Situation Report Azores – 17th August 2022 – From our colleague in the Azores

Covid-19 

In the seven days from Friday 5th August until Thursday 11th August there were 457 new positive cases of Covid-19 registered in the Azores, and a total of 2,041 tests performed. 447people have recovered, and no new deaths have been recorded with the total still at 117 There are 453 active cases, 10 more than the previous week.

There are 10 patients in the region’s hospitals as of 12^th August with Covid, no patients are in hospital because of Covid. There are no patients in the ICU.

118675 people in the region have had Covid, that’s over 49% of the population.

Authorities search for missing diver off Faial 

The National Maritime Authority is carrying out searches to try to locate a diver who disappeared off Faial, in the Azores, it was announced this Monday.

In a statement, the National Maritime Authority said that the alert of the disappearance of the 16-year-old of French nationality, was given at 15:30 local time (16:30 in Lisbon) “through a representative of a maritime-tourist activities company. “

According to the Maritime Authority, it was reported that “one of the scuba divers had disappeared while allegedly practicing the activity of Free-diving”, and “elements of the local command of the Maritime Police of Horta and the Station were immediately activated to the location. Lifeguard to carry out searches”.

The young man is “disappeared at sea, about ten nautical miles [approximately 18 kilometres] southwest of the extreme west of the island of Faial, in the Azores”, the statement reads.

In the search operations, coordinated by the Captain of the Port and the local Command of the Maritime Police of Horta, a vessel from the Maritime Police and a vessel from the Lifeguard Station are involved, as well as the maritime-tourist vessel where the diver was following.

The commitment of a Portuguese Air Force aircraft to participate in the searches is also foreseen, the note indicates.

Body of man found on the coast of Povoação 

On the morning of this Thursday, the body of a man was found on the coast, about 700 meters east of the coast of Povoação, on the island of São Miguel, the causes that may have been at the origin of this unknown. occurrence, indicates a statement from the National Maritime Authority.

Above-normal tropical cyclone season forecast 

In the Atlantic basin, between 14 and 20 tropical cyclones are forecast by the end of November, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes. Higher water temperature could expose the Azores to storms, but only when cyclones form will it be possible to make predictions.

Preventive arrest for detainee at Ponta Delgada airport with 27,000 doses of drugs 

A man was held in pre-trial detention after being arrested on Wednesday at the airport in Ponta Delgada on suspicion of drug trafficking, in an operation that resulted in the seizure of more than 27,000 doses.

 

Azores Situation Report – Wednesday 10th August 2022 – From our colleague in the Azores

Covid-19 

In the seven days from Friday 29th July until Thursday 4th August there were 451 new positive cases of Covid-19 registered in the Azores, and a total of 1,982 tests performed. 572 people have recovered, and no new deaths have been recorded with the total still at 117. There are 443 active cases, 119 fewer than the previous week.

There are 11 patients in the region’s hospitals as of 5^th August with Covid, this includes 2 patients that are in hospital because of Covid. There are no patients in the ICU.

118218 people in the region have had Covid, that’s over 49% of the population.

Bad weather in the Azores leaves 11 injured, four in serious condition 

Bad weather in the Azores caused 11 injuries, four of them in a serious condition, the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores (SRPCBA) reported Friday.

Five of the injured were taken to the Santo Espírito Hospital on Terceira Island, the most affected, and six to the Praia da Vitória Health Centre, according to the same note.

The incident happened when lightning struck a house in the parish of Vila Nova, on Terceira Island, RTP reported.

The SRPCBA also warned of issuing an orange warning for the possibility of rain “sometimes heavy, which may be accompanied by thunderstorms”.

The orange warning, in effect, ends at 09:00, and must then go down to yellow, until 12:00.

The SRPCBA alert follows the warnings made by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) due to bad weather in the archipelago.

Sailing boat intercepted off the Azores with 1150 kilos of cocaine 

The Judiciary Police (PJ) intercepted a sailing boat in the Azores area carrying 1150 kilos of cocaine, suspecting that the detained crew members are part of an “international criminal organization”. The vessel in question was taken to the port of Ponta Delgada where it was searched, eventually detecting, in its structure, several hidden compartments, inside which a total of 1047 packages of cocaine were found, with an approximate total weight of 1150 kilos.

The two crew members, aged 33 and 61, both foreigners, were arrested in “flagrante delicto, for committing the crime of illicit drug trafficking”.

Operation “Safe Night is Quiet Night” starts tomorrow

The Regional Command of the PSP of the Azores carries out, from August 5th to 7th, throughout the regional territory, through the Police Divisions, the operation “Safe Night is Tranquil Night”, aimed at inspecting nightlife establishments that have of rooms or spaces intended for dance.

Communiqué from the Regional Command of the PSP of the Azores, “associated with the lawful activity of nocturnal entertainment, other activities and behaviours occur that are contrary to the current legislation and produce significant changes in the order and perception of safety of the populations, being widely mediatized, especially phenomena of violence involving customers and employees, especially private security guards”.

In this sense, the PSP will promote “inspection actions on nightlife establishments, consolidating its inspection action in the vicinity of spaces, seeking an integrated intervention involving the various means at its disposal”.

At the same time, in the traffic and road safety component, the “Divisions will promote, implement and intensify traffic inspection actions, focusing on incorrect behaviour, especially speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol/psychotropic substances, disrespect of the obligation to stop imposed by the red traffic regulation light and the crossing of roads

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 3rd August 2022 

From our colleague in the Azores 

Covid-19

In the seven days from Friday 22nd July until Thursday 28th July there were 510 new positive cases of Covid-19 registered in the Azores, and a total of 2,095 tests performed. 594 people have recovered, and no new deaths have been recorded with the total still at 117. There are 562 active cases, 84 fewer than the previous week.

There are 20 patients in the region’s hospitals as of 29th of July with Covid, this includes 4 patients that are in hospital because of Covid. There are no patients in the ICU.

117,766 people in the region have had Covid, that’s over 46% of the population.

Published resolution that puts all islands on alert in the context of covid-19

Government Council Resolution No. 117/2022 of July 28, 2022, was published today in the Official Journal, which declares all the islands of the Azores in a situation of Alert.

Under the terms of this resolution, it remains mandatory to carry out a screening test for covid-19 when visiting users in health care establishments and therapeutic communities and social inclusion communities, as well as in temporary and emergency housing centres, residential structures for the elderly and other structures and responses dedicated to the elderly and people with disabilities.

The visit is subject to the presentation of a negative result of an RT-PCR test performed within the previous 72 hours, or a rapid antigen test validated by a healthcare professional performed within the previous 48 hours.

The results of the tests referred to in the previous number can only be presented in paper or digital format, excluding the SMS format from the proof. The presentation of a test with a negative result is waived when a recovery certificate or declaration of prophylactic isolation is presented, or when the patient is 12 years of age or younger.

Also, under the terms of the same resolution, the use of masks is defined as mandatory for accessing or staying in health establishments and services; residential or reception structures or home support services for vulnerable populations, the elderly or people with disabilities, as well as continuing care units, integrated into the Regional Network for Integrated Continuing Care.

Likewise, the mandatory use of a mask in the air transport of passengers remains, and in places where this is determined by the Regional Health Directorate. The mandatory use of masks is waived when, depending on the nature of the activities, their use is impracticable, and such waiver should be limited to what is strictly necessary, or when this is determined by the Regional Health Directorate.

The obligation to wear masks does not apply to people aged 10 years or less and can be waived upon presentation of a Medical Certificate of Multipurpose Disability or a medical declaration, in the case of people with cognitive, developmental and psychic disturbances. The medical declaration attesting that the person’s clinical condition is not consistent with the use of masks is also valid.

The text of the Resolution can be consulted in its entirety at:

https://jo.azores.gov.pt/api/public/anexo/-252967617?filename=Anexo.pdf

Dismantled drug trafficking organization in operation with PJ participation

The Judiciary Police (PJ) was part of a Europol operation that dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to international drug trafficking, announced the criminal police body, which, as part of this action, seized more than a ton of cocaine.

In addition to Portugal, police forces from Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain were also involved, with more than six tons of cocaine seized in global terms, with seizures in the Azores, Aruba, Ivory Coast and in Spain.

The investigation lasted several years and began with the seizure by the PJ of two sailboats in the Azores, in 2018 and 2019, which, in total, transported around 1,440 kilos of cocaine. In these seizures, seven foreign citizens were arrested, with the PJ clarifying that the national investigations into this case are concluded.

According to the released note, “Operation Florida” – as it was called by the PJ – managed to put an end to the activity of this criminal organization, which was mostly composed of Montenegrin citizens and used pleasure boats to introduce large quantities of drugs from South America.

“This operation, like others in which the Judiciary Police has participated, clearly demonstrates that only with recourse to international cooperation is it possible to effectively combat the phenomenon of drug trafficking, which constitutes a serious threat to most countries”, it can read. up in the communiqué.

According to Europol, which mediated the exchange of information between the different countries involved, during the investigation, 29 suspects were accused in different countries. A total of 37 searches were carried out and 12 people were arrested, in addition to the seizure of watches, bank cards, documents, ammunition, weapons, a vehicle, a speedboat and money.

 

 

Azores Situation Report 27th July 2022  

 

From our colleague in the Azores

Covid-19 

In the seven days from Friday 15th July until Thursday 21st July there were 601 new positive cases of Covid-19 registered in the Azores, and a total of 2,213 tests performed. 847 people have recovered, and no new deaths have been recorded with the total still at 117 There are 646 active cases, 246 fewer than the previous week.

There are 17 patients in the region’s hospitals as of 22nd of July with Covid, this includes 4 patients that are in hospital because of Covid. There are no patients in the ICU.

117256 people in the region have had Covid, that’s over 46% of the population.

Two men arrested for aggravated robbery in Ponta Delgada 

Two men were arrested in Ponta Delgada, for aggravated robbery, after allegedly threatening a person with a knife and using his ATM card for a transfer of 15,000 euros.

“According to the investigation, the suspects, after fraternizing with the victim in several establishments in Portas do Mar, followed the victim to the vicinity of the church of São Pedro”, pointing “a razor to his neck” to keep the wallet and “to appropriate, from the outset, about 400 euros and an ATM card”, describes, in a statement, the PSP’s Regional Command of the Azores.

The card was used “shortly later to make illegal bank withdrawals and a bank transfer of 15,000 euros”, adds the PSP.

“During the investigations carried out by the investigators of the PSP Permanent Service Brigade, it was possible to gather probative elements that indicate the suspects of having planned the illicit act on the 62-year-old victim, whom they had met only a few hours before the crime took place”, says that police.

The suspects, aged 24 and 33, were arrested “on suspicion of committing a crime of aggravated robbery”.

The PSP says that the investigations began “immediately after the complaint made by the victim of the crime, which pointed to two suspects” who, in the early hours of Wednesday, would have “allegedly pointed a blade to his neck, to appropriate a portfolio”.

Ponta Delgada’s White Party takes place on August 6th with 200 artists 

The 6th edition of the Ponta Delgada white party, the “PDL White Ocean”, will take place on August 6th, involving 200 artists who will perform on various stages throughout the centre of the Azorean city.

In a statement, the municipality of Ponta Delgada considered that a “city party”, which is “aimed at both the resident population” and visitors.

“This is one of the main events we have to offer and which places Ponta Delgada on the roadmap for major events,” said the mayor, social democrat Pedro Nascimento Cabral, quoted in the press release.

In organizing the event, which has “impact on commerce, restaurants, hotels and tourism”, “more than 500 people” will be involved.

“Reference in the middle of the North Atlantic, ‘PDL White Ocean’ has a diversified and 100% Azorean animation. There will be concerts of the most diverse musical styles on 20 stages dispersed through the various arteries of the heart of the city with 200 artists, acrobats and performances.

The municipality emphasizes that the “environmental concern” will be a “constant” during the white party, where reused cups will be used (each person can bring their own, although there is a “own party glass”).

The decoration of the event will “privilege recyclable and reusable materials” and the “scenic lighting will be of low consumption”.

“There will also be reinforcement of equipment for the disposal of waste and eco points and human resources for cleaning the city will be reinforced”, adds the municipality.

The PDL White Ocean, which encourages all participants to dress in white, is promoted by the Ponta Delgada Chamber and produced by the company Fábrica de Espetaculos.