"The Resolution of the Council of the Government no. 94/2020 of April 3 establishing the sanitary cordons in each municipality of São Miguel Island remains in force from April 3 to 17.
In view of the expiry of the deadline set in that Resolution, 12 am of Friday, April 17, the Government has requested the Azores Public Health Coordinator and the Regional Health Authority for their opinion on the position to be taken regarding this measure, namely as to its extension and for which period, given the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic on the island of São Miguel.
Both entities are unanimous in recommending the extension of the sanitary cordons in each and every municipality of São Miguel Island, for the same period of time, on the following grounds:
The evolution of the pandemic and epidemic curve on the island of São Miguel, which has been made public on a daily basis;
The fact that we have managed to maintain the situation of this island in a phase of extended containment in terms of alertness and response and that it has been possible to avoid, for the time being, the mitigation phase;
The fact that, according to the current scientific knowledge in general terms and not specific to São Miguel Island or the Azores, an estimated 25% to 30% of carriers of the virus are asymptomatic, which, given its highly contagious nature, could encourage its spread without the infected person even being aware that this is happening;
The fact that, in the assessment carried out by these entities, “the previous implementation of the sanitary cordons proved to be a key strategy in limiting the movement of people between municipalities, which is one of the main pillars, at this stage of the pandemic, of the spread of the infection and the exponential increase in the number of cases, allowing us, in technical terms, to flatten our epidemic curve without the exponential growth of cases that would have very significant repercussions on our Regional Health Service";
And the fact that there is an active transmission chain originating in the municipality of Povoação, which then spread to the municipalities of Ponta Delgada and Nordeste.
In addition, there are efforts under way to identify the source of infection of five patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande.
In view of this recommendation and the subsequent analysis of the situation, the Council of the Government, in the context of the almost daily meetings held by video conference, has decided the following:
Extend the determination to establish sanitary cordons in each and every municipality of São Miguel Island from 12 am of Friday, April 17, until 12 am of May 1, a measure that, according to the Azores Public Health Coordinator and the Regional Health Authority, has been essential to prevent, in the light of the experience of the past two weeks, the uncontrolled spread of the novel coronavirus on this island.
In the context of this decision, taken in prior coordination with the Representative of the National Government to the Azores, the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the Association of Municipalities of São Miguel Island, the Regional Delegation of the National Association of Parishes and the mayors of all the municipalities of São Miguel Island have been heard.
In this context, and also under the provisions of national legislation on the state of emergency, the ban on travel between the six municipalities of this island shall be extended as well as the movement of people on public roads within each municipality.
All bans already determined under the Resolution of the Council of the Government establishing the sanitary cordons are also maintained.
In this new period, the same travel exceptions already provided for in the previous Resolution on this matter are also maintained; therefore, the documents and declarations issued by employers and other entities authorising travel under these exceptions shall remain valid for this new period.
It is necessary to be absolutely clear on this matter: the fact that, for now, it has been possible to contain the generalised transmission of COVID-19 is not a reason to neglect or be less committed to the care that each of us must continue to have, otherwise, despite this decision that I am announcing today, all the effort and sacrifices made by everyone in recent weeks will be destroyed.
From the outset, the efforts of the population and companies on the island of São Miguel, in the face of a disruptive measure of their daily lives and normal activity, to accept and comply with the stipulated restrictions in an exemplary manner.
This is a civic behaviour that the Government of the Azores thanks and praises.
But also, the efforts of health professionals, members of various Security Forces, firefighters, Regional Civil Protection agents and members of the Regional Administration and so many others, who, cooperating with each other, ensure the effectiveness of this measure 24/7, always with a pedagogical approach that has greatly contributed to citizen compliance.
The Government of the Azores is well aware of the effects and impacts of the measures that have been implemented on the lives of the Azoreans and the activity of companies, but what is really at stake is, primarily, the paramount goal of protecting the health of each and every one of us.
This is, perhaps, the moment when the civic spirit and the highest sense of responsibility has been demanded from each Azorean, because the individual behaviour of each one of us is crucial - has been crucial - for the success of this collective fight against this pandemic in each of our communities.
The protection of all begins with the protection of each one."