Madeira Situation Report Saturday 15th May 2021
by our Special Correspondent Daniel Fernandes
Covid-19 update
There were 73 new Covid-19 cases, 68 recoveries and no deaths from Covid-19 in Madeira since the previous Madeira Situation Report.
On Wednesday, there were 18 new Covid-19 cases (from 1 passenger who had arrived from Poland, 1 passenger who had arrived from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region and 16 cases of local transmission) and 19 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital remained the same (11, including 4 in intensive care).
On Thursday, there were 26 new Covid-19 cases (all cases of local transmission) and 28 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital decreased to 6, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
And on Friday, there were 29 new Covid-19 cases, from passengers who had arrived from Poland, Romania, Spain, Northern Portugal and the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region (1 arrival from each location) and 24 cases of local transmission. There were also 21 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital decreased to 5, 1 of whom was in intensive care.
There were 232 active cases on Friday, of which 17 had been imported while the other 215 cases had been a result of local transmission. As of Friday, there had been 9,207 cases, 8,904 recoveries and 71 deaths.
On Friday, there were 17 patients in isolation in a dedicated hotel, 210 patients in isolation in their own accommodation and 5 patients in Covid-19 units, 1 of whom in intensive care.
On the same day, there were 138 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 11,346 travellers under monitoring by the health authorities. Monitoring is being carried out through the ‘MadeiraSafe’ app. There were also 625 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, 199,312 samples had been collected until Friday (at 15h30). By Friday, 405,690 samples from RT-PCR tests had been processed and 54,855 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 399 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, it has received 48,760 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 26 calls from Tuesday to Friday. Overall, it has received 3,508 calls.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/13/18-novos-casos-de-covid-19-19-recuperados-70-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/13/26-novos-casos-de-covid-19-28-recuperados-47-suspeitos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/14/29-novos-casos-de-covid-19-21-recuperados-138-suspeitos/
Vaccination update
Vaccination of Grupo Horários do Funchal (Madeira bus company) staff started on May 6th. Priority is being given to bus drivers and other members of staff who deal directly with the public.
On May 12th, 3,432 vaccine doses were administered in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (204 204 in Porto Moniz, 222 in São Vicente, 390 in Calheta, 900 in Santa Cruz and 1,716 in Funchal). This was the highest ever number of inoculations on a single day in the Region.
As of May 12th, 112,364 vaccine doses had been administered in the Region since the start of Covid-19 vaccination on December 31st.
On May 13th, vaccination continued at Centro de Vacinação do Funchal (Funchal Vaccination Centre), in Santana and in Santa Cruz. In Santana, people from the relevant age group and bed-ridden patients were inoculated. And in Funchal, professionals from the tourism sector and people with certain pre-existing conditions were inoculated.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/13/srspc-satisfeita-com-3432-vacinas-administradas-num-dia/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/12/horarios-do-funchal-prossegue-vacinacao-de-trabalhadores/
People who were at Sporting’s celebrations urged to get tested for Covid-19
Pedro Ramos, Madeira’s Health and Civil Protection Secretary, urged everyone who was at the celebrations of Sporting’s league title win at Avenida do Mar and who did not take the necessary Covid-19 precautions, such as the use of face masks and maintaining social distancing, to get tested for Covid-19 through antigen rapid tests. These tests are provided free of charge in adhering pharmacies. Please call them to make the most of the opportunity the Regional Government has given so that it will be known whether these celebrations will have a negative effect on the pandemic.
Covid-19 policies at Grupo Horários do Funchal
In addition to vaccination of its staff (as mentioned on the Vaccination Update), Grupo Horários do Funchal (Madeira bus company) will provide free antigen rapid tests throughout May to all members of staff, which can take place at its facilities.
The Group also emphasises that all buses from Horários do Funchal and Companhia de Carros de São Gonçalo are disinfected daily with specific disinfectants for eliminating Coronavirus and weekly through a process of nebulisation that is effective for several days and is carried out by the same company that is in charge of disinfection at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça.
Alcohol gel is provided at the entrance of each bus, and there is an acrylic barrier at the driver’s seat to ensure grater protection both the driver and passengers.
A reminder that there is a reduction of the maximum capacity to 2/3 and the use of face masks is mandatory for all passengers aged 6 or older. Face masks must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Failure to comply with the mandatory use of face masks may result in a fine ranging from €100 to €500.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2021/05/12/horarios-do-funchal-prossegue-vacinacao-de-trabalhadores/
Traffic disruptions
There will be some traffic disruptions in the municipality of Funchal in the following days. On Sunday (April 16th), from 09h30 onwards, due to XVI Circuito da Rota dos Dragoeiros (athletics race), traffic will be disrupted in the parish (freguesia) of São Gonçalo, including Largo de São Gonçalo, Rua Conde Carvalhal, Montanha, Pináculo, Cruzamento da Cancela, Estrada do Aeroporto, Cruzamento da Estrada da Camacha
On May 17th and 18th, scheduled work on the electricity network will result in a traffic disruption at Rua do Lazareto, in the parish (freguesia) of Santa Maria Maior, on the stretch of road between Largo da Forca and Rua dos Louros.
On May 19th, from 09h00 until 17h00, a traffic disruption will affect Estrada da Camacha, in the parish (freguesia) of São Gonçalo, due to work on trees.
Power cut
Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts due to planned work on the electricity supply network. These works cannot be postponed and will take place in the following days and places:
PORTO SANTO
May 15th – 09h00 to 11h00 (TODAY)
– Campo de Baixo (between Portosantense pitch and Ribeiro Salgado)
FUNCHAL
May 18th – 09h00 to 11h00
– Rua da Levada do Cavalo (numbers 8 to 27)
SANTO DA SERRA
May 17th – 08h30 to 10h30
– Portela
– Ribeira de Machico
– Ribeira de Machico de Cima
– Estrada Dom António Magalhães (numbers 145 to 182)
– Caminho do Lameirão (number 45)
– Caminho do Margaçal
– Vereda da Cova das Pedras (number 5)
RIBEIRA BRAVA
May 17th – 09h00 to 10h00
– Eira do Mourão (partial)
– São Paulo (partial)
– Espigão (partial)
– Ribeira Funda (partial)
– Fontes (partial)
CAMPANÁRIO
May 17th – 09h00 to 10h00
– Terreiros (partial)
– Cova do Conde (partial)
– Portela
– Eira das Moças
RIBEIRA BRAVA
May 18th – 15h00 to 16h00
– Eira do Mourão (partial)
– São Paulo (partial)
– Espigão (partial)
– Ribeira Funda (partial)
– Fontes (partial)
However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.
If necessary, customers can contact the free Customer Support Service (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.
On Saturday, at 11h40, the 100,000th Covid-19 vaccine inoculation took place. João Baptista, 76 years old, was administered the 100,000th vaccine dose. He had not expected this. He was inoculated with the 2nd vaccine dose. Pedro Ramos (Madeira’s Health and Civil Protection Secretary) was at Madeira Tecnopólo to witness and to celebrate this milestone. A video of this short ceremony can be watched on the followed link:
Demand for travel to Madeira has greatly increased since the announcement that Portugal will be on England’s green list for travel. For instance, Jet2 has scheduled flights from 9 airports in the UK, starting at the end of June. Summer bookings of Jet2 flights and Jet2holidays holiday packages to Madeira and Faro increased 600% in the first 24 hours since this announcement. And easyJet added 20,000 seats on flights between Portugal and the UK, with prices starting at €29,99, due to strong demand since the announcement. Flights between Bristol and Funchal are included in the list of extra seats.
On Wednesday, there were 20 new Covid-19 cases (all cases of local transmission) and 11 recoveries. The number of patients in hospital decreased to 13, 3 of whom were in intensive care.
The announcement by Grant Shapps (UK Transport Secretary) that Portugal will be on the green list of countries from May 17th has undoubtedly been welcomed by many in Madeira, due to its potential to enable a quicker recovery of the regional economy and tourism. This means that leisure travel from England will be allowed without a requirement for quarantine upon return. However, for the time being, only essential travel from the UK is currently allowed into Portugal.
MadeiraShopping has new opening hours and will open at 09h00 and close at 22h00 (Mondays to Sundays). Some shops may opt to open sometime between 09h00 and 10h00 in order to give visitors more time for shopping. The extended closing time (22h00) allows customers to shop more safely and more calmly. Customers wishing to find out the opening hours of specific shops can visit the following website: 
A shipment of 23,400 Pfizer vaccine does arrived in the Region on Monday. So far, 105,297 Pfizer vaccine doses have been received.
– Rua Pico da Lombada (numbers 1, 5, 18B, 28 and 44)