MANDATORY COVID TESTS FOR DEPARTURES LESS THAN 72 HOURS

Tobi Hughes·
Covid-19Madeira News

From Thursday, those who leave the Region, even for a period of less than 72 hours, will have to take the covid-19 test on arrival at Madeira airports.

Words from the President of the Regional Government this morning on the sidelines of the visit to ECAM, a consulting company.

Miguel Albuquerque, who was speaking to journalists, said this decision will be taken at the next Government Council.

At the moment anyone who has left the Region for less than 72 hours, normally a trip to the mainland, did not need to be tested on return.

From Jornal Madeira

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Tobi Hughes

4 Responses

  1. Hmmmm, anyone leaving the island is clear of covid. They go to mainland Portugal and return after a long weekend. If in that 72 hour period they encounter infected people and catch Covid what are the chances of them testing positive on return? I thought it took a week or so to get fully established and show symptoms etc.

    I can understand the logic behind it but wonder about its effectiveness.

  2. Yes, Maurice. My thought exactly. Especially if someone was travelling and returning the following day, on a business trip, say. A positive case developing would likely not be revealed in a test so soon, so a test on return at the airport would likely be pointless. And if a case did not go on to develop any symptoms, it would be like a false negative, which could lead to further undetected local transmission outcomes.

    Would it make more sense to test them about 4 or 5 days after returning? There must be enough global data by now to determine the optimum number of days to test that would more likely pick up a positive.

    Either way, some sort of very basic observation period of a few days with, maybe, movements back here on the island recorded might be a more useful alternative? So far, I think things have been done very well on Madeira. Perhaps better than anywhere. It would be heart-breaking to have those sacrifices everyone has made and the good work here come undone.

  3. I went to Lisbon for the day in September and on my return…having pre registered my trip on the stay safe website…was directed through the arrival procedure as per all other arrivals. At the testing stage I was then informed that I would be contacted within 5 or 6 days to go into the main hospital to be tested. I travelled on a Friday, the following Saturday I was duly tested and received my results via email early Sunday morning and for the next 14 days received the daily sms asking me how I felt. I self isolated whilst waiting to be tested…that’s the area where one has to prep plan and have things set up to stay home and away from others….not as convenient as the 12 hours our tourists have to wait but hey…we all need to do our bit!

    1. Brilliant to hear, HM. That’s a perfect description, and I didn’t know this is the situation or that it was actually happening. Thank you for posting and clarifying.

      Of course, I have considered the inequity for Madeiran residents having to jump through more hoops and put themselves out more for a day or weekend trip than a visitor to the island. It isn’t fair. I haven’t yet come up with a reasoned and practical way of making it fairer and easier for residents, without it leaving potential gaps in a very good system.

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