The Government of the Azores, following the recommendation of municipal and regional health authorities, after hearing the Municipality of Povoação and in prior coordination with the Representative of the National Government for the Azores, has determined the establishment of a sanitary cordon in the municipality of Povoação, São Miguel Island, until 12am of April 13.
This decision, which is of paramount importance for the protection of public health, arises from the need to contain the population of Povoação in its municipality, where several positive cases of infection with the novel coronavirus were registered in the last 24 hours.
The Government of the Azores has also determined to ban the movement of people on public roads in that municipality, except for necessary and urgent travel, which must be duly authorised by the Regional Health Authority.
Given the identification of cases of local transmission, it was therefore considered necessary to restrain the mobility of people in order to identify close contacts to positive cases with a view to collecting biological samples for laboratory testing.
This situation is being followed up by the Municipal Health Delegation in coordination with other entities involved, namely local authorities, security forces and fire brigades. The procedures defined for confirmed case are in progress as well as the surveillance of close contacts.
The Regional Health Authority warns that the failure to comply with the mandatory quarantine period constitutes a crime of disobedience and, as such, a complaint will be lodged with the judicial authorities.
It also reiterates that the health of the entire community depends on strict compliance with the decisions and recommendations issued by the Regional Health Authority and the Municipal Health Delegations.
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 http://covid19.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 every day of the week from 8 am to 8 pm, 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.