Major events are banned in Madeira until at least August

Tobi Hughes·
News Blog

IASaúde sent a circular to all local authorities, public and private entities in Madeira advising that all shows, festivals and large events scheduled for this summer will have to be postponed or canceled up to 90 days after the end of the state of emergency. This means that, with the extension of the decree until 2 May, these events will not be able to take place legally until the beginning of August this year, the most likely being that during that same month there will also be no festivities involving large clusters. in the region. And proof of this is that the São Vicente Festivities, scheduled for the end of August, will be canceled, just as the DIARY has already advanced .

In the circular to which DIÁRIO had access – and which is signed by the president of IASaúde, Herberto Jesus – it can be read that it is determined “the postponement or cancellation of the performance of all shows, festivals and other mass events” in the Autonomous Region from Madeira “in order to avoid clusters of people, highly enhancing the transmission and spread of the infectious disease covid-19”.

“In the case of the possibility of rescheduling of shows, festivals or mass events” the organization of the events “must take place from the 90th working day following the end of the state of emergency”, being certain that “the period of interdiction established it may be subject to reassessment according to the evolution of the epidemiological situation”, that is, the state of emergency may still be the object of an extension.

Thus, the fact that the Regional Government has announced the postponement of the Flower Festival to September and has made it understood, as a warning sign, that events that would bring together large groups of people until the completion of that which is one of the biggest tourist posters in the region. Asked at the penultimate press conference by DIÁRIO, on April 6, Miguel Albuquerque said that the Flower Festival would be held “within the best scenarios”. And he insisted on repeating: “Within the best scenarios”.

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Tobi Hughes

21 Responses

  1. I understand the gravity of the situation, but this island effectively lives on tourism. With a relatively small number of cases and the situation clearly under control. Such decisions seem a bit over the top. As soon as possible this island needs to restore some form of normality. August is over four months away.

    1. The problem is not here, the oroblem is letting people in from Europe or the rest of the world. Where the virus is still rife, and till there is a solution then I can’t see tourists coming any time soon. Why would we risk it after all we have done and been through to keep the virus out. At the moment life is more important than tourism, and the tourists will return when it’s the time to do so. I’m sure very soon here they will start opening places up, and we can get on with a bit of a normal life here knowing there is no virus, but the tourism sector will suffer a little more, I hope most of these people get help from the government, but here it’s a lot more difficult than other places in Europe.

  3. I agree Tobi. The island is working so hard to prevent the spread of the virus so just to open up and let tourists (me included) in, from countries where things are not in control would be crazy. I obviously want to return as soon as I can, but I want to know that it wouldn’t be putting others on the island at risk , as well as myself travelling from the UK. Madeira is a very special place and when the time is right tourists will return. X

  4. As much as I am longing to come back to Madeira I totally agree with you Tobi especially as throughout the world we all appear to be at different stages with this. In the UK it is already being said by some that they may be no international travel until possibly next year at least ??

  5. I think you can write off tourism to Madeira for a year. Not from fear of infection/death (the chances are tiny) but because the logistics will take a long time to sort out. No contact = no plane travel = no tourists = no hotels, restaurants, etc opening very quickly.
    The media here are still pumping up the hysteria (you have to check the inside pages to discover that so far 91% of CV deaths are of people with serious underlying heath conditions) but eventually people, and hopefully governments, will realise we don’t have the Black Death upon us.

    1. I don´t know why democratic governments are concerned with people with underlying health conditions like diabetes, heart diseases etc). Can´t those people just accept that they will die? There are many people that would like to be having a beer by the sea in the sun and they can´t. Those are the people who the governments should be looking after.

      1. Wow! That’s really something Antonio! The democratic governments are concerned? Are you kidding me? EVERY government should be concerned. EVERY SINGLE ONE, democratic or not.
        The government should be looking after people who want to have a beer? I can’t even believe you have the guts to say something like this.
        Maybe if you had people who are drear to you and who you love in this position who would be in danger you wouldn’t be talking this way.
        Unbelievable!!!

  6. Totally agree Tobi, the virus is not under control in Europe yet. As Madeira is an island the government acted quickly to shut it down to prevent a worse problem as it would be devastating for this beautiful island, and the health service would not be able to cope it is a rampant virus. Sorry for the people who relies on tourism but better be safe than sorry.

  7. Ok point taken everyone, but surely, even if there are no tourists, and therefore no Corona virus, the people on the island could live a relatively normal life safe in the knowledge that they are highly unlikely to contract a virus that is not on the island. Within a few weeks, with no new cases and no tourists, that will be the reality, so no need to cancel the summer events.

  8. Before reopening the island, for thousands of tourist from cruise ships and airplanes, there must be total reassurance that the virus ? has gone away. This will allow locals to feel safe, reopen all activities and welcome all tourists as they have always done. Let’s all be patient and things will return to normality ?

  9. The virus is not likely to go away anytime soon and will almost certainly never go away completely. The Madeiran government have two choices. They either try to completely isolate themselves until such time as a vaccine is developed and rolled out worldwide (which will certainly bemore than a year, even if the vaccine were almost ready to go now, which it isn’t), or accept that the virus will need to become part of life and learn how to live with it.

    Most countries have instigated lockdowns not in the hope that the virus will go away, but simply to ease the burden on the health services as the virus works its way through the population and (hopefully) creates a level of immunity to the worst effects of it. So far, the Madeiran government have gone for the former option which I definitely think is the right decision in the short-medium term, but unsustainable in the longer term. I guess the logic is that there may be some ‘lucky’ developments in halting the virus before they need to consider switching tactics, but eventually, economics will need to take over. You simply cannot bankrupt an island or a nation for a virus with an extremely low mortality rate (as harsh as that sounds)

  10. Couldn’t agree more, Tobi. Much as I long to return to Madeira I want the people to be safe. The local population don’t want tourists bringing back Covid19 when they have worked so hard to contain it.

  11. In simplistic terms for country’s outside of the euro as their currency its their central banks by way of loans or they raise money through bonds and central bank release the money for the government to spend however it wishes, on new roads, on public transport, on social aspects or indeed on supporting its citizens and businesses through this and previous economic situations, now ask yourselves where the island of Madeira ( tiny island of Madeira) gets the huge amounts of money needed now, it has no central bank, so mainland Portugal? In your dreams!!! It has to get it, has all other country’s using the euro has to, from the European Central Bank, and who then guarantees it gets paid back, Germany, Finland, France? In your dreams!!!! Unfortunately a great many of our Madeiran friends,their families are going to really really suffer for some time to come, but don’t blame your government for it, they can’t do a lot about it I’m afraid and for what its worth I think they are doing a better than reasonable job of it with the hand they are dealt.

  12. Tobi I totally agree what you’re saying but Antonia Jonas you want to think about what you have said your very insensitive.

      1. I do certainly hope you were. Under the current circumstances, probably not the time to do that.

        1. Yes I was. You can see above what post I was responding too which is the one talking about the relativeness of the Covid-19 just because it “only” affects old and ill people. If you have the chance to read other posts from myself you will understand my main concern is public health. My parents are part of the risk group by the way, and while they are “locked” at home I am by all means trying them to have the “freedom” to go to the supermarket or for a short walk without being too exposed due to pressure that the island must be open now so people can come here for holiday. Irony is just a weapon to show how insensitive others can be.

          1. António – I really do hope your parents are safe. You know I wasn’t even surprised too much by your comment because I hear these kinds of comments (not ironic!) from many elected officials here in the Trump world. That’s the new reality and, apparently, the new norm. ? Things like: “older people should sacrifice for the economy”, or “2-3% death rate among older population might be the price we have to pay for reopening”. I love your island, but the risk there is so high due to the amount of older people, and especially those with underlying health conditions. But some of my friends are out of work, as they tell me, probably until at least the end of the year due to no tourism. That’s a terrible reality and I don’t know how Madeira will deal with it. Some have no money left for food anymore because their salaries are so small, and therefore not much in terms of savings. I really hope this will end well as at this point it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel for many of the island’s inhabitants.
            What’s the best solution? Who knows. So many factors to consider. All the best to your parents.

  13. Pingback: FLOWER FESTIVAL CANCELLED? - Madeira Island News Blog

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