The Regional Health Authority informs that six positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed on the island of São Miguel in the last 24 hours.

Among the six cases diagnosed, three were identified following the 1,007 tests carried out by the two laboratories of reference in the Region. One case concerns a 53-year-old female, non-resident in the Azores, who landed in the Region via a flight from Mainland Portugal on July 26 and tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.        

The other two cases diagnosed following the tests carried out in the regional laboratories correspond to a 62-year-old male and a 12-year-old female, who landed in the Autonomous Region of the Azores via a flight from Mainland Portugal on July 25. After a first inconclusive test result, tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on Monday.

These two cases had been reported as recovered from the COVID-19 disease by the health authorities of Mainland Portugal. Due to fact that a case is considered recovered by the Autonomous Region of the Azores when two consecutive negative tests are produced, both individuals have decided to return to Mainland Portugal, taking the necessary precautions on the return to their place of origin.

Additionally, another three positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed following tests carried out in a private clinic laboratory.

These three cases concern male individuals, aged between 38 and 54 years, residents in the Azores, who tested positive in the screening tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus carried out prior to surgery in a private clinic, following the guidelines and recommendations of the Regional Directorate for Health. One of the individuals had travelled and returned to Region on July 22, having tested negative on arrival.

All 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 Delegations.

With the most recent cases, 171 cases of infection with the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, have already been detected in the Region, with sixteen active positive cases: fifteen on the island of São Miguel and one on the island of Terceira. 

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.