Situation Report Madeira 20th – 21st May
–From our colleague reporting on Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new Covid-19 cases in Madeira for the 14th consecutive
day. The number of cases remains at 90. There were 5 recoveries, bringing its overall number to 64 recoveries. There are now 26 active cases.
There are 269 people under active monitoring and 92 in self-monitoring.
As for Covid-19 testing, on the 19th of May, 68 tests were carried out on patients at Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital, with all coming back negative. So far, 1,936 samples have been collected from patients at this hospital.
On the same day, 180 samples were collected at Estruturas Residenciais para Pessoas Idosas (ERPI – a type of care homes for the elderly) and all came back negative. So far, 3,088 samples have been collected from ERPI.
Overall, 8,419 samples from 7,520 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 45 calls from Tuesday to Wednesday. The total number of calls made to this helpline is 7,717. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available
every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 870 calls. The number of people being monitored is 111.
Research on the possible use of sniffer dogs to detect Covid-19
In March, Centro de Química da Madeira – Universidade da
Madeira (Madeira Chemistry Research – University of Madeira) and Grupo de Trabalho Mondioring Madeira (Mondioring Madeira Working Group), in partnership with regional health entities such as Clínica do Amparo, started research on the
possible use of the trained sniffer dogs to detect people infected with Covid-19.
A veterinarian and a canine specialist are monitoring and providing input into this research. Its aim is to have a low-cost, quick and practical way of detecting individuals infected with Covid-19, even if asymptomatic, so as to improve
public health and aid in the economic recovery, for example, by deploying detection teams to strategic places (airports, ports, hospitals, care homes.
Centro de Química da Madeira has been researching, in the last few years, the possible use of sniffer dogs for disease detection. Due to Covid-19, Grupo de Trabalho Mondioring Madeira joined this research work.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93331/Caes_treinados_para_detectar_covid-19
Police monitoring Covid-19 environmental compliance
The PSP Madeira Regional Command (Comando Regional da PSP Madeira – Police) has checked whether disposable PPE (gloves/suits/masks) and hospital waste are being disposed of in a manner that complies with environmental legislation and
requirements. Veterinary clinics, healthcare providers, care homes, tattoo/piercing parlours and 2 waste collection companies from Funchal were inspected and found to be in compliance with current legislation.
Banco Alimentar launch a donations appeal
“If an empty street astonishes you,
imagine an empty plate, everyday”. This is the motto Banco Alimentar (one of the biggest and most famous foodbanks in Portugal) used in its appeal for people to donate food and other goods to this institution. Banco Alimentar used to
receive most donations in supermarkets but this is no longer possible, due to the Covid-19 restrictions. Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of requests for help. The campaigns Ajuda Vale and Online are taking place
from the 21st of May and the 31st May.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93323/Banco_Alimentar_com_campanha_entre_21_e_31_de_maio