Mass testing for all including visitors

Tobi Hughes·
Madeira News

So I am in touch with the Tourism Board, and still waiting for some answers.

All measures in place will include everyone, so they includes tourism.

One of the main issues here is the fact that a tourist can still enter Madeira with just their vaccination certificate, but then after the 27th, they can’t do anything other than visit a supermarket or ride on a bus….

So they will need to be tested.

I have asked if the tests are also free for visitors?

Will there be more testing sites?

Will hotels be able to test guests?

Will entry in Madeira change so visitors come with an Antigen test to cover their first week?

If you have anymore questions please put in the comments below this blog post, please do not ask on Facebook, as I have no time to check comments on Facebook as well.

I’m getting many emails, and trying to answer all as quickly as possible, and also in the comments on my site.

 

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Tobi Hughes

101 Responses

  1. My question would be where and how the long-term tourists should test themselves. One barely english spoken nurse at a test station tried to told us that the first test is for free, others will be charged 20€ each.. !?

    2. The testing should be free for everyone, they can’t expect to charge for this, as its a recommendation of the government. This is a question I have asked.

      1. When I get of the plane where and when should I do a test? And same question for day 7. Thanks for your help

  2. You are covering all our questions as above Tobi Thank you for your hard work re this Maybe be Tests at Airport on arrival even if paid for ? Look forward to clarification over next few days

    1. I agree with you, it’s hard work fielding all the questions. Tobi, you are doing a great job I wouldn’t know where to start, so thank you.

  3. We are coming from England on Monday. We have had our boosters and they show on our vaccination certificate. We also have NHS lateral flow tests available. Would these be acceptable if we have to do antigen tests after 27th?
    I appreciate you may not have an immediate answer, given that this has happened so quickly.

  4. Personally I think it should be a condition of travel that everyone should do an antigen test before boarding any aircraft or boat before any onward journey.

  6. I’ve been in touch with the Madeiran government this morning and got two different answers for the same question so I will wait to see what you come up with.Thanks Toby.

  7. Those who have had Covid in the last 90 days and are recovered should not be tested wuth a PCR test, but should be required to show proof of their recovery. That’s because they can test positive for up to that period, even though they are not contagious.
    I’ve already served two 10 day periods of confinement/isolation and don’t want another one when I arrive for Christmas.

    1. I don’t think the weekly tests are PCR. I think they’re lateral flows. That said I don’t know if, like PCR, they can pick up old traces

  9. Can one get a first antigen test at the airport?
    One should then have the answer before getting to your hotel if the 30 minutes still holds

    1. above comments re Airport would be a perfect solution to 1st 7 days then once proud to upload to our Maderia Safe account Gives us time to find and book 2nd 7 day teat locally ?

  10. Thank you Tobi for all you are doing here.

    My questions are:
    – Can a tourist enter Madeira in case he or she is not vaccinated?
    – I suppose having a PCR test with me from my country of origin will do the job for one week, which means having a PCR test is also permitted instead of an antigen rapid test?

    We are organizing a conference at the university and I know that two out of 60 participants are not vaccinated. Not sure if they can participate now!

    All in all, I think it would be a good idea to only allow entrence for tourists that are fully vaccinated.

      1. Thank you Tobi for such helpful insights.

        Does this non-vaccinated rule – that you noted applies from Nov 27 – apply to those people with vaccination certificates from non-EU countries, Canada specifically? I had not read about it on the govt sites.

        Also, would such vaccination certificates be recognized to access supermarkets or would the antigen test be required?

        Thanks

  11. Hello Tobi, I have seen the date 15th December mentioned a few tines on your posts. Would it be possible to clarify if these measures are intended for a limited period only? The reality may of course be different….

    Huge thanks for your great work!

  12. My wife and I were scheduled to holiday in Madeira arriving in a week’s time but I have just cancelled. The restrictions just introduced would ruin any holiday and we simply don’t need the hassle. Hopefully we will visit Madeira next year.

  14. We are due in Madeira on 10 December for 5 weeks. Yesterday I contacted the Cliff Bay Hotel who were unable to answer any questions about being tested plus other questions about face masks around the pool etc & the Christmas & New Year group events & was told to contact Madeira Safe. Disappointed they are not up to speed or that the PortoBay web site hasn’t been updated. We are both fully vaccinated plus had our boosters. Asked similar questions re are they free, when needed ie before we arrive, where will they be administered etc… Seem to be going round in circles

  15. I’d be interested to know whether they will accept the NHS antigen test for the first 7 days after arrival. Would be the simple option for UK visitors. Queuing at the airport to have one done could literally take hours as sometimes several planes arrive together

      1. Pay before we fly from the UK you mean? And how easy will it be to book a test in Maderia after 6-7 days? Thanks

            1. Yes, chemist’s, pop-up tents and I sure they will be adding other places. If not none of this will work, and I can’t see it working in any case. To many tests on a weekly basis and no system in place to do it, many pharmacies already have signs saying they do not do rapid tests.

          2. Isit possible to get a test when I land,or should me and the wife do one the day before we fly?

  16. So just to check I have understood this correctly I have a full vaccination certificate and I am due to come to Madeira early December for one week so I would need to do one antigen test and that result would be valid for the whole week I am there ?
    What would happen if I tested positive ?

  17. The obvious question Tobi is: How do you test 250,000 people per week? It’s not going to happen.

  18. Is this intended to be for a limited time only till the 15th December? Realise reality might be different…. Thank you very much for all the information Tobi!

  19. What about people who test positive ; will designated quarantine hotels be set up again?

  20. Would it be possible to have a PCR or privately paid for antigen test the fit to fly certificate done in the UK within so many hours before flying rather than risk arriving and testing positive

    2. That’s just what I did before setting out on my trip (I’m in Madeira right now). Personally I think this should be compulsory, and I suspect that could well be the case in the coming days.
      Costs a few quid, but why not simply for peace of mind?

  21. Full vacination is the only thing needed to get through the airport. How soon is the first 7 day test and how can you check in to your hotel without one?

  22. I have booked a week in madeira for new year I am fully vaccination and my kids are under 11 what is the rule for family travel to madeira

  23. Thank you for all the information. We will be visiting from the United States in December and are interested in all updates on requirements.

  24. Well done Tobi for keeping us fully informed, thank you. Like everything it needs time to calm down but right now the next 5 weeks look bleak for all concerned. Please keep us fully informed as you always do.

    1. I don’t think so. As long as they have the facility to test,in actual fact.. This is a great thing.. A holiday where you are at low risk from Covid.

  25. I own my apartment inside a hotel. (Not timeshare).
    I return to Madeira on the 27th after visiting family for two weeks.
    I am not vaccinated, but will be tested.
    Can I enter the hotel to go to my apartment?

  26. If visitors are required to get weekly testing as well, can we bring our own antigen tests? Or do we have to use the ones provided in Madeira? I guess this might matter more if the on site testing is not free for visitors like it will be free for locals.
    Thanks

  27. These restrictions might only be up to the15th December but we have had 2 cancellations for next year already today. Hoping it’s not extended and people have confidence to travel to Madeira.

  28. Thank you Tobi for putting so much effort into keeping people informed. I have been trying to get information about costs of testing without success. This evening I have visited a local pharmacy and I asked if they could clarify for us. Was told they are fully booked until 2nd Dec for tests and for us the cost is EUR 15; she classed us as non residents as we are in process of sorting our residency. It sounds like they are not testing visitors for free or at least that is the info they have now.

    2. This is why I’m worried. If on the 5-7,th day,I can’t get a test booked…Then what for the remaining 4 of my stay? Ride busses and eat at the supermarket until I leave ?

  29. On the testing, residents get 4 free tests per month, Albuquerque has already mentioned that.Tourist should ideally do an antigen test at the airport of departure or even in arrivals at Madeira airport and obey all rules including face coverings. You can find the full details on many platforms here.

    1. I’m almost there understanding the new process. It makes sense to get a test the morning I fly,in the UK. What I’m still unsure of… Will there definitely be the facilities for tourists to get tested in Maderia,5-7th day?

      1. I am in Madeira right now. I had no problem getting a test at one of the on-street test centres that are dotted around Funchal. Bit of a queue (as it was Friday, the first day this was announced) but I noticed the local test centre was much quieter yesterday.
        I really don’t think you’ll have any issues, certainly if you are based in Funchal.

        1. Thankyou,I appreciate your help. My mind is more at ease now. ? Can’t wait to visit.

      2. Hospital Particular has hours on their website and ER after hours. They test every day and you cannot book just show up. The cost if you are not a resident is 20 Euros as of yesterday. Maybe not optimal for you but a backup as you can get a test. I imagine Hospital Luz is similar. The free ones appear to be at the on-street centers.

  30. You can get a private test at the Hospital Particular or the Madeira Medical Centre behind market.
    20 euros last time I used it.

  31. Hi I’m flying in 22nnov untill 29th, fully vaccinated, unsure what rules are coming into force on 27th…so can you explain please.
    Thank you

  32. Komme am 18 Dezember für 3 Wochen bin 2 Mal geimpft komme aus Deutschland.Was muss ich beachten? Spreche nicht Englisch und Portugiesisch.

  33. One question I cannot see answered is what about those recently recovered from Covid? The advice here is that you do not do a lateral flow test for 90 days after a positive PCR. So will proof of recovery be used instead of a lateral flow? We will both be 30 days post Covid when we arrive.

  35. Hi Tobi, is the dark green Madeira safe qr code acceptable for restaurants, transport etc, or is it our nhs proof of vaccination? hanks for all your info!

        1. Robin,

          I have been in Funchal over the weekend. Visited various cafes, bars, and one restaurant. So far nobody has asked for any sort of proof on my COVID status.

          BTW: The NHS app has recently been updated to include booster doses (in case you were unaware).

          1. Tradewind25
            Ref to your comments Can you please explain how you get your booster added on to your NHS vaccine certificate?
            Thanks

            1. The app was updated a day or two ago. If you go into the app and ask for your travel Covid pass you should see that your booster dose is now recorded. Your Covid pass will now contain details of all three doses.

              1. Indeed, the NHS England app automatically records all your vaccinations (of all types). However it is only over the last couple of days that the Covid Travel section of the app has produced a Pass/Certificate reflecting 3rd doses. (Public IT systems move very slowly!?)

  36. Does the Madeira Health Authorities have circa 1,000,000 Rapid Antigen Test Kits for a whole month of testing? Also how will the testing be carried out, average 35,000 people per day? Hopefully things will become a little clearer at 6.00pm on Sunday

    1. Yes I believe its about 1.2 million tests till the end of the year, that’s just the people living here, not including tourists. At a cost of 18 million.

  37. Will the Madeira authorities pay for accommodation for people forced into quarantine hotels? Will they pay for replacement return flights?

  38. Dear All. This is clearly a big concern to us all and Tobi has done a stunning job in trying his best to answer all our questions. I think there is a press conference at 6pm and more info early in the week. Let’s let Tobi enjoy the rest of the day and have a well deserved Poncha. Let’s see what the powers have to say over this mass own goal in PR. Thank you Tobi your a star mate.

    1. Thank you. I happy to answer as many questions, as well as all the emails, but at the monent we don’t have all the answers. I don’t think we will get much out of tonight’s press conference, but let’s see.

  39. I can understand why self tests aren’t acceptable. It relies too much on (a) doing it properly and (b) honesty Also, you can hardly carry it around with you for a week

  40. Hi Tobi we have another problem. After an enforced 8 month stay earlier in the year we had our first jab in May in Maderia then our second in uk on 4 th June on our return home the nhs app shows our 2nd vaccination but not our first and after three months of trying the nhs is incapable of updating our records so we are classed as unvaccinated!! We have our card issued in Maderia showing our two jabs so think our records over there are possibly ok but how do we check? We have sent our copy of cards out to Maderia safe and are awaiting validation we are due to come out 3rd Dec for 10 days any ideas of what we can do. Joyce and Bas Clement-evans many thanks in hope!

  41. Is it necessary to have the tests in Madeira if staying in self catering and only using buses and supermarkets? No restaurants, bars etc.

  42. Hello I am due to arrive on 25th for three nights I am double jabbed and have the certificate, I am really confused about what I need to about testing? Do I need to get a test before I arrive or can I get one there I don’t have much time before travelling so worried now as I have a package holiday which I can’t cancel. Thanks

    2. You can do an Antigen test before coming it will be valid for 7 days so will cover your stay, or get a test here when you arrive, but you might have to queue for one.

  43. If we choose to take the first TRAg test for COVID-19 at the Funchal airport, how long do we have to wait for the results. Do we get the results while we are at the airport, will we get a separate document, or will the madeirasafe-app be updated with the test-result.
    The reason for doing it that way will be because the tests for two persons will cost us about NOK 2 000 (Almost EUR 200) in Norway, while we will get it for free at the Funchal airport.

    1. I’m not yet sure if they will be doing the tests at the airport. You might have to just get one in town when you arrive, you won’t need one straight away.

  44. If we choose to take the first TRAg test for COVID-19 at the Funchal airport, how long do we have to wait for the results. Do we get the results while we are at the airport, will we get a separate document, or will the madeirasafe-app be updated with the test-result.

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