Year: 2020

Graça Freitas acknowledges that there were “discrepancies between the recommendations and the inspection” of the organization of the Portuguese Grand Prix of Formula 1

The director-general of Health acknowledged this Monday, during the usual press conference to update the epidemiological evolution, that “there were things that went well and others that went less well” at the Portuguese Grand Prix of Formula 1, held during the weekend in Portimão.

Graça Freitas admitted that there were “discrepancies between the recommendations and the ability to inspect” on the part of the organization, although she does not believe that “this will result in a problematic situation”.

The head of DGS guaranteed that there is a “willingness to improve” and draw “lessons learned for the future”: “We have to restrict events a lot”, added Graça Freitas, adding that there was “co-responsibility of citizens, organization and Directorate-General for Health ”for the verified images of the assemblies,, without regard for physical distance, during the Portuguese GP.

Earlier Paulo Pinheiro, administrator of the Autódromo do Algarve, refuted accusations of non-compliance with the rules of social distance and gave a positive assessment of the F1 Grand Prix of Portugal. In total, according to the administrator, about 27 700 people attended the AIA, “150 or 200 more than the one defined by the DGS”.

Regarding the long lines of traffic that formed between the A22 (Via do Infante) and the race track, before the start of the race, and which also generated criticism, GNR points the finger at people’s behaviour: “As is usual in large events, we asked people to travel to the event well in advance, but that did not happen and, from 12 noon, the queues started to appear”.

DGS determines that rapid tests should be preferred in outbreaks in schools or homes

Rapid tests should also be used “in situations of social urgency”, such as children at risk and victims of violence. The strategy determined by the Directorate-General for Health takes effect on November 9

The National Test Strategy for SARS-CoV-2, published this Monday, determines that in outbreak situations in schools, homes or other institutions, rapid tests should preferably be used in order to apply “quickly the appropriate public health measures”.

“In an outbreak situation (such as, for example, schools, educational establishments, Residential Structures for the Elderly (ERPIs) and similar / closed institutions), rapid antigen tests (TRAg) should preferably be used”, refers the strategy disclosed by Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

According to the document, “the tests must be carried out by the Public Health teams indicated for the rapid intervention (including obtaining results of laboratory tests used in less than 12 hours), in inter-sectoral articulation with municipal partners, or others, in a way to implement appropriate public health measures quickly “.

Rapid tests should also be used “in situations of social urgency (for example, children at risk, victims of violence).

The strategy, which takes effect at 12:00 am on 9 November, follows the current recommendations of international health organizations and is supported “by the best available scientific evidence”, aiming to contribute to “the protection of Public Health and to mitigate the impact of pandemic in health services and in the most vulnerable populations “.

The standard, published on the DGS website, states that for the diagnosis of covid-19 in patients without hospitalization criteria, with indication for clinical surveillance and isolation at home, the molecular nucleic acid amplification test (TAAN) should be used. or the rapid antigen test (TRAg), preferably in the first 5 days of symptoms.

In people with negative TRAg results, a confirmatory molecular test should be performed, at most within the next 24 hours, in situations of high clinical suspicion of covid-19.

Molecular testing should be performed on patients with admission criteria before admission. If the test is not available or does not allow the result to be obtained in less than 12 hours, a quick test should be used.

In asymptomatic people with high-risk contact with a confirmed case, the molecular test or a rapid test should be used, in case the TAAG is not available or does not allow results in less than 24 hours.

To prevent and mitigate the impact of covid-19 on health services and vulnerable populations, DGS says that a clinical and epidemiological questionnaire “should be carried out by the clinical team within 24 to 72 hours” before hospital admission.

“In urgent and emerging procedures, the absence of a laboratory test should not delay the provision of adequate clinical care and, in these circumstances, the Personal Protective Equipment must be used by health professionals”, the document emphasizes.

 

In health care units, tests should be carried out before performing aerosol-generating procedures, surgeries, before admission to childbirth assistance, for admission to intermediate and intensive care.

Molecular tests or rapid tests for regular screening (between 7 and 14 days) of health professionals who provide “direct and highest risk of contagion” care, appropriate to the context of each service / institution, should be considered.

In Residential Structures for the Elderly (ERPI), Units of the National Integrated Continuing Care Network (RNCCI), social reception institutions and reception centers for migrants and refugees, tests must be carried out up to 72 hours before admission.

In a situation of scarcity of available resources, people with suspected infection with criteria for hospitalization and patients with conditions associated with progression to severe covid-19 have priority for testing.

Priority in outbreak situations is also given to users and / or residents of RNCCI, ERPI, care institutions, new borns and pregnant women, health professionals and people before carrying out aerosol-generating procedures.

 

 

PSP closes space in Coimbra with 75 people, “most without a mask”

The closed establishment is located on Avenida Sá da Bandeira, in the city of the students.

The PSP closed a restaurant and drinks establishment on Avenida Sá da Bandeira, in Coimbra, at dawn on Tuesday 20^th Oct, for failure to comply with the measures required by the State of Calamity.

In a statement sent to Notícias ao Minuto, PSP said that it received a complaint that the space was trading, with music inside, after the allocated trading hours.

Upon arriving at the establishment, at around 1:20 am, the agents spoke to the establishment manager, who assured him that he had “some customers”, but that they were already paying and were about to leave the premises.

The officer waited, but as the clients did not leave, they entered the establishment and found 75 people, most of them drinking alcohol and circulating without an individual protection mask, thus violating the rules in force.

For this reason, an order was given to close the establishment.

So far, the Coimbra Public Security Police Command has prepared 105 actions for offenses, for infractions related to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

GNR’s operation at the Portuguese Grand Prix in Formula 1 “went smoothly”

In a statement, the GNR stresses that “around 600 military personnel from various fields were engaged in a coordinated action to act in a preventive manner for all types of situations that could jeopardize the security of the event, plus the need to comply with the established rules in the current pandemic context “caused by covid-19.

GNR added that, during the event on Sunday, there was a relocation of people, to ensure compliance with the rules of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), and today it was necessary to “redirect them, to some less filled stands”. Having this change was taken in conjunction with the race organization, to ensure the necessary social distance.

“It should be noted that the commitment was more intense, as expected, in the control of road traffic, as a result of the natural high influx of people to the venue simultaneously, noting, however, that the event took place in total safety”.

SEF detains foreign citizen with international arrest warrant for extradition

The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) this week arrested a foreign citizen in Portalegre who was the target of an international arrest warrant for extradition to the United Arab Emirates.

The detention was carried out at the SEF Portalegre Regional Delegation when the citizen presented himself there in order to request the granting of a temporary residence permit.

After consulting Interpol’s database, an alert inserted by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates was verified.

PSP searched several municipalities and detained seven people

The PSP have conducted 23 searches which resulted in 7 arrests, seizure of more than 10,000 doses of narcotic drugs (Hashish, Heroin, Cocaine, Liamba and Amphetamines), more than forty-four thousand euros in ECB notes (European Central Bank)

The Public Security Police plan of the Metropolitan Command of Porto, through the Criminal Investigation Division, on Monday 19th, triggered a police operation aimed at a wide range of individuals who were involved organized ring dedicated to drug trafficking in the area of Greater Porto.

The operation included 13 home searches and 10 non-home searches in: Porto, Matosinhos, Maia and Valongo, which resulted in seven arrests of individuals aged between 28 and 43 years of age.

The following items were seized: 5 580- doses of hashish, 2 297 doses of cocaine, 2 583 doses of Liamba, 141 doses of heroine, 397 doses of Amphetamines, various packages with anabolic steroids; € 44,807 in bank notes, two high-end motor vehicles, a money counting machine and objects used in the preparation and direct sale of narcotic drugs.

Man tries to kill girlfriend and blames self-mutilation

On Saturday 17^th Oct at 1.30am an attempted homicide took place in a hostel on Avenida Almirante Reis, in Lisbon. The victim is in hospital, but her prognosis is not good.

A woman is fighting for her life after being brutally stabbed by her boyfriend. The crime took place in a hostel in Lisbon and the suspect has already been detained by the Judicial Police.

He is a Portuguese national and she is a Swiss national, the couple spent a few days in the Portuguese capital and returned to the hostel on Avenida Almirante Reis where he was staying, an argument induced by jealousy escalated.

The neighbours in adjacent rooms became aware of the violent argument and contacted 112 for help. The suspect opened the door to PSP agents, the first to arrive at the scene. The man appeared to be upset and had a cut on his hand, but the amount of blood on the bedroom floor revealed a more serious scenario.

The 47-year-old woman was on the floor with several deep stab wounds. She was first aided by the firemen of Penha de França, but given the severity of the injuries, it was necessary to call INEM. Despite being seriously injured, the victim was conscious and told the authorities that there had been a disagreement between the couple.

When questioned, the suspect claimed that his companion had self-mutilated and that it was not the first time and that he got the cut on his hand because he was trying to stop the woman from harming herself. The woman was transported to the hospital in critical condition and after having undergone surgery her prognosis is bad.

The hostel’s video surveillance images were crucial in finding out what happened on Saturday morning. According to the court, the woman had already filed several complaints in Switzerland against her partner for domestic violence.

The man will be presented in a court facing charges of the crimes of attempted homicide, domestic violence and the possession and use of a prohibited weapon.

The Challenges of Countering Human Trafficking in the Digital Era

Modern communication technologies – namely the internet, social media, and mobile applications – have significantly impacted how organised crime groups involved in international trafficking in human beings operate. Technology has broadened criminals’ ability to traffic human beings for different types of exploitation, including sexual and labour exploitation, the removal of organs, illegal adoption of children and forced marriages.

Human traffickers are using increasingly modern communication technologies to exploit their victim’s multiple times over:  from advertising and recruiting victims, to blackmailing them with photos and videos to control their movements. To counter this threat, we must use the great advantage of shared intelligence and collect more digital evidence to connect the dots between national and international investigations.

Fighting human trafficking is one of the EU and Europol’s top priorities and to mark the EU Anti-Trafficking Day 2020 Europol is publishing the challenges of countering human trafficking in the digital era.

“Help Rescue and get stoned”: Fire commander revolted after ambulance attack in Carnaxide

An ambulance transporting patients was stoned Wednesday night 14^th Oct by a group of people at Alto dos Barronhos in Carnaxide, Oeiras.

The patient and the two firefighters inside the vehicle had to take refuge at the Municipal Police station. Two PSP agents arrived at the scene but were unable to diffuse situation. Only once reinforcements arrived was it possible for the ambulance to leave the police station, under police escort.

Correio da Manhã spoke with Dafundo’s Fire Commander, Carlos Jaime, who considers this episode “revolting”.

“Firefighters help people and are stoned. It is revolting,” said Carlos Jaime, who confirmed to the CM that the firefighters who were driving the vehicle had been hit with stones when they were transporting a patient home. The stones were hurled by a group of six to seven people.

23 arrested in one week for property crimes

Twenty-three people were arrested last week, following several operations carried out by the Public Security Police (PSP) in the fight against crime for property crimes, namely thefts in various locations.

“Following the actions carried out by the Public Security Police in the fight against crime for property crimes (thefts in residence, thefts in commercial establishments and thefts of vehicles and from the interior of vehicles), from the 5th to the 12th of October, several operations were carried out, resulting in a total of 23 arrests “, can be read in a statement sent by PSP.

On average, three daily arrests were made by the security force, according to the statement released.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 PSP closes establishment in Coimbra with 75 people, “most without a mask”

The closed establishment is located on Avenida Sá da Bandeira, in the city of the students.

The PSP closed a restaurant and drinks establishment on Avenida Sá da Bandeira, in Coimbra, at dawn on Tuesday 20^th Oct, for failure to comply with the measures required by the State of Calamity.

In a statement sent to Notícias ao Minuto, PSP said that it received a complaint that the space was trading, with music inside, after the allocated trading hours.

Upon arriving at the establishment, at around 1:20 am, the agents spoke to the establishment manager, who assured him that he had “some customers”, but that they were already paying and were about to leave the premises.

The officer waited, but as the clients did not leave, they entered the establishment and found 75 people, most of them drinking alcohol and circulating without an individual protection mask, thus violating the rules in force.

For this reason, an order was given to close the establishment.

So far, the Coimbra Public Security Police Command has prepared 105 actions for offenses, for infractions related to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

GNR’s operation at the Portuguese Grand Prix in Formula 1 “went smoothly”

In a statement, the GNR stresses that “around 600 military personnel from various fields were engaged in a coordinated action to act in a preventive manner for all types of situations that could jeopardize the security of the event, plus the need to comply with the established rules in the current pandemic context “caused by covid-19.

GNR added that, during the event on Sunday, there was a relocation of people, to ensure compliance with the rules of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), and today it was necessary to “redirect them, to some less filled stands”. Having this change was taken in conjunction with the race organization, to ensure the necessary social distance.

“It should be noted that the commitment was more intense, as expected, in the control of road traffic, as a result of the natural high influx of people to the venue simultaneously, noting, however, that the event took place in total safety”.

SEF detains foreign citizen with international arrest warrant for extradition

The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) this week arrested a foreign citizen in Portalegre who was the target of an international arrest warrant for extradition to the United Arab Emirates.

The detention was carried out at the SEF Portalegre Regional Delegation when the citizen presented himself there in order to request the granting of a temporary residence permit.

After consulting Interpol’s database, an alert inserted by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates was verified.

PSP searched several municipalities and detained seven people

The PSP have conducted 23 searches which resulted in 7 arrests, seizure of more than 10,000 doses of narcotic drugs (Hashish, Heroin, Cocaine, Liamba and Amphetamines), more than forty-four thousand euros in ECB notes (European Central Bank)

The Public Security Police plan of the Metropolitan Command of Porto, through the Criminal Investigation Division, on Monday 19th, triggered a police operation aimed at a wide range of individuals who were involved organized ring dedicated to drug trafficking in the area of Greater Porto.

The operation included 13 home searches and 10 non-home searches in: Porto, Matosinhos, Maia and Valongo, which resulted in seven arrests of individuals aged between 28 and 43 years of age.

The following items were seized: 5 580- doses of hashish, 2 297 doses of cocaine, 2 583 doses of Liamba, 141 doses of heroine, 397 doses of Amphetamines, various packages with anabolic steroids; € 44,807 in bank notes, two high-end motor vehicles, a money counting machine and objects used in the preparation and direct sale of narcotic drugs.

Man tries to kill girlfriend and blames self-mutilation

On Saturday 17^th Oct at 1.30am an attempted homicide took place in a hostel on Avenida Almirante Reis, in Lisbon. The victim is in hospital, but her prognosis is not good.

A woman is fighting for her life after being brutally stabbed by her boyfriend. The crime took place in a hostel in Lisbon and the suspect has already been detained by the Judicial Police.

He is a Portuguese national and she is a Swiss national, the couple spent a few days in the Portuguese capital and returned to the hostel on Avenida Almirante Reis where he was staying, an argument induced by jealousy escalated.

The neighbours in adjacent rooms became aware of the violent argument and contacted 112 for help. The suspect opened the door to PSP agents, the first to arrive at the scene. The man appeared to be upset and had a cut on his hand, but the amount of blood on the bedroom floor revealed a more serious scenario.

The 47-year-old woman was on the floor with several deep stab wounds. She was first aided by the firemen of Penha de França, but given the severity of the injuries, it was necessary to call INEM. Despite being seriously injured, the victim was conscious and told the authorities that there had been a disagreement between the couple.

When questioned, the suspect claimed that his companion had self-mutilated and that it was not the first time and that he got the cut on his hand because he was trying to stop the woman from harming herself. The woman was transported to the hospital in critical condition and after having undergone surgery her prognosis is bad.

The hostel’s video surveillance images were crucial in finding out what happened on Saturday morning. According to the court, the woman had already filed several complaints in Switzerland against her partner for domestic violence.

The man will be presented in a court facing charges of the crimes of attempted homicide, domestic violence and the possession and use of a prohibited weapon.

The Challenges of Countering Human Trafficking in the Digital Era

Modern communication technologies – namely the internet, social media, and mobile applications – have significantly impacted how organised crime groups involved in international trafficking in human beings operate. Technology has broadened criminals’ ability to traffic human beings for different types of exploitation, including sexual and labour exploitation, the removal of organs, illegal adoption of children and forced marriages.

Human traffickers are using increasingly modern communication technologies to exploit their victim’s multiple times over:  from advertising and recruiting victims, to blackmailing them with photos and videos to control their movements. To counter this threat, we must use the great advantage of shared intelligence and collect more digital evidence to connect the dots between national and international investigations.

Fighting human trafficking is one of the EU and Europol’s top priorities and to mark the EU Anti-Trafficking Day 2020 Europol is publishing the challenges of countering human trafficking in the digital era.

“Help Rescue and get stoned”: Fire commander revolted after ambulance attack in Carnaxide

An ambulance transporting patients was stoned Wednesday night 14^th Oct by a group of people at Alto dos Barronhos in Carnaxide, Oeiras.

The patient and the two firefighters inside the vehicle had to take refuge at the Municipal Police station. Two PSP agents arrived at the scene but were unable to diffuse situation. Only once reinforcements arrived was it possible for the ambulance to leave the police station, under police escort.

Correio da Manhã spoke with Dafundo’s Fire Commander, Carlos Jaime, who considers this episode “revolting”.

“Firefighters help people and are stoned. It is revolting,” said Carlos Jaime, who confirmed to the CM that the firefighters who were driving the vehicle had been hit with stones when they were transporting a patient home. The stones were hurled by a group of six to seven people.

23 arrested in one week for property crimes

Twenty-three people were arrested last week, following several operations carried out by the Public Security Police (PSP) in the fight against crime for property crimes, namely thefts in various locations.

“Following the actions carried out by the Public Security Police in the fight against crime for property crimes (thefts in residence, thefts in commercial establishments and thefts of vehicles and from the interior of vehicles), from the 5th to the 12th of October, several operations were carried out, resulting in a total of 23 arrests “, can be read in a statement sent by PSP.

On average, three daily arrests were made by the security force, according to the statement released.

 

 

The Portuguese Grand Prix of Formula 1, which will be played between Friday and Sunday, will have a maximum capacity of 27,500 spectators, according to the government dispatch published today, October 21, in Diário da República.

LEGISLATION

MEASURES IN PLACE FOR PORTUGUESE F1 GP – GOVERNMENT ORDER 10112-A/2020

The Portuguese Grand Prix of Formula 1, which will take place Friday and Sunday, will have a maximum capacity of 27,500 spectators, according to the government dispatch published today, October 21, in Diário da República. The measures outlined in the Order are as follows:

2 – The organizer of the event referred to in the preceding paragraph must implement the procedures for preventing and controlling infection by SARS-CoV-2, in order to ensure compliance with rules of occupation, permanence, cleaning of spaces and physical distance,

3 – Since the total capacity of the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is around 90 thousand seats, and taking into account the current epidemiological situation, the authorized capacity for this specific event is 27,500 seats, distributed by independent benches, with a variable occupancy capacity and divided into sectors of about 800 people.

4 – Only seating is allowed, which must be previously defined and duly identified.

5 – It is prohibited to circulate between benches, as well as between sectors of the same bench, during the event, with the permanent presence of audience or bench assistants being mandatory.

6 – The entrance and exit of the public from each stand is made through different accesses, avoiding the crossing of flows of people and guaranteeing a minimum distance of 2 meters between spectators.

7 – It is forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages on the sports grounds and the respective accesses, with the exception of restaurants and drinks establishments during meal service.

8 – The parking of vehicles in the precinct of the race track and surrounding areas must be done exclusively in the places marked for this purpose, and the spectators must follow the pedestrian circuits of access to the assistance site.

9 – The movement to the race track in public transport must be made from four access areas provided for this purpose, namely:

1. a) Two (2) parking areas in Portimão-Praia da Rocha, next to the Portimão marina, with parking capacity for up to 2600 vehicles, served by buses with a maximum capacity for 50 people, respecting the maximum capacity provided for in the applicable legislation;
2. b) One (1) parking area next to the old Portimão Retail Park, with parking capacity for up to 2000 vehicles, served by buses with a maximum capacity for 50 people, respecting the maximum capacity provided for in the applicable legislation;
3. c) One (1) parking area next to BurroVille, with parking capacity for up to 2400 vehicles, served by buses for 50 people, respecting the maximum capacity provided for in the applicable legislation.

 

NEWS

“With the total capacity of the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA) of around 90 thousand seats, and taking into account the current epidemiological situation, the authorized capacity for this specific event is 27,500 seats, distributed by independent benches, with an occupancy capacity variable and divided by sectors of about 800 people ”, reads the document.

This had been the number put forward by the AIA administrator, Paulo Pinheiro, on Sunday, in statements to the Lusa agency, after around 46 thousand tickets were put up for sale.

The order dated Monday and signed by the Minister of Internal Administration Eduardo Cabrita and the Minister of Health Marta Temido authorizes the holding of the Grand Prix and defines the rules for the presence of the public, in order to contain infections by the new coronavirus.

Within the scope of the measures published today, in view of the country’s calamity situation, decreed between 15 and 31 October, the Government determined that “only seating is allowed”, with “circulation between benches being prohibited, as well as between sectors of the same bench. »And the consumption of alcoholic beverages, both in the enclosure and in the accesses – catering establishments are exception.

“The entrance and exit of the public from each stand is made through different accesses, avoiding the crossing of flows of people and guaranteeing a minimum distance of two meters between spectators”, says the dispatch, delimiting the parking to the indicated places.

In addition to these spaces in the enclosure and in the surrounding area, the Government limited public transport to 50 people by bus, from four car parks: two in Portimão-Praia da Rocha (capacity up to 2,600 vehicles), next to the old ‘retail park ‘(up to 2,000) and at BurroVille (up to 2,400).

“The present order takes effect on the date of its signature, and it can be revised until the date of the test, depending on the evolution of the epidemiological situation”, concluded the Government.

On Tuesday, in a statement, the AIA confirmed the removal of pedestrian spaces, admitting several solutions for the holders of these tickets.

The Formula 1 World Championship returns to Portugal 24 years later, this time to the Algarve circuit, which will host the Portuguese Grand Prix between Friday and Sunday, the day of the 12th race of the season.

The Prime Minister said today that the country’s return to a state of emergency is not on the table, stressing that this is a constitutional competence of the President of the Republic and that the previous confinement had “immense costs “.

This position was conveyed by António Costa in an interview with TVI, held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in São Bento, which lasted about an hour, after being questioned about a possible return of Portugal to a situation of emergency in the face of steady increase in the number of covid-19 cases in recent weeks.

“It is not a scenario that is currently on the table,” replied the executive’s leader, after being asked if he had already discussed this matter with the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

At this point, António Costa stressed that the scenario adopted by the Government was to raise the state of alert to the level of calamity.

“Right now, this is the right level, but it all depends on a number of factors. It is true that we are going to have a greater number of new cases per day than in the worst phase of the pandemic last April. But, fortunately, now, with much less hospitalized than there was at the time and, above all, with much less hospitalized in intensive care, which is largely due to the fact that there was a significant change in the age group affected “, defended the Prime Minister.

António Costa also advocated that, currently, the National Health Service (SNS) “is better prepared than it was at the beginning of this crisis” pandemic.

“We have an occupancy rate for intensive care beds for covid-19 of 66%. Fortunately, we are far from the situation of having the NHS under pressure,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of the Government adopting a curfew measure at night, as is already the case in several European countries, the leader of the executive replied that he cannot exclude any measure.

“But I must say that the cost of these measures is immense”, especially in the social and economic spheres, he declared, before mentioning that the confinement of last spring generated almost one hundred thousand unemployed in the country.

 

21 measures for families, pensioners, workers, companies and even animals

From taxes to health, from social support to incentives for recovery: find out what changes in a Budget made to counter the economic and social effects of the covid-19 pandemic.

The budget proposal is due to be delivered to parliament today by the Government, and will then be voted on generally on 28 October, with the final global vote on the document scheduled for 26 November.

Families

1. Free day care for all children of families in the 1st and 2nd income brackets of the family contribution;
2. EUR 69 million to invest in the expansion and requalification of social facilities in the public network and the social sector , covering social responses in the areas of child support, the elderly and people with disabilities;
3. Reduction of withholding income tax , which, according to the Government, guarantees an additional liquidity of 200 million euros for families;
4. Lower VAT on electricity for consumption of up to 100 kWh (or 150 kWh, in the case of large families), allowing savings of 150 million euros with sustainable consumption;
5. End of payment of user fees for complementary diagnostic and therapeutic tests prescribed in the context of primary health care;
6. IRS deduction of VAT paid in gym expenses.

 

Pensioners

1. Increase of ten euros for pensioners receiving up to 1.5 IAS (658 euros), as of August 2021, and an extraordinary increase of ten euros (or six, if pensions have been updated between 2011 and 2015).

 

Workers

1. Increase in the national minimum wage in line with the average increase in recent years (maintaining the target of 750 euros in 2023);
2. Extraordinary support for workers’ income , having as a reference value the poverty line (501 euros), for those who lost their jobs or had a significant drop in their activity;
3. Increase of the minimum amount of unemployment benefit to an amount above the poverty line, definitively, for workers who received at least the minimum wage;
4. Supplement for workers with social unemployment benefit , corresponding to the amount of the difference for the new extraordinary support;
5. General moratorium, for 24 months, on the expiration of collective labour agreements , covering around 400 collective agreements and close to three million workers;
6. Extraordinary risk allowance for health professionals who are at the forefront of the response to covid-19, in the amount of 20% of the base salary (up to a maximum of 219 euros);
7. Supplement for unhealthy and painful conditions for workers in public functions in the sectors of urban hygiene and sanitation.

 

Companies

1. Ban on dismissals by large companies that make profits in 2020, under penalty of losing access to tax incentives and publicly guaranteed credit lines;
2. Maintenance of all tax rates, with no update on indirect taxes;
3. Elimination of the aggravation of autonomous taxation for micro, small and medium-sized companies that usually had no losses and started to have them due to the pandemic;
4. Creation of the IVAucher program to stimulate consumption in the catering, accommodation and culture sectors by returning the VAT paid in those sectors;
5. Maintenance of the Extraordinary Tax Credit for Investment measure in the first half of 2021, allowing companies to deduct from the IRC collection the amount corresponding to 20% of their investment expenses up to the limit of five million euros.

 

Animals

1. Creation of the figure of the pet provider;
2. Transfer of more than five million euros to the local administration to support the kennels.

The governments of Portugal and Spain today reached an agreement, in Guarda, on a common border development strategy for the coming years, which was the center of the 31st Portuguese-Spanish Summit.

The Common Strategy for Transboundary Development (ECDT) was the highlight of the Iberian meeting and is presented as a set of measures and investments to “make life easier for people living on the border”, as pointed out by the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa.

Alongside the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, the Portuguese chief executive highlighted some of the benefits foreseen for the inhabitants of the border, such as the status of cross-border workers, the health card that allows treatment on both sides of the border or cooperation between public services, as in the case of the 112 network, which will respond in the emergency to those who are better able to do so.

The Recovery and Resilience Plan of each country should incorporate the priorities of this strategy which will also seek funding in Brussels, with the Portuguese Prime Minister underlining that, this time, the two countries will not be separated to negotiate with Brussels, but in set.

The Strategy covers 1,551 Portuguese parishes, an area corresponding to 62% of the Portuguese territory and benefits more than one million and six hundred thousand Portuguese.

On the Spanish side, it includes 1,231 municipalities and 3.3 million inhabitants of the municipalities in the border provinces of Badajoz, Cáceres, Huelva, Ourense, Pontevedra, Salamanca and Zamora, corresponding to 17% of the surface of Spain.

In total, in Portugal and Spain, this Strategy will directly serve more than five million people, along one of Europe’s largest borders.

The objective of ECDT is, according to the Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, to “put the interior of the country at the center of the Iberian market, to create a new economic centrality and reduce the abandonment of these territories”.

The purpose is to improve services to the population, creating conditions for the development of innovative common projects, which value the resources of the border territories and make them more attractive for living, working and investing.

Completing the network of road connections between the two countries is one of the purposes of the joint strategy, which contemplates the construction of the IP2 connection between Bragança and Puebla de Sanabria, Moraleja-Monfortinho-Castelo Branco, joining the EX-A1 ​​with the A23 through IC-31, Vilar Formoso-Fuentes de Oñoro, connection from A25 to A62 (Castilla motorway), the highway between Zamora and A4 / E82, in Quintanilha (Bragança), and the connection from IC5 Miranda do Douro to Zamora by Sayago .

The construction of the new bridge between Sanlucar del Guadiana and Alcoutim and the international bridge over the River Sever between Cedillo and Nisa are also planned.

Rail transport is also contemplated with the modernization of the Beira Alta line from Fuentes de Oñoro / Salamanca, the Elvas-Badajoz Logistics platform, the Covilhã / Guarda section, the Viana do Castelo / Valença section, and the connection of the Portuguese-Spanish Atlantic axis , which includes Lisbon, Porto, Vigo, Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña.

The two governments also propose to speed up the construction of the Lisbon-Sines-Poceirão-Évora-Badajoz-Cáceres-Madrid high-performance line.

Among the measures envisaged is also the creation of the figure of the cross-border worker to facilitate the movement of these citizens without constraints such as those observed when the borders were imposed at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic.

The two countries also want greater coordination in basic services, such as Health, Education, Social Services and Civil Protection, to enhance the sharing of new or existing services, in order to better serve the citizens of both countries.

ECDT provides, for example, the 112 cross-border, which will allow the user access to the nearest emergency services, be they Portuguese or Spanish.

The strategy also aims to attract “new companies and investments to these territories, through innovative joint projects between the two countries”, in terms of agro-industry, agroforestry and renewable energies.

Domestic violence arrests have decreased 32% since the pandemic began

Arrests for the crime of domestic violence have decreased by about 32% since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic compared to the same period in 2019, the Public Security Police revealed on 7^th October

In the webinar “The covid-19 pandemic and internal security”, the head of the PSP’s policing and public order division, Pedro Grilo, said that between March 18 and October 1, there was “an effective decrease” of complaints for domestic violence, as well as a 32% decrease in arrests for this type of crime.

According to data provided by the PSP, 290 people were detained between March 18 (when the state of emergency began due to covid-19) and October 1, while during the same period last year, 422 arrests were made by this security force.

The same official also said that in the state of emergency, which ended on May 2, there was an increase in crimes of computer fraud and communications and bank fraud, as well as the crime of driving without legal authorization. Pedro Grilo justified the crime of driving without legal authorization with “the exponential increase” of road enforcement actions carried out by the PSP.

In turn, in the period between May 3 and October 1, there was “a marked decrease in general and violent and serious crime”, despite the increase in police proactivity and arrests, underlined the head of the policing and order division of the PSP.

Pedro Grilo also stressed that, in the different contexts of the epidemic, namely in the state of emergency and situations of calamity and contingency, “there were no significant security incidents or resistance to police actions, even in habitually more sensitive territories”.

 

Major Police operation in Porto

Recently a PSP mega-operation surrounded the Pasteleira neighbourhood in Porto and arrested 15 people linked to the drug trade.

The target of the operation was an organized group with several cells, which was very active in the spread of drugs in that area. Large quantities of weapons and drugs were seized.

The Criminal Investigation Division of the PSP of Porto have been investigating this group for several months and enforced 12 home search warrants in what is considered one of the most problematic neighbourhoods in the city of Porto.

“This operation took place without incident, despite the fact that more than 48 agents from the Investigation Division and also agents from the Special Police Unit were involved,” explained João Soeima, commissioner of the PSP and responsible for this mega-operation, adding that the objective is to combat drug trafficking and that “the detainees were mainly involved in the direct sale of drugs in this neighbourhood”.

Of the 15 detainees, at least four are women, who will be presented at court for their first hearing and will await sentencing.

There have been frequent operations of this kind in the problem neighbourhoods, in the city of Porto, specifically known for the activity of drug trafficking

In the case of this neighbourhood of Pasteleira, this is the third major operation carried out by the police in just four months. The previous ones took place in June and July this year.

Braga PSP agents save the life of two elderly people from fire

Two PSP agents from Braga, one from Amares and the other from Vieira do Minho, received public praise after saving the lives of two elderly people, in an apartment near Braga Parque, reported a source from Radio Alto Ave

According to the same source, the heroic act was performed on a Saturday 3^rd Oct when the two policemen arrived first on the scene before the Firefighters of Braga arrived, saved the lives of two elderly people. They went up to the apartment and removed the elderly from the house.

PSP seizes 9,422 euros and hundreds of doses of drugs in Braga

The operation to combat drug trafficking today carried out in the neighbourhood of Enguardas, in Braga, resulted in a total of 10 detainees and the seizure of drugs, money and weapons, the PSP revealed.

In a statement, the PSP confirmed that the detainees comprised five men and five women, aged between 17 and 67, and that enough heroin has been seized for about 240 individual doses, as well as 71.28 grams of liamba, in addition to contraband material used in the cutting and packaging of the narcotic.

“Resulting from the operation, the PSP Command in Braga believes it has dealt a serious blow to drug trafficking in the city of Braga originating in that area, as well as contributing to increasing the feeling of security in the same and adjacent areas, which have been the target for illegal activities and a constant concern and work on the part of this police”, highlights PSP Braga.

A total of 9,422 euros, two prohibited weapons and 60 euros in counterfeit notes were also seized.

The operation included the execution of 14 house searches and seven arrest warrants.

In this police action, the entire criminal investigation structure of the Braga Command and the rapid intervention teams was engaged.

The operation involved the collaboration of the Special Police Unit, through the Cinotécnico Operational Group, and elements of the PSP’s criminal investigation structure of the Vila Real, Viana do Castelo and Aveiro commands.

The detainees will be taken to court, for first judicial interrogation and application of the respective enforcement measures.

Safe Schools – Prevention and Enforcement

More than 180 people were detained in more than 1,000 police operations carried out between 14 and 20 September in the context of the operation “Safe School – Beginning of the Academic Year 2020/2021”, the PSP announced on 9^th October.

In a statement, PSP states that 3,468 police officers participated in the initiative, which took place in mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions, which carried out 1,070 operations, resulting in 186 arrests.

The operation “Safe School – aims to promote the intensification of visibility and inspection through policing actions, as well as awareness raising actions at school establishments.

The operation also aims to prevent criminal and administrative offenses through the inspection of traffic and road safety in the vicinity of schools, the inspection of commercial establishments, restaurants and drinks, among other spaces, frequented by minors and the verification of compliance with the legal rules in force within the scope of prevention and combating the covid-19 pandemic.

PSP highlights that of the operations, 386 had a reinforced police presence, 415 for road inspections, 163 for inspection of commercial establishments and 114 in other operations / inspections.

In addition to the arrests, 102 vehicles and 33 weapons were seized during the operations.

In the note, the PSP indicates that 3,874 notices of infraction for road infractions and 11 notices of infraction for infractions in commercial establishments were collected.

364 group awareness-raising actions were also carried out in 270 schools, attended by 11,989 students and 1,354 teachers and operational assistants, and 1,552 individual criminal prevention contacts were made in schools

 

Covid-19: PSP offers Webinar “Pandemic and Security”

The Public Security Police (PSP), through the Investigation Centre (ICPOL) of the Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security (ISCPSI) and the Operations Department of the National Directorate, has made available to the public as of the, 07 October a webinar dedicated to the topic: “The Pandemic of COVID 19 and Homeland Security”.

According to information that the Diário Digital Castelo Branco had access to, in this online event (webinar), the PSP has the participation of representatives of the Directorate-General for Health, Foreigners and Borders Service, Republican National Guard, National Emergency and Protection Authority Civil and the National Institute of Medical Emergency, of who will all share their experiences, strategies and interventions in integrated mitigation of the pandemic outbreak.

With this initiative, the PSP intends to contribute to deepen the scientific and operational reflection on the impact – current and on a wide spectrum – of the pandemic in our society and, in particular, in the broad framework of public security and order, in civil protection and security health, as well as in the daily work of the Security and Protection and Relief Forces and Services.

As this is an event open to the whole society, we invite all people to participate in this reflection, by prior registration, through

 

 

With the help of the Portuguese PSP, 12 suspects were arrested, including the administrator of the Internet page from which the network was running

The Spanish National Police dismantled a website that distributed paedophile material from Portugal, having arrested 12 suspects, including the page administrator, with the help of the Portuguese PSP.

According to the Spanish authorities, the administrator of the page (‘webmaster’), as well as the servers on which the page was hosted, were in Portugal, so the operation started with his arrest, after which the remaining paedophile suspects in Barcelona, ​​Girona, Sabadell, Cáceres, Albacete, Cádiz, Castellón, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia and Valencia.

Police stressed the reduced age of detainees, of whom four are minors and seven are just over 20 years old.

The administrator of the page was a citizen resident in Portugal who, according to the Spanish authorities, obtained significant economic benefits from this illegal activity.

The investigation had the support and collaboration of Europol (European police service), Interpol (international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation) and the Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP).

The investigation began thanks to anonymous information received through the Spanish police portal, which then sent agents to investigate the case.

During the investigation, the agents also managed to identify two Colombian citizens, having sent this information through Interpol to Colombia, which is expected to follow up on the case, according to the country’s laws.