"The positive case was detected in a Dutch citizen who entered the territory on March 12," said the president of the executive, Miguel Albuquerque.

The citizen is now interned in the space of the Madeira Health Service (Sesaram) prepared for the isolation of cases in Covid-19.

"We determined the end of all tourist entertainment and recreation activities in the autonomous region from this moment on, such as, for example, excursions, tours, guided tours, rent-a-car or otherwise," said Miguel Albuquerque, in a conference press conference in Funchal.

The official stressed that the executive will again communicate to the embassies the "mandatory need to repatriate their fellow citizens who still remain in the region, as soon as possible".

Miguel Albuquerque also stressed the reinforcement of measures to restrict citizens from entering shopping centers, markets and other public spaces, in order to avoid the concentration of people and physical contact between them.

The first positive case of Covid-19 in the Madeira archipelago was recorded on Monday (March 16) at 10:14 pm, with health and civil protection services taking "all necessary isolation and prevention measures" from hotel unit "where the Dutch citizen was.

This is the Enotel Quinta do Sol (formerly Quinta do Sol), a four star hotel located at Rua Dr. Pita, in the city of Funchal, with 147 rooms.

"According to the protocol previously established, all those with whom [the tourist] contacted are being properly accompanied by the regional health authorities", clarified Miguel Albuquerque, stressing that the government will "continue to take the necessary measures" in order to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and to safeguard "life and health" for families.

The chief executive called on citizens to remain in their homes, making only trips to purchase food, buy medicines, support the elderly and commute to and from work.

"In view of this new situation, work in Public Administration is reduced to the level essential for the functioning of the institutions, further restricting their contingency plans", he said.

Miguel Albuquerque also appealed to citizens in quarantine in the region, especially those who returned from the continent, for "scrupulous compliance", since the life and health of other citizens, including their relatives, is at stake.