The President of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, again justified the use of masks by saying that the exponential increase in positive cases of Covid-19 in Madeira does not surprise the Regional Government, which, for this very reason, they enforced the use of masks outdoors.
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The Director-General of Health (DGS), Graça Freitas, warned today that disposable masks should be disposed of as household waste.
A woman has been arrested at Madeira's International Airport trying to smuggle in 10 kg of heroin, in what has been the biggest drug seizure of heroin on the island.
'It's a happy day for Madeira' quoted Eduardo Jesus, the Regional Secretary for Tourism and Culture as the first Jet2 flight from the UK landed since lockdown.
Local newspaper JM took to the streets this morning to get a feel for what was happening on the first day of mandatory mask wearing.
The new mask wearing law is creating palpitations throughout the tourism sector, and tourism agency 'Trans Madeira' alerted local newspaper JM advising them that the “unclear and poorly communicated” mandatory use of the mask in open public spaces is already having a detrimental affect on the island's precarious tourism market.
The mandatory use mask wearing in all public spaces came into force at midnight last night, coinciding with the Regional Governments (RG) extension of a 'State of Calamity,' which will remain in force until the 31st of August.
In a statement the President of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, stated that he understands that wearing a mask "is boring," but considers their use is essential as part of the drive to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The good news is that there is increasing evidence that Madeira is slowly beginning to recover from the pandemic as the latest information from the airport confirms that flights are expected to increase from 60 a week during July to a 140 per week in August.
Mask use has to be one of the most emotive subjects to have arisen for a long time, with everyone from Ex-Presidents to workers decrying the Regional Governments (RG) decision to bring in the use of mandatory mask wearing from tomorrow.
Paulo Otero, a Law Professor at the Lisbon University Faculty of Law, categorically stated that the ‘mandatory use of masks along Madeira’s public roads’ can only be determined by the Assembly of the Republic. He also pointed out that the only time masks could become mandatory is during a ‘State…
Despite the reassuring words from the Health Secretary that compulsory mask wearing in all public spaces would not have an knock on effect for tourism, some companies have already reported client cancellations, due to the controversial mandatory mask wearing law being brought in this weekend.
As of 7 pm this evening 4,000 people had signed the petition against the use of mandatory face masks in all public spaces, which is due to come into force this Saturday, the 1st of August.
The former President of the Regional Government, Alberto João Jardim, expressed through his Twitter account his reservations regarding the mandatory wearing of masks on public roads from the 1st of August.