Year: 2020

The month of May was the hottest in the last 89 years, along with 2011, with a heat wave lasting 17 days, one of the longest and with the most territorial extension. .

According to the Climatological Bulletin of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), available today on the website, May was an “extremely hot and dry” month and is the warmest since 1931, equaling May 2011.

The IPMA also points out that in the period from 17 to 31 at several stations in the surface observation network, a heat wave occurred, from north to south of the continent’s territory.

This wave started on the 17th, 18th of May and lasted until the end of the month, extending in some stations in the northeast of the country until the first days of June.

According to the IPMA, this heat wave had a maximum duration of 16/17 days and can be considered as one of the longest and with the greatest territorial extension for the month of May.

The Institute also points out that during the month there were very high values ​​of air temperature, which were much higher than normal values, in the second half of May, particularly from the 17th.

“It should also be noted that on the 3rd and 26th to the 29th the average value of the maximum air temperature, and mainland Portugal, was above 30 degrees Celsius”, according to the IPMA.

The average value of the average air temperature (19 degrees Celsius) was much higher than the normal (plus 3.26 degrees).

According to the IPMA, the average values ​​of the maximum temperature of (25.40 degrees) and the minimum (12.60 degrees) were the 2nd highest values ​​since 1931.

The lowest value of the minimum temperature was registered on May 10 in Carrazeda de Ansiães (district of Bragança) with 3.3 degrees Celsius and the highest value of the maximum was recorded on the 28th in Pinhão (Vila Real) with 37.3 degrees Celsius .

With regard to rain, the average value of the quantity, 51.2 mm, corresponds to 72% of the normal value 1971-2000 (71.2 mm).

Precipitation values ​​were higher than normal in some places in the southern region and in particular in Alto Alentejo, Península de Setúbal, Baixo Alentejo and in the eastern Algarve.

On the other hand, in the northern region and especially in altitude zones, precipitation values ​​were much lower than normal.

The Climatological Bulletin, made available by the institute, also includes the drought meteorological index (PDSI), which points to a decrease in the area of ​​intensity of meteorological drought in the southern region at the end of May.

However, in the northern interior the class of weak drought has reappeared.

According to the PDSI, at the end of May 75.2% of mainland Portugal was in normal drought, 17.5% in weak drought, 4.7% in moderate drought and 2.6% in light rain.

The IPMA classifies the drought meteorological index into nine classes, which varies between “extreme rain” and “extreme drought”.

The Minister of Internal Affairs announced today that Brussels recommended maintaining, until July 1, the restrictions on non-essential flights to countries outside the European Union.

Eduardo Cabrita, who attended the informal meeting of Ministers of Internal Affairs of the European Union today, said in a press conference that the European Commission proposed that member states maintain these restrictions until the end of June.

Portugal, he said, will maintain, however, some exceptions, which already existed, namely in relation to Portuguese-speaking countries or with significant Portuguese communities.

According to the minister, the European Commission will issue a set of recommendations next week to all member states on the gradual and coordinated lifting of external borders.

“Countries will be assessed according to their health situation and access to flights will take into account the recommendations of the European Center for Disease Control. This will be the criterion that will lead us, as of July 1, to define the cases in which we will authorize the existence of flights ”, he said.

“Many” EU governments on Friday supported renewing for a third time a restriction on outside arrivals, said European Home-Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson. The curb on non-essential travel to the bloc is due to lapse on June 15 after being introduced in mid-March for 30 days and extended twice as Europe stepped up the fight against the virus.

Border with Spain

Regarding the border with Spain, the only internal border that Portugal shares, the date indicated for the reopening is also the 1st of July, as had already been put forward by the Spanish government, which had initially pointed to the 22nd of June.

“It was reaffirmed, both by the Minister of the Interior of Spain and by me, the total harmony existing in the coordination of actions and in what we had previously defined to accompany the process of monitoring the survey of borders”, underlined Eduardo Cabrita.

The minister said, however, that the lifting of land borders will not take place as long as there is “any situation of internal quarantine” in Spain.

Spanish authorities closed the borders in mid-March, with the entry into force of the state of emergency, except for residents, cross-border workers and truck drivers, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Prime Minister considered today that Portuguese airports guarantee safety and hygiene conditions to prevent contagion from the covid-19 and are prepared for the resumption of air traffic as of the next 15th.

António Costa transmitted this message after a visit of almost two hours to Lisbon International Airport, from the departures area, to the baggage reclaim area, going through the expansion works of the runway next to Terminal 2.

“I believe I can say what the Directorate-General for Health has already said, but also what international civil aviation institutions have already said, that is, that Portugal’s airports are ready, comply with safety standards and are prepared to welcome the resumption of air traffic with all normality”, declared the Prime Minister.

Having at his side the chairman of the Board of Directors of ANA José Luís Arnaut, and after a brief intervention by the president of Vinci Nicolas Notbaert, the Prime Minister considered “very important that the country be prepared, from 15 June, to the reactivation of routes and the opening of borders, with a collective effort being made within the framework of the European Union so that tourism can fully resume its activity”.

“For this to happen it is essential that passengers, whether they want to leave, or those who want to arrive, know that they can travel safely. There is work to be done with aviation companies, but airports are an absolutely critical point, because people from all over the world cross them”, stressed António Costa at the end of a visit in which none of the main members of the Commission was present Executive Board or the Board of Directors of TAP.

For the Prime Minister, “respect for hygiene and safety standards is the greatest guarantee that the reopening of traffic is not an uncontrolled risk factor for the development of this pandemic”.

Having the ministers of Economy Siza Vieira and Infrastructure Pedro Nuno Santos close by, António Costa then said that he had witnessed at Lisbon airport the compliance with the hygiene standards of those who circulate, public spaces and equipment.

António Costa also spoke about the improvements introduced in the airport stores and the creation of «safe circuits in order to avoid risky situations».

 

The mayor of the municipality of Elvas, where the Caia border is located, received today with “satisfaction” Spain’s announcement that it will reopen the borders with Portugal and France on 22 June .

“It is positive [the announcement from Spain], given what we are experiencing in economic terms,” ​​said Nuno Mocinha, in statements to the Lusa agency.

Spain will lift restrictions on the entry of people to the borders with Portugal and France as of June 22, as announced today by the Spanish Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto.

“In the case of France and Portugal, I want to confirm that as of June 22, restrictions on land mobility will be eliminated,” said the minister, in a meeting with the international press, adding that “in principle, quarantines will be eliminated”.

The Spanish Government thus anticipates the date of opening the borders by one week, after having announced on 25 May that it would lift restrictions on the movement of people, namely foreign tourists, only on 1 July.

However, the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs has already expressed his surprise at the announcement by Spain of a reopening of the common border on 22 June and underlined that whoever decides on the reopening of the Portuguese border “is naturally Portugal”.

“We were surprised by these statements by the minister responsible for Tourism [of Spain], who ‘announces’ the reopening of the border between Portugal and Spain for the next June 22nd,” Augusto Santos Silva told Lusa, stressing that the announcement “no falls within the framework of “close cooperation” between the two Governments for the management of the common border.

“Whoever decides on the opening of the Portuguese border is naturally Portugal and Portugal wants to do it in close coordination with the only State with which it has a land border, Spain,” he added, stating that “clarifications are already being requested from the Government of Spain”.

Considering that “it is always better” to reopen borders on the 22nd, than at the end of the month, as was initially established, the socialist mayor of Elvas, in the district of Portalegre, warned that when taking this step they must also be “safeguarded ”Health security issues.

“Both the municipalities of the border, and the Government of Extremadura (Spain) advocated a faster opening, that is, what could happen on the 15th. Then, it was announced by the Spanish Government that it only predicted at the end of June, well, we stayed there in the middle, it is always better than at the end of the month, so we are happy to receive this news ”, he added.

Spanish authorities closed the borders in mid-March, with the entry into force of the state of emergency, except for residents, cross-border workers and truck drivers, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Off-duty GNR saves woman and baby from abuser

On 31^st May, then National Republican Guard (GNR) arrested a 24-year-old man for the crime of domestic violence in Coruche. An off duty GNR officer was alerted when he heard “several screams coming from outside a house” as he was walking close by.

The officer found a 23-year-old woman who was from suffering physical and verbal abuse with a three-year-old child in her arms.

“After trying to strangle the victim, the attacker also put his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming for help, causing the victim to have being rendered helpless”, reveals the GNR statement sent to newsrooms.

The GNR asked Coruche’s patrol for help in order to subdue the aggressor. The man was arrested and, after appearing at the Santarém Judicial Court, was placed under house arrest with an electronic bracelet.

The victims had to receive assistance “through the National Social Emergency Line”.

More information….

The number 144 – National Social Emergency Line (LNES) – is a free public telephone service, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

• People who are victims of domestic violence;
• Children and young people in danger;
• People in a situation of loss or lack of autonomy;
• Homeless people.

 

GNR seizes 70,000 contraband cigarettes in operation on A3

The GNR Tax Action Unit seized 70,000 contraband cigarettes during an operation in an A3 service area, the highway that links Porto to Valença, that police force reported.

A statement released by the GNR stated that “If the goods had been released for consumption through marginal commercial channels, the seized tobacco would have caused a loss to the State, due to Transaction Tax and VAT, in the amount of approximately 16 thousand euros”,

The seizure occurred on Wednesday in the service area of Coronado, in the area of Trofa, district of Porto.

The tobacco that was seized from two vehicles “without bearing the required tax stamp for commercial sale in national territory” and the drivers, one 45 years old and the other 61, “were not accompanied by any commercial or customs documentation proving the payment of taxes due.

In addition to seizing the tobacco, the GNR Tax Action Unit, which had the support of the National Traffic Unit of the same police force, prepared two customs administrative infractions for the irregular introduction of goods into consumption.

PSP seizures in illegal racing in Loures

Twelve cars were seized at dawn Sunday 31^st May, during a mega-operation of the PSP in Lisbon against illegal races (street-racing) carried out, frequently, on the banks of the River Trance, in Saccade.

The operation that involved agents of the Lisbon Traffic Division, took place at about 3 am.

Of the 12 vehicle seizures, two were due to lack of insurance, and the other 10 were due to changes in the characteristics of the vehicles not registered in the respective logbooks.

The PSP also issued 28 administrative infraction notices, which could result in heavy fines for those targeted, as well as two notices for the presentation of documents.

PSP official source said that these operations are to continue, “in order to suppress a phenomenon that jeopardizes the safety of drivers and pedestrians”

 

GNR officers assaulted and injured in Paderne

A GNR patrol was beaten and abused by a 25-year-old man, on Wednesday morning, in Paderne, Albufeira, following a routine inspection.

One of the soldiers suffered injuries to his arm and was hospitalized at the Basic Emergency Service of Albufeira (SUB). The other soldier did not need medical assistance. The aggressor was later arrested and was present this Thursday to the judge to find out the coercion measures.

It is recalled that last Saturday a GNR soldier was also beaten with an elbow during an inspection operation in Alvord, in the municipality of Portimão.

 

Yamaha Motor Portugal will perform free check-up on 700 GNR and PSP bikes

YAMAHA will support the security forces, continuing the social responsibility actions that it has developed, and which are even more necessary with COVID-19, which is beginning to associate a deep economic and social crisis.

In the case of both GNR and PSP, the aim is to ensure the fulfilment of their work and duty using motorcycles.

The company aims to help minimize wear and tear, providing greater security and a level of readiness to all YAMAHA vehicles used by GNR and PSP. The contribution is to offer GNR and PSP a check-up for each YAMAHA motorcycle or scooter in service, in addition to the offer – whenever necessary replacement of oil and oil filter and respective labour

YAMAHA expects to perform this check-up on about 700 vehicles, with a greater focus on the cities of Lisbon and Porto. In this action, which will take place between the last week of May and the month of June, approximately 130 technicians will be involved, distributed by the approximately 35 authorized YAMAHA dealers spread across the country, who joined together in this initiative.

 

Death of George Floyd – “Black Lives Matter” movement

Governments around the world including police forces have condemned racism following the death of African American George Floyd in Minneapolis, United States.

The “Black Lives Matter” movement is rapidly gaining traction on social media. This movement has been sparked by the incidence where George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, died on May 25 in Minneapolis, after a policeman pressed his knee with his neck for about eight minutes in an arrest operation, despite Floyd having said he couldn’t breathe.

The police officer in question, Derek Chauvin, was fired, detained the charge now elevated to second-degree murder, court documents show. The other three officers, previously uncharged, face counts of aiding and abetting murder.

A complete autopsy of George Floyd, killed at the hands of the US police, was released on Wednesday and provides new details, including that the African American tested positive for Covid-19 in April.

A week after the incident, hundreds of thousands of Americans have come to the streets of dozens of American cities to protest against police violence, racism, but also against social inequalities, which were exacerbated by the Covid-19 crises.

A peaceful protest was held in Lisbon yesterday and other cities around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nazaré beach, in the district of Leiria, has a potential occupancy capacity of up to 17,100 users, during the bathing season, and another six are marked with “possible capacity problems”, today announced the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).

APA today published the capacities of the beaches of the Algarve and Tejo / Oeste regions, “taking into account that the 6th of June marks the beginning of the bathing season”, stating that the rest will be published soon, “considering the respective dates of opening”.

“These capacities are an important auxiliary for the management and safe use of beaches, as it is from these values ​​that information can be given – to the citizen and to the authorities – in order to direct the appropriate behaviors, in a responsible way”, advances the APA, in a statement.

In the context of the covid-19 pandemic, the Government determined that the bathing season only begins this year on June 6, with APA being responsible for determining the capacity of the beaches.

In relation to the Tagus / West region, after Nazaré beach, the Fonte da Telha beach (I, II and III), with a capacity of 14,500 users, and the beach of Carcavelos, in the municipality of Cascais, with 12,100.

In the eastern Algarve, the two most crowded beaches are Monte Gordo, in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, and Faro, with a capacity of 12,600 bathers each.

In Barlavento, Praia da Rocha, in the municipality of Portimão, has a potential occupancy capacity of 8,800 people, the highest in the area, followed by Meia Praia Nascente, in the municipality of Lagos, with 8,700.

In the listings released today, the Portuguese Environment Agency indicates “potential stocking problems” on the beaches of Quarteira (municipality of Loulé), Faro (Faro), Monte Gordo (Vila Real de Santo António), Armação de (Silves) , from Armação de Pêra / Pescadores (Silves) and da Rocha (Portimão).

In 63 beaches, APA points out that the potential occupation capacity may rise, “considering the variation of the tide”. This is the case, for example, of São João da Caparica beach, in Almada, whose capacity could increase from 9,700 to 12,200.

“In a covid context, it is important to guarantee the safety distance, which may imply a reduction in the capacity for occupying the sand on certain beaches. However, on some beaches, particularly on large ones, the values ​​now obtained may be higher than the capacity to load defined in the “Coastal Coastal Planning Plans / Coastal Coast Programs, taking into account” that, in the current conditions, users are more available to occupy an area of ​​sand that exceeds the limits of comfort areas “, considered in those documents explains the APA.

In the case of “coastal and transitional waters”, the calculation of the capacity of each beach was determined through a combination of criteria such as “definition of the area of ​​sand that can be used for bathing with as much depth as possible”, “the biophysical characteristics and safeguard strips to coastal risk “,” the lateral limit of the beaches “, the” influence of the tide “and the” use of an area of ​​8.5 m2 / person, considering the necessary physical distance for sanitary reasons “, among others.

As for “inland waters”, the area usable for bathing practice was defined “considering the extension of the front of the bathing area and a strip with the usable depth counted from the limit of the water plane”, being also considered “the surrounding spaces available for bathing use “, such as picnic parks, terraces, lawns, playgrounds and swimming pools with floating platforms.

During the bathing season of this year, from June 6, beach users must ensure a physical distance of 1.5 meters between different groups and a distance of three meters between parasols, awnings or stems, according to a decree-law approved by the Government.

In addition to the “physical safety distance between users when accessing and using the beach and bathing in the sea or in the river”, citizens must comply with respiratory etiquette measures and proceed with frequent hand cleaning, as well as “avoid access to areas identified with high or full occupation ”

Regarding the state of occupation of the beaches, there will be “traffic light type”, in which the green color indicates low occupation (1/3), yellow is high occupation (2/3) and red means full occupation (3/3) .

According to the Government, information on the state of occupation of the beaches will be “updated continuously, in real time”, namely in the InfoPraia application and on the APA website.

The Minister of Internal Administration stated today that it is intended to keeping land and air borders with Spain under border control, as long as there is an internal quarantine in the neighbouring country.

“We, at the moment, have the land border closed (under border control) until June 15. We will analyse this situation. I admit that, if the Spanish authorities themselves have already said that before July 1 there will be no freedom of movement, we probably have to keep the land border under control all this month of June “, said Eduardo Cabrita, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the Cedofeita PSP Police Station in Porto.

He stressed that “it does not make sense to restart the land border as long as there is an epidemiological situation in Spain that requires monitoring and as long as there is an internal quarantine”.

Eduardo Cabrita recalled, however, that at this time the movement of cross-border workers “within authorized crossing points” and the movement of seasonal workers is authorized.

In addition, he added, Portugal, in conjunction with the Spanish authorities, has health corridors that allow Portuguese emigrants from France to cross Spain, “not to be in Spain, but to come to Portugal”.

Regarding airspace, the minister explained that it was never closed in the European Union, with only flights to Italy and Spain being limited, “as a result of the epidemiological situation verified in these two countries”, a situation that remains today.

“The rest of the destinations within the European Union have never been closed. There were no flights due to the airlines’ decision and the circulation limitations. What we expect here is for Faro Airport, which started flying again this week, or for the Airport Francisco Sá Carneiro is to see Portugal as a safe destination, safe also from a health point of view that allows a resumption of the economy here “, he declared.

With regard to flights to Spain and Italy, the minister stated that the situation is being assessed according to the evolution of the epidemiological situation in these two countries.

“We are going to make this situation assessment. Another meeting of ministers of internal affairs will take place this Friday. What I guarantee is that these flights to Spain, as well as the land border, are already suspended until June 15th, we will do however, the reassessment. I would say that as far as Spain is concerned, there is no point in replacing flights as long as there is an internal quarantine “, he concluded.

 

 

 

The National Republican Guard (GNR) today begins the inspection of rural land following the end of the cleaning period, which was extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, providing for fines between 280 and 120,000 euros.

“So far, 23,852 non-compliant situations have been identified, already communicated to the respective municipalities, with a greater incidence in Leiria, Castelo Branco, Viseu, Coimbra, Braga, Santarém, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo and Aveiro”, said the GNR, in response to the Lusa agency, within the scope of the deadline for cleaning forest land.

With the beginning of the inspection of the cleaning of rural lands, “the priority of GNR’s activities will be in the 1,114 priority parishes” due to the high risk of fire and the approximately 24,000 non-compliances identified risk administrative proceedings, punishable by fines of 280 to 10,000 euros, in the case of a natural person, and from 1,600 to 120,000 euros, in the case of legal persons.

The deadline for carrying out land cleaning operations, which ended on 15 March, but was extended, by decision of the Government, first to 30 April and then to 31 May, following exceptional and temporary measures concerning the pandemic of covid-19 disease.

On April 16, after the first extension of the deadline for cleaning land until April 30, the Secretary of State for Internal Administration, Patrícia Gaspar, said that the model for preventing and fighting forest fires could undergo “new adjustments”.

Operation Floresta Secura 2020 started, as in previous years, “with a strong awareness campaign”, in which 3,572 awareness actions were carried out, which reached 55,044 people ”.

According to the National Association of Forestry, Agricultural and Environment Companies (ANEFA), regardless of the extension of the period for cleaning forest land, this year there was less demand from the owners for these works, fearing, therefore, “great catastrophes ”.

“If the factors that were observed in 2017, with regard to climate change, of all these peaks that arise from heat and winds are combined, we will face major catastrophes this year, I have no doubt of that”, said the president of ANEFA, Pedro Serra Ramos, in statements to the Lusa agency, considering that the cleaning of rural land is a “fundamental problem”, which goes beyond the question of the deadline.

In addition to the approximately 24,000 situations of non-compliance with the cleaning of forest land, GNR records “12 detainees and 68 identified for the practice of the crime of forest fire, with 370 cases for administrative offences being prepared, of which one for lack of recovery of burnt areas, 296 in burning and 73 in burning, due to unauthorized performance or negligence in their execution, revealed the GNR.

In view of the non-compliance by the owners with the deadline for cleaning land, the city councils have to guarantee, until June 30 – a deadline that was until May 31, but it was also extended -, the execution of all the fuel management works.

In case of non-compliance by the municipalities, “the following month, 20% of the twelfth of the current transfers from the Financial Equilibrium Fund (FEF) are retained”, according to the Exceptional Regime for Secondary Fuel Management Bands. Source Lusa.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 on the Richter scale was felt early this morning in São Miguel, in the Azores, an event with an epicenter about 19 kilometers east / northeast of Formigas.

In a statement, the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores (SRPCBA), which cites the Azores Seismovolcanic Surveillance and Information Center (CIVISA), informs that the earthquake was recorded at 07:07 local (08:07 in Lisbon) .

According to the information available so far, the event was felt with maximum intensity IV / V on the Modified Mercalli scale in the parishes of Água Retorta, Faial da Terra, Senhora dos Remédios, Povoação, Ribeira Quente and Furnas, in the municipality of Povoação .

The earthquake was also felt with intensity IV in the Northeast, Achada, Achadinha and Salga, in the municipality of Nordeste, and in Ponta Garça, Ribeira Seca, S. Miguel, S. Pedro and Água d’Alto, in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo .

The Civil Protection also states that the earthquake also felt with intensity III / IV in Ribeira Chã, Água de Pau, Santa Cruz, Nossa Senhora do Rosário and Cabouco, in the municipality of Lagoa, and Lomba de S. Pedro, Lomba da Maia, Maia , São Brás, Porto Formoso, Ribeirinha, Ribeira Seca, Rabo de Peixe and Pico da Pedra, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande.

“This event was also felt with intensity III / IV in Livramento, S. Roque, Fajã de Baixo, Fajã de Cima, S. Pedro, S. Sebastião and Santa Clara, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada”, reads in the statement sent to the newsrooms, adding that the earthquake was felt with intensity III in Feteiras, Candelária, Ginetes, Santa Bárbara and Capelas, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.

According to the Civil Protection of the Azores, “CIVISA continues to monitor the evolution of the situation, issuing new communications if necessary”.