that he has recovered from Covid-19, that he was vaccinated or tested negative.
For those who are vaccinated, France will only accept vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency as valid that is, Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen, revealed the French Secretary of State.
Other News
Regions
Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 26th May 2021
By our correspondent, Daniel Fernandes
Covid-19 update
There were 83 new Covid-19 cases, 68 recoveries and 1 death from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report. This was the first death from Covid-19 in 59 days.
On Friday, there were 25 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from France and 24 cases of local transmission) and 11 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital increased to 5, although no patients were in intensive care.
On Saturday, there were 18 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Poland and 17 cases of local transmission) and 16 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital increased to 7, although no patients were in intensive care.
On Sunday, there were 14 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Moldova and 13 cases of local transmission) and 11 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital increased to 9, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
On Monday, there were 13 new Covid-19 cases (all cases of local transmission) and 14 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital increased to 10, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
And on Tuesday, there were 13 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Poland, 1 passenger who had arrived from Northern Portugal and 11 cases of local transmission), 16 recoveries and 1 death. A 90 year old female patient, who had pre-existing conditions, died from Covid-19 at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. She had arrived in hospital from a care home. The number of patients in hospital increased to 11, 2 of whom were in intensive care.
There were 263 active cases on Tuesday, of which 18 had been imported while the other 245 cases had been a result of local transmission. As of Tuesday, there had been 9,400 cases, 9,065 recoveries and 72 deaths.
On Tuesday, there were 18 patients in isolation in a dedicated hotel, 234 patients in isolation in their own accommodation and 11 patients in hospital, 2 of whom in intensive care.
On the same day, there were 70 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 15,980 travellers under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There were also 750 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, 208,087 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 15h30). By Tuesday, 424,835 samples from RT-PCR tests had been processed and 55,146 antigen rapid tests had been carried out in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
A total of 2,004 antigen rapid tests were carried out in the Region’s schools between May 12th and May 24th, and only 1 came back with a positive result that was confirmed through a PCR test.
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 635 calls from Thursday to Tuesday. Overall, it has received 50,248 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 23 calls from Thursday to Tuesday. Overall, it has received 3,563 calls.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/21/25-novos-casos-de-covid-19-11-recuperados-282-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/22/18-novos-casos-de-covid-19-16-recuperados-131-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/23/14-novos-casos-de-covid-19-11-recuperados-81-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/24/13-novos-casos-de-covid-19-14-recuperados-126-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/25/13-novos-casos-de-covid-19-16-recuperados-70-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/25/faleceu-mais-uma-doente-com-covid-19-na-madeira/
Vaccination update
As of May 25th, 132,162 vaccine doses (90,436 1st doses & 41,726 2nd doses) had been administered in the Autonomous Region of Madeira since the start of the vaccination campaign on December 31st. This means that 35.6% of the population has been inoculated with 1 vaccine doses while 16.4% of the population has been fully inoculated.
In the previous week, 9,936 vaccine doses were administered, of which 2,326 were 1st doses while 7,610 were 2nd doses.
The new vaccination centre in Ribeira Brava (Centro de Vacinação da Ribeira Brava) has opened on May 23rd at Pavilhão da Serra de Água (Sports Hall), in the parish (freguesia) of Serra de Água, with the inoculation of 600 people (1st & 2nd doses). The Municipality of Ribeira Brava started to provide assistance in the transportation of people who are scheduled to be inoculated. Until last week, the vaccination centre had been located at the Ribeira Brava Health Centre (Centro de Saúde da Ribeira Brava).
The plan for this week is to continue vaccination throughout the Region, with a particular focus on inoculation of 1st and 2nd vaccine doses to Porto Santo residents on May 28th and 29th.
A total of 32,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses are expected to arrive in the Region until June. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Madeira Regional Government, revealed that although 7,000 doses have already arrived in the Portuguese mainland, their delivery to Madeira is delayed. It is hoped this specific shipment will arrive in the Region in the following days. He dismissed the slower pace of inoculations recorded in the previous week and believes it will be possible to recover and to keep the aim of vaccinating 70% of the population until September.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/129774/7_mil_vacinas_da_Johnson_chegam_nos_proximos_dias
Water supply disruptions
There will be water supply disruptions in the following places:
26th May (TODAY – 09h00-16h00) – Parish (Freguesia) of São Martinho:
– Rua Dr. Pita (between Caminho das Virtues and the roundabout at Rua das Virtudes)
– Urbanização da Azinhaga da Nazaré
– Rua Henrique Franco
– Alameda Danilo Gouveia
26th May (TODAY – 09h00-13h00) – Parish (Freguesia) of Câmara de Lobos:
– Torre
28th May (00h00-04h00) – Parish (Freguesia) of Câmara de Lobos:
– Vila
– Serrado da Adega
28th May (09h00-13h00) – Parish (Freguesia) of Câmara de Lobos:
– Palmeira
– Palmeira de Baixo
– Torre
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/25/cmf-avisa-para-cortes-de-agua-na-freguesia-de-s-martinho/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/22/arm-avisa-para-cortes-de-agua-em-camara-de-lobos-3/
Algarve Situation report Wednesday 26th May 2021
Covid-19: President of AHETA says tourism demand is far from satisfactory.
British tourist bookings for hotels in the Algarve have increased “above expectations”, but the numbers are far from “satisfactory” for the region, the President of the sector’s largest regional association told Lusa today.
“There is a very positive demand from the British market in the Algarve, even above expectations, but we cannot go overboard due to the fact that there is one or another hotel with high occupancy levels,” the president of the Association of Hotels and Enterprises told Lusa. Algarve Tourist Attractions (AHETA).
According to the director, “the scale of the climb is not yet known and requires careful analysis”, as there are “many units and developments still closed in the Algarve and only reopening in June”, so it will only be possible to know at the end of this month ” the real impact of demand on the units that are working.”
According to Elidérico Viegas, tourist demand “grew gradually and progressively, as soon as it was known that Portugal would be included in the ‘green list’ of safe destinations that exempts citizens from quarantining on their return to the United Kingdom, which happened from 17 May.
However, for the leader of AHETA, the numbers “very satisfactory that we have been talking about in the last few days correspond to one or the other unit and not to the average of the Algarve”, creating even “some disappointment in the entrepreneurs who are not seen in these results”.
There is a whole machine that has been idle for a year and a half and needs to be retrofitted, because it is not enough to put it to work at cruising speed. It is a gradual process and it will take some time for it to work in full”, recalled the person in charge.
The full functioning of the hotel units is also, according to the leader, “dependent on the stability of the markets that emit tourists, mainly the British and the national market, which may be affected by a possible setback caused by the pandemic” of Covid-19.
Tavira beaches open bathing season with “gold” quality.
The four beaches in the municipality of Tavira (Barril, Cabanas, Ilha de Tavira and Terra Estreita) were distinguished, once again, with the classification of “beaches with gold quality” by Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation.
Tavira was thus recognized, along with 391 beaches, of which 329 are coastal, 51 inland and 11 transition. The purpose of this award is to highlight the beaches that, for five consecutive years (2016-2020), have bathing water of excellent quality.
The assessment, carried out by Quercus, results from the analysis carried out in accordance with the Bathing Water Directive.
As in the past year, the Câmara de Tavira sends the message that Quercus reinforces the need for bathers to comply with the sanitary rules defined by the Directorate-General for Health, when attending bathing areas. In this context, it is requested that crowds of people are avoided when accessing the beaches and the sand. It also appeals to the civic fulfilment of those who frequent the beaches, namely, “with regard to the correct disposal of disposable masks, which must be placed in trash bins and never abandoned in the natural environment”, he concludes.
Rural Fire at the entrance to Faro.
A fire has already been overcome in an area “with debris and pasture”, at the entrance to the city of Faro, which broke out this Sunday, around 6 pm.
Although it was quickly overwhelmed and did not cause “any damage to structures or victims”, according to the Faro District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) confirmed, the column of black smoke was visible from a long distance.
The quick response was made by the Sapadores de Faro Firefighters, the Faro Volunteers – Cruz Lusa and the Olhão Firefighters, who, with the help of an aerial means, quickly controlled the flames.
In addition to the helicopter, 29 operational fire supporters, supported by 9 vehicles, were involved in fighting the fire.
Azores Situation Report Wednesday 26th May 2021
By our Azores Correspondent
Inaugural Flight.
The Regional Government of the Azores, the Association of Tourism and the carrier Lufthansa considered this Sunday that the beginning of the company’s connections to São Miguel signals the recovery of the tourist sector in the region, affected by the Covid-19.
At 12:22 local time, Lufthansa’s 320-Neo aircraft, arrived from Frankfurt, Germany, with a capacity for 179 passengers, it landed for the first time at Ponta Delgada airport, on the island of São Miguel.
Awaiting the inaugural flight of the German company in São Miguel, which had an occupancy rate of around 80%, was a delegation of members of the Government of the Azores, ANA Airports and the air carrier.
Mota Borges considered the beginning of the connection to be “recognition” of the Azores’ tourism potential and said he hoped the operation would “infect other markets”.
“People want to travel, the Azores offers everything you need for a safe trip. There is so much to do on this island, not only on this island, but across the archipelago. It is truly safe by nature”.
The President of the Azores Tourism Association, Carlos Morais, praised the operation that aims to bring about 4 thousand passengers from the German market, the second most important tourist market in the Azores (the first is the national market).
“Today is a historic day for tourism in the Azores, and one of the largest airlines in the world is making its first flight to the autonomous region of the Azores. There are a total of 22 flights and it’s a very important market for the Azores“.
From the 25th of June, Ponta Delgada will also have a direct connection with Geneva, Switzerland, on Fridays, operated by Swiss (belonging to the Lufthansa group).
Death
The Regional Health Authority has reported that there has been another death. An 86-year-old woman, who was hospitalized at the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, in Ponta Delgada”.
She was a resident of the parish of São Sebastião, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.
The number of fatalities caused by Covid-19 in the Azores archipelago has risen to 33 since the beginning of the pandemic.
Over the last few days there have been a number of cases and recoveries.
22nd May
24 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, all in São Miguel, in the context of community transmission, resulting from 1,914 tests in the reference laboratories in the Region.
The municipality of Ribeira Grande registered 18 new cases (13 in Rabo de Peixe, four in Ribeirinha and one in Conceição). In the municipality of Ponta Delgada there are four new cases (one in São José, one in Santa Clara, one in Capelas and one in Arrifes). In the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo there is a new case, in Ponta Garça, and in the municipality of Lagoa there is a new case, in Santa Cruz.
There was a total of 18 recoveries.
During the epidemiological investigation, it was found that a positive case initially allocated to the parish of Matriz, municipality of Ribeira Grande, resides in the parish of São José, municipality of Ponta Delgada, so the data shown in the table reflect this change.
23rd May
30 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, 29 in São Miguel and one in Faial, resulting from 2,177 tests carried out in the region’s reference laboratories.
In Faial, the case now diagnosed resulted from screening, upon arrival, to a traveller, resident in Feteira.
In São Miguel, the municipality of Ribeira Grande registered nine cases (three in Rabo de Peixe, three in Matriz, one in Ribeirinha, one in Ribeira Seca and one in Pico da Pedra). In the municipality of Ponta Delgada there are also nine cases (four in São Vicente Ferreira, three in Capelas, one in São Sebastião and one in Arrifes). In the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo there are two new cases (one in Ponta Garça and the other in Água de Alto). In the municipality of Lagoa there are two new cases in Rosário, and in the municipality of Nordeste there are seven new cases, all in Salga.
There was a total of 30 recoveries.
24th May
12 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores, all in São Miguel, resulting from 1,207 tests carried out in the Region’s reference laboratories.
The municipality of Ribeira Grande registered eight cases (five in Ribeira Seca, one in Rabo de Peixe, one in Ribeirinha and one in Santa Bárbara). In the municipality of Ponta Delgada there is a new case in Livramento and in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo there are three new cases (one in Ponta Garça, one in São Pedro and one in Água de Alto).
There was a recovery in Terceira, Praia da Vitória municipality, Lajes parish.
25th May
33 new positive cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the Azores in the last 24 hours, all on the island of São Miguel, following 1,909 tests carried out in the reference laboratories of the Region. All cases concern community transmission.
There are 20 new cases in the municipality of Ribeira Grande (18 in Rabo de Peixe, one in Ribeirinha and one in Conceição). In the municipality of Ponta Delgada, there are five new cases (two in São Vincente Ferreira, one in Santo António, one in Capelas and one in Rosto do Cão (Livramento). There are four new cases in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo (three in Ponta Garça and one in Ribeira Seca). There are two new cases in the municipality of Lagoa, both in Santa Cruz. In the municipality of Nordeste, a new case was diagnosed in the parish of Salga and in the municipality of Povoação there is a new case in the parish of Furnas.
During the epidemiological investigation of the case above mentioned, that was initially allocated to the parish of Arrifes, municipality of Ponta Delgada, it was found she was now residing in the parish of São Sebastião, in the same municipality, so this data was changed.
As of today, six patients are in the region’s hospitals, with five at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada (one in intensive care) and one at Santo Espírito Hospital in Angra do Heroísmo.
The archipelago currently has 264 active positive cases: 257 on the island of São Miguel, three on the island of Terceira, two on the island of Pico, one on the island of Faial and one on the island of São Jorge. There is one active transmission chain on the island of Terceira and 202 have been extinguished so far. 1,056 people are under active surveillance.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 5,404 positive cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed in the Azores and 4,978 people recovered from the disease. There were 33 deaths, 79 people who left the archipelago and 50 cases with history of previous cure. Up to now, 491,690 tests have been carried out in the archipelago for SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the Covid-19 disease.
From December 31st, 2020 until May 20th, 106,631 people aged 16 years or more were vaccinated in the Azores, corresponding to 68,352 people who received the first dose, and 38,278 people who received both doses, under the Regional Vaccination Plan.
This involved later in the afternoon the deployment of four helicopters to fight two fires at the Faro/Beja border in Almodover, and then a short while later, a fire occurred inFoz do Carvalo, Alferce necessitating the deployment of a helicopter, although this was brought to a resolution in 40 minutes. Again another example of the muscular approach! Well done to all concerned.
We now come to Covid-19 and once again thank Fernanda Goncalves our board member for highlighting and working out the process calling SNS 808 24 24 24 if you have made an application for a vaccine under the self-scheduling system but have not yet received a SMS. We placed this on Facebook and it has reached around eight thousand and has by your response, clearly helped a number of people who used the line yesterday. We have upload the 
Another advisory post we made yesterday was action to take if caught in a rip current. This is timely as we are just about to enter the Bathing season on 29th May and at present most beaches do not have lifeguards. We thank people who shared their experiences and grateful to all who shared the post reaching some seven thousand people. The information can be 
“The world needs to be better prepared to prevent future health crises”, declared António Costa in a speech he gave in English, by videoconference, at the G20 Global Health Summit, which takes place in Rome.
“The numbers that the municipality presents at this time, compared to what was transmitted to us by the Local Health Unit, would be 235 cases for every 100 thousand inhabitants. However, the numbers of the Directorate-General for Health differ and are 287 per 100 thousand inhabitants », said José Alberto Guerreiro, mayor.
The document was presented by the Minister of the Economy, foresees an investment of 6,112 million euros in the Portuguese tourism sector to surpass the goal of 27,000 million euros of tourist revenues in 2027.
“With regard to the distribution of police force (…), it appears that it is in the age group of 50-54 years that there is a greater incidence of personnel, with 20.22% of the total, being followed by the age groups of 45- 49 years old with 19.03%, 40-44 years old with 15.24%, 55-59 years old with 13.88% and 35-39 years old with 12.34%. ”, Says the document, published on the page of the Internet of the Public Security Police (PSP).
The official bathing season formally starts in Portugal on 29th May 2021 when the lifeguards and concessionaries are in place. To avoid exceeding the capacity of beaches there will be an occupancy status system: App ´Info Praia. This is currently being updated ahead of the formal start of the bathing season and we will publish details when available. The rules concerning beaches are similar to last year, the main difference being the capacities in the traffic light system.
Turning now to the weather and the fact that over the last 3-4 days there has been a considerable increase in the rural fire risk. Monday was the first day of the year that we saw a maximum fire risk being raised, which was for Tavira municipality. This increase is set to continue with today several municipalities at maximum risk and the forecast that on Saturday nearly all the Algarve will be at maximum fire risk. In such conditions it really is essential that we take every step possible to prevent a fire starting, because if it does it could spread quickly. The fires that have broken out so far, have been dealt with very quickly, on occasions using an air response at the outset. Remember when a fire gets hold in dry and windy conditions, it can take days to extinguish as we saw with the Monchique fire in 2018.
The Councillor for Education in the municipality of Beja, Arlindo Morais, indicated that “there are suspicions of food poisoning”, adding that the children attend pre-school and 1st cycle of basic education and belong to two schools in Beja and schools in the rural parishes of Beringel, São Matias and Trigaches.
The Local Health Unit (ULS) of the Northeast announced today that 24,136 people already have the complete vaccination, which corresponds to 19.3% of the little more than 124 thousand inhabitants of the 12 municipalities in the district of Bragança.
In the Assembly of the Republic, Eduardo Cabrita said that “the main wish” is that there is no more debate in the parliament about new periods of State of Emergency, nor the presentation of government reports.
Vaccination was temporarily suspended on Monday after 2 out of 5 boxes containing Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines were found to have some damage. These 2 boxes had come into contact with water and were found to have “signs of external humidity”. The Pharmacy of Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça immediately contacted Pfizer and was instructed not to use the vaccines. Technicians from the pharmacy and from Pfizer’s global quality team investigated the situation. Pfizer will have final say on whether doses can be used. Although vaccination was restarted in Funchal and in Machico, it was postponed until Sunday in Ribeira Brava.
A 64 year-old male Czech sailor was rescued off the coast of Porto Santo after being found onboard a liferaft belonging to Rogui II, a Czech sailing boat that had been headed from Europe to the Caribbean.
and music by Projeto Sonda / Pedro Glória de Lagos, was selected for the Trapped Film Festival 2021 in the USA in the category of Covid documentary films.
The Mayor justified the decision – taken today after a visit by the health authorities to the two private dwellings where the workers were staying – with the fact that “one of the houses has only one bathroom and there are no individual rooms to do the work”.
The decision was taken by the Government Council (PSD / CDS-PP / PPM coalition), which met by videoconference, on May 10th and 12th, and whose decisions were announced this Monday.
Yesterday the highlight was that the Portuguese government announced it will lift its ban on non-essential travel from the UK on 17 May. A negative PCR test is required for entry to any part of Portugal. Fully vaccinated travellers to Madeira may also present complete NHS vaccine certificates or the small NHS wallet cards as a condition of entry instead of a negative PCR test. Travellers will be required to show a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 taken within 72 hours of departure (not required for children aged 2 or under). Your airline is likely to deny boarding if you cannot provide evidence of a negative PCR test at check-in. Check with your airline before you travel.
On the subject of beaches the Government diploma that establishes the rules regarding the access and occupation of beaches was promulgated yesterday by the President of the Republic, but has not yet been published in Diário da República. However the executive has said that in general the same rules applied in 2020 are maintained. One of the changes however announced already by government, concerns the system of traffic lights at the entrance of the beaches, related to their occupation.
“A handful of rich countries, which have bought most of the doses, are now vaccinating low-risk groups. I understand that they want to vaccinate children and adolescents, but at this moment I ask you to reconsider and donate the vaccines instead. Covax, because in low and medium-low income countries the supply of vaccines has not been sufficient even to inoculate health professionals “. Only 0.3% of the vaccine supply is destined for low-income countries, according to the director-general of WHO, which “is not an effective strategy” to stop infections by the new coronavirus worldwide.
There is no change about where to wear a mask on the beach; only the mandatory use of accesses, beach facilities and restaurants is maintained. Just like last year, going to the beach this summer will mean paying attention to a traffic light. The access regime, in any case, will be different, announced Mariana Vieira da Silva, at the press conference after the council of ministers.
The exemption from the use of a mask should only be considered when there is a good vaccination coverage against covid-19 and a reduced transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned this Friday. “Countries should take into account vaccine coverage and the local incidence rate [of the virus that causes covid-19] before deciding to withdraw these measures,” said Michael Ryan , director of the WHO emergency program , at a conference on press.
The tourist accommodation sector recorded a drop of 83.5% in revenues to 76.6 million euros in the first quarter of the year, following the fall in the number of overnight stays, according to data released today by INE. According to data from the tourist activity in March, today released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), in the first quarter of 2021, there was a decrease of 80% in total overnight stays, resulting from a decrease of 59.3% in residents and 90.0% in non-residents.
Spain has registered 6,347 new cases of covid-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected people to 3,604,799 so far, continuing the number of contagions to fall, according to the Spanish Ministry of Health. Health services have also reported an additional 58 deaths attributed to the pandemic since Thursday, bringing the total number of deaths to 79,339.