The Regional Health Authority reports that two positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed on the island of São Miguel, following 1,100 tests conducted by the two laboratories of reference in the Azores in the last 24 hours.

One of the diagnosed cases corresponds to a 58-year-old male, non-resident, who landed in the Region via a flight from Mainland Portugal on July 24. On Thursday, the individual tested positive on the screening test carried out for SARS-CoV-2 virus on the 6th day, after a negative test result on arrival.

The other diagnosed case concerns a 44-year-old female, resident on the island of São Miguel, who landed in the Region via a flight from Mainland Portugal on July 30, having tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus on arrival.

Both individuals are clinically stable. The procedures defined for confirmed case as well as testing and surveillance of close contacts have already been carried out by the Municipal Health Delegation.

With the most recent cases, 174 cases of infection with the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, have already been detected in the Region, with 18 active positive cases: 17 on the island of São Miguel and one on the island of Terceira. 

It is also reported that one of the infected individuals identified on the island of São Miguel left the Region yesterday without the consent of the authorities.

It is a 10-year-old male, not resident in the Azores, who embarked for Mainland Portugal, where he lives, together with his mother, who had already recovered from COVID-19.

After contacts between regional and national health authorities and security forces, they were intercepted on arrival at the destination airport and sent to isolation. The case will be accompanied by the municipal health delegation from their area of residence in Mainland Portugal.

Pandemic prevention and containment measures should be maintained and reinforced, whenever possible, by citizens, private and social organisations, and by the social sector.

The Regional Health Authority reiterates the need to comply with all recommendations already made public in this regard, especially that, in case of symptoms, patients should not seek a Hospital or Health Unit, but rather call the Azores Health Line - 808 24 60 24.

For more information, please consult the Regional Government's website dedicated to this pandemic at https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt/ or the Regional Directorate for Health Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DirecaoSaudeAcores/. 

The Regional Government also provides the Azores Non-Medical COVID-19 Information Line -800 29 29 29 -, which operates from 8 am to 8 pm on working days, and the RIAC Line - 800 500 501 -, which is available from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 10.30 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 10.30 pm.

The email address [email protected] is also available for clarification on the measures adopted in the Region to face the novel coronavirus pandemic.