The Government of Madeira today approved new measures to contain contagions with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that include a ban on traffic between 11 pm and 5 am, the opening schools and reinforcement of inspection.

In view of the increase in cases of contagion with the new coronavirus verified in the archipelago, the Madeiran executive met with the representatives of the health authorities in the region to decide on the new measures, and no statements were made to the media.

In the statement distributed after the meeting, it can be read: “despite the measures developed by the regional authorities and the collaboration of the population, to ensure public health, at the same time that we seek to keep all regional economic activity in operation, thus protecting the posts work, an increase in the number of cases was confirmed “.

The Regional Government of PSD / CDS coalition says that due to this situation it is “necessary, in the coming days, to introduce more measures, with a view to not spreading the virus”.

“As of 00:00 on January 5, 2021, circulation in the Autonomous Region of Madeira is prohibited in public roads, between 11 pm and 5 am, with the exceptions to be announced tomorrow by the Government Resolution”, stresses the executive in the document.

It also warns that “vaccination is ongoing, but everyone has to maintain the necessary health safety rules, to protect the entire population”.

With regard to the opening of schools in the region, with Madeira having a universe of 52 thousand elements, including student teachers and employees, the regional executive adopted specific measures for the three municipalities with “the highest incidence of cases”, namely, Funchal, Câmara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava.

In these municipalities, the restart of the courses will take place “progressively”, aiming to allow the health authorities to carry out a “concentrated and dedicated assessment of the situation” and “as the tests are being carried out, the teaching establishments will be opened” , highlights.

According to the perspectives of the Regional Government, in these three municipalities, private public schools must reopen until January 11, while in the remaining educational establishments in the other municipalities, the timetable remains the same, starting classes next Monday (January 4 ).

The island government informs that “the testing teams will start their work on Monday morning, January 4th, in the three identified municipalities, with the aim of tracking the more than 6,000 teachers and educational assistants”.

Due to this situation, “extracurricular activities in Funchal, Câmara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava will be suspended until January 10, 2021”, with guardians entitled to have a justified lack of work to support their students.

In regional public administration, face-to-face work will be reduced to a minimum, starting on Monday and until January 15.

The Madeiran government also decided to suspend home visits until January 15, continuing the process of testing and vaccinating professionals and users and limiting the maximum mobility of professionals between establishments.

As for bars and restaurants, the opening hours are established until 10:30 pm, “which includes the ‘take-away’ activity and restaurant activity in large areas”.

Another of the decisions made public was the reinforcement of inspection to “guarantee compliance with the rules in force throughout the Region”.

“All of these measures will be the subject of a resolution by the Government Council, which will take place on the morning of Monday, January 4, 2021”, concludes the statement.

Based on the latest data released by the Regional Health Directorate, on Sunday, Madeira recorded 65 new positive cases of covid-19 on Sunday, totaling 734 active situations, of which 558 are locally transmitted.