Following the Regional Government’s compulsory mask wearing decision yesterday, the 28th of July, the coalition government has once again reiterated that masks must be worn in all public spaces from the 1st of August, including streets, beaches and mountain areas.
The measure comes into force this Saturday, and those caught not wearing masks can be fined up to €30.00.
Pedro Calado also took time to discuss the current petition against compulsory mask wearing while outdoors which has so far attracted 3,000 signatures. In response to the outrage, he said that “nobody likes to walk in the street wearing a mask, I don’t like it either… particularly on an island like ours especially during the summer when the weather is good although it can be hot and humid. But I think suffering and possibly dying of the virus would be much worse.”
He went on to say that there are exclusions to the new measures, such as children under ten years old, people incapacitated by the difficulty of putting on or removing the mask without assistance. The supervision of the use of a mask will be the responsibility of the security forces and the Regional Authority for Economic Activities (ARAE).
With 105 cases of Covid-19 registered, of which eight remain active, the region announced this Tuesday that Madeira and Porto Santo will remain in a ‘State of Calamity’ until the 31st of August.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
