The Government of the Azores, in conjunction with the Representative of the National Government for the Azores, has determined that all passengers landing in the Region comply with mandatory confinement for 14 days in a hotel unit from today, thereby reinforcing the containment measures for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mandatory confinement of passengers and their baggage, which follows the recommendations issued by the Regional Health Authority, will be carried out in hotel units determined for this purpose on the islands where passengers will disembark, São Miguel or Terceira, regardless of the individuals' residence.

Hotel units will guarantee the predetermined conditions of confinement, namely those regarding hygiene and health conditions as well as the provision of daily meals.

In turn, the Regional Health Authority will be responsible for assessing and authorising the lifting of mandatory confinement in urgent circumstances.

Hence, this measure will reinforce the strategy aimed at preventing and containing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, following the extension of suspected case definition to all people from countries with local transmission cases.