The President of the Government stated the meetings to be held next week with representatives of various sectors are intended to follow up the process towards the end of confinement and the recovery taking place in the Region following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"This series of contacts aims to follow up the recovery process that is under way in a variety of sectors, not only with the awareness of what this entails but also with the confidence that we will be able, taking all the precautions, to resume our lives," said Vasco Cordeiro.

The President of the Government spoke Friday at the end of a visit to Lagoa Basic Education and Secondary School, which, like the rest of São Miguel Island, resumes Monday face-to-face classes for 11th and 12th form students taking national exams. 

As part of these contacts, the President of the Government has a meeting scheduled for Monday with representatives of the hospitality and restaurant sectors, while, on the following day, he will meet with the Boards of Directors of Island Health Units and the three regional hospitals. 

Additionally, Vasco Cordeiro has scheduled meetings with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores and AICOPA - Azores Building Industry and Public Works Association on Wednesday.In turn, the meetings with the leaders of UGT/Açores (General Union of Workers) and CGTP/Açores (General Union of Workers) will be held Thursday. 

After visiting Lagoa School, the President of the Government stated that, in the case of São Miguel Island, everything is being prepared so that face-to-face classes may resume Monday with safe conditions, following the preparation works carried out by each educational establishment. 

In this context, he highlighted the conduction of COVID-19 screening tests to the entire educational community on the island of São Miguel, similarly to what has already been done in the schools of the Central Group islands that have also resumed face-to-face classes for 11th and 12th form students.
 
"The primary goal is to safeguard the health of students and the entire educational community in the return to this new normal, without forgetting the importance of the school path, namely of those who will take national exams," concluded Vasco Cordeiro.