Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 14th July 2021
By our special correspondent, Daniel Fernandes
There were 56 new Covid-19 cases, 39 recoveries and no deaths from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.
On Saturday, there were 14 new Covid-19 cases (from 3 passengers who had arrived from the UK, 2 passengers who had arrived from Spain and 9 cases of local transmission) and 13 recoveries. There were 2 patients in hospital, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
On Sunday, there were 8 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Botswana, 1 passenger who had arrived from Spain and 6 cases of local transmission) and 8 recoveries. There were 2 patients at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
On Monday, there were 16 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from the Netherlands, 1 passenger who had arrived from the UK, 6 passengers who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, 1 passenger who had arrived from Northern Portugal and 7 cases of local transmission) and 7 recoveries. Once again, there were 2 patients at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
And on Tuesday, there were 18 new Covid-19 cases (from 2 passengers who had arrived from the UK, 9 passenger who had arrived from Northern Portugal, 1 passenger who had arrived from Southern Portugal, 1 passenger who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region and 5 cases of local transmission) and 11 recoveries. The number of patients at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça increased to 5, 2 of whom were in intensive care.
There were 120 active cases on Tuesday, of which 48 had been imported while the other 72 cases had been a result of local transmission. As of Tuesday, there had been 9,804 cases, 9,611 recoveries and 73 deaths.
On Tuesday, there were 30 patients in isolation in a dedicated hotel, 85 patients in isolation in their own accommodation and 5 patients in hospital, 2 of whom in intensive care.
On the same day, there were 64 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 30,520 travellers under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There were also 446 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, 257,193 samples had been collected until Tuesday (at 15h30). By Tuesday, 515,421 samples from RT-PCR tests had been processed and 73,420 antigen rapid tests had been carried out in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 461 calls from Friday to Tuesday. Overall, it had received 55,725 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 11 calls from Friday to Tuesday . Overall, it has received 3,736 calls.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/07/11/14-novos-casos-de-covid-19-13-recuperados-66-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/07/11/8-novos-casos-de-covid-19-8-recuperados-41-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/07/12/16-novos-casos-de-covid-19-7-recuperados-58-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/07/13/18-casos-de-covid-19-11-recuperados-64-suspeitos/
Covid-19 vaccination update
As of July 11th, 251,573 Covid-19 vaccine doses (143,625 1st doses & 107,948 2nd doses/full vaccinations) have been administered in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This means that 57% of the population have been administered the 1st vaccine dose, while 43% of the population have been fully vaccinated. The Covid-19 vaccination campaign started on December 31st.
In the week ending on July 11st, 19,319 Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered (12,436 1st doses & 6,883 2nd doses/full vaccinations). A highlight from the week was the fact that over 60% of the population of the municipalities of Calheta and Santana have been inoculated with the 1st vaccine dose. Over 70% of the population of the Municipalities of Porto Santo and Porto Moniz have already been inoculated with the 1st vaccine dose.
The aim for this week is to continue the Covid-19 vaccination campaign. The highlight is the start of vaccination for university students, which started on Monday at Centro de Vacinação do Funchal (Funchal Vaccination Centre), located in Madeira Tecnopolo. Pedro Calado (Vice-President of the Madeira Regional Government), Pedro Ramos (Madeira’s Health and Civil Protection Secretary) and Jorge Carvalho (Madeira’s Education Secretary) visited the vaccination centre, where they witnessed the start of vaccination of university students. Pedro Ramos revealed that 600 students had already been inoculated and that around 1,600 students had registered for vaccination. There are around 3,000 university students in Madeira, 5,000 Madeiran students studying in the mainland and over 1,000 Madeiran students studying abroad. He appealed for students to take up this opportunity to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and said the aim is for vaccination of university students to be complete by the end of the summer, before the start of the new academic year.
Clinic and pharmacy provide antigen rapid tests in Porto Santo
Clínica Arriaga (Clinic), in partnership with Farmácia da Ponta do Pargo (Pharmacy) have been carrying out antigen rapid tests on the car park at Restaurante Pé (Restaurant). According to the clinic, Porto Santo Line and Winter passengers can use a QR Code in order to fill in an online form that will enable the booking of a rapid test.
Passengers traveling between Madeira and Porto Santo islands must present a negative Covid-19 test, which had been carried out up to 48 hours before traveling, on each leg of the journey. This scheme makes it easier for passengers to be tested and helps them spend more time enjoying their holidays.
Both residents and visitors can be tested daily, between 09h30 and 18h30 and without booking. The venue is easily accessible, has free parking and people can await for the test results (15-30 minutes) on the terrace from which the beach can be seen.
According to the clinic, the antigen rapid test has a success-rate of 98%. This testing scheme will be in place until the end of September, which is when Madeirans and foreign tourists most travel to Porto Santo.
Search for missing Polish tourist suspended and PSP took over the investigation
The search for Michael Kopek, a Polish tourist who had gone missing while running on a trail was suspended on Saturday. Over 30 from several fire brigades, the Forest Police (Corpo de Polícia Florestal), the PSP police force (Polícia de Segurança Pública), the GNR police force (Guarda Nacional Republicana), the Regional Civil Protection Service (Serviço Regional de Protecção Civil), 5 rescue dogs, 2 drones and a multi-mission helicopter were deployed during the search.
The PSP police force have taken over the investigation into the disappearance of Michal Kozek, aged 35, who was on holiday with his family.
The emergency services had been informed on Thursday morning that the Polish citizen had left Porto Moniz at the end of Wednesday afternoon for a trail training session and had failed to return to his hotel.
His family has released a photograph of him and his brother flew into Madeira in order to search for him. He and several volunteers are continuing to search for Michal in several trails.
His relatives and friends have appealed for volunteers who own drones to join the search. They are even willing to pay them.
It is thought Michal was wearing a blue jersey, black shorts, purple Salomon running shoes and a Garmin Forerunner 945 running watch. Michal was on the trail between Porto Moniz and Calheta (through Pico da Urze). The route he took can be seen on the Strava app.