Following the permanent monitoring of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Azores, under the state of alert already declared in the Azores, has determined the closure of all school establishments in the Region from March 16, 2020.
 
This closure will be enforced until the end of the Easter holiday period.
 
Daycare centres, kindergartens, free time occupation centres, occupational activity centres, museums and public libraries have been also closed.
 
The closure of night entertainment establishments and cinemas, gymnasiums and the banning of swimming pools for public use until March 31 has been also determined.
 
In conjunction with the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the closure of all bathing areas has been recommended.
 
In the case of civil servants who need to be absent from the service to support their children up to the age of 14, or, beyond this age, in special situations, their absences are considered justified.
 
As part of this monitoring action, the Government of the Azores reminds that restrictions in the number of visits to patients admitted to integrated continuing care units, nursing homes and "casas de saúde" (mental institutions) have been recommended since March 9.
 
The respective information circular determines that the professionals responsible for these inpatient units should limit visits to one person during restricted visiting hours.
 
The Regional Directorate for Health also determines that the same restriction is applied to accompanying persons in the Emergency Room and in the Basic Emergency Units.
 
It is recommended, once again, to comply with the individual protection measures already announced.
 
The protection of all people begins with individual protection.