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GNR started at 09:00 today the operation “Fátima at home”, which will continue until Wednesday, with the objective of preventing pilgrims from accessing the sanctuary, said the Operations director, Vítor Rodrigues, to the Lusa agency.

This GNR operation – carried out in connection with the International Anniversary Pilgrimage of May (12th and 13th) and taking into account the covid-19 pandemic – will have a national and a local level.

According to Vítor Rodrigues, at the national level, the operation will involve “monitoring, sensitizing and deterring possible movements, whether on foot or in a vehicle”, involving all commands, from North to South of the country.

“At the local level, with the territorial command of Santarém, we are going to effectively monitor, control, the entry of vehicles in Fátima”, he explained.

The Director of Operations at GNR said that, when accessing the highway, “all vehicles will be controlled, a bit similar to what was done at Easter and in those moments when you could not walk from one municipality to another”.

When people are detected who go to Fátima with the intention of going to the sanctuary, they will be dissuaded from doing so, “because the parks are all closed, so the possibilities of going to the sanctuary do not exist”.

The official welcomed the “fantastic collaborative posture” of the members of the Catholic Church, with whom the GNR has been working “for many weeks”.

“I want to believe that, as has been happening in this country, the overwhelming majority of people follow the orders of the security forces and services. In Fatima, for a lot of reason, this will happen ”, he stressed.

This year, the Shrine of Fatima will celebrate the International Anniversary Pilgrimage of May in the prayer hall, as in other years, but without the crowd of pilgrims that usually fill it.

The celebrations will take place in the enclosure, but this will be closed due to the sanitary rules defined by the Government in the context of the declaration of the State of public calamity, in articulation with the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, and which prevent religious celebrations with the presence of the faithful.

Between the afternoon of the 12th and the end of the morning of the 13th, pilgrims will not be allowed access to any area of ​​the sanctuary.

The rector of the Sanctuary of Fátima, Carlos Cabecinhas, asked the pilgrims not to visit the precinct on the 12th and 13th and to make the pilgrimage “by heart”.

 

 

When restaurants and cafes reopen this month, they should favour the use of terraces and the ‘take away’ service and should encourage prior scheduling, according to guidance from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) released today.

In the guidance, the DGS establishes the various measures that food and beverage establishments must adopt when they reopen on May 18.

Among the measures to be adopted, the health authority highlights the reduction of the maximum capacity of the establishment, in order to ensure the recommended physical distance of two meters between people, privileging the use of outdoor areas, such as terraces (whenever possible) and the take-away service.

According to DGS, “the arrangement of tables and chairs must guarantee a distance of at least two meters between people, but cohabitants can sit facing each other or side by side, at a lower distance”.

Companies must prevent customers from changing the orientation of tables and chairs, allowing employees to do so, but always ensuring the necessary distance.

DGS also recommends that, whenever possible and applicable, prior booking for seats be promoted and encouraged.

On the other hand, standing spaces are not recommended, as are ‘self-service’ operations such as ‘buffets’.

The cleaning and disinfection of spaces must respect the guidelines previously issued by DGS, and owners must disinfect, at least six times a day, all areas of frequent contact (door handles, washbasin taps, tables, benches, chairs, handrails).

The same must be done with “critical equipment (such as automatic payment terminals and individual menus”) after each use.

The guidance also establishes the need for hand hygiene with alcohol-based solution or soap and water at the entrance and exit of the establishment by customers, who must respect the distance between people of at least two meters and comply with the respiratory label measures.

Customers should also consider wearing a mask, except during the meal period, avoid touching unnecessary surfaces and objects and give preference to electronic payment.

The document also establishes the procedures to be adopted by the employees of the catering and beverage establishments, namely the use of a mask during the period of work with multiple people.

DGS recalls that “the catering and beverage establishments, due to their characteristics, can be places of transmission of infection by SARS-CoV-2, either by direct and / or indirect contact”.

For this reason, he argues, additional measures “must be taken to ensure that the transmission of the disease is minimized in these contexts”.

Lisbon, 06^th  May 2020 (Lusa) – The Prime Minister announced today the extension of support to Managing Partners with dependent workers, an increase in the guarantee period for access to unemployment social benefits and support for independent workers without any claims in the last year.

These measures were announced by António Costa at the end of a visit to the Social Security Institute, in Lisbon, justifying them by the “abrupt” change in the country’s reality, following the Covid-19 pandemic.

During a visit, accompanied by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, António Costa said that the Government had previously supported situations in which Managing Partners, particularly micro-companies, had support in reduced activity, without staff.

“This week we are going to take it a step further, extending it also to Managing Partners of micro-companies with employees.”, declared the prime minister.

The second step that the Government is going to take, according to António Costa, relates to the guarantee period for access to unemployment benefit for people in probationary situations and for cases where contracts have been terminated.

“The probationary period was taken into account for ‘normal’ circumstances, but that is not the case today, because, as we have seen, in one month, everything has changed. We cannot neglect to support these workers.” he claimed.

The third measure, continued António Costa, will be given in relation to the group of independent workers – workers who enjoyed the alternative of not making contributions to Social Security.

“Anyone who has not fulfilled the alternative [of claiming of Social Security benefits] is not currently protected. We are going to take the step of allowing protection for independent workers who, in the last 12 months, did not make any contributions. Naturally, they will not be able to receive the same benefits as those who made contributions over those last 12 months “, the Prime Minister immediately warned.

In his speech, the prime minister said that the executive, over the course of this week, “will take another step” in relation to the public social security system.

The idea, according to António Costa, “is to open the door to all those who, for various reasons, either through choice or as a result of existing deregulations in the labour market,” have been working in deregulated circumstances “.

“This is the time for these citizens to put an end to deregularity and formalise their participation in the Social Security system. Come to Social Security, we are here to welcome you and offer you support. We don’t want to leave anyone behind during this crisis”, stressed the Prime Minister.

This widening of Social Security to informal workers had already been mentioned by Minister Ana Mendes Godinho in her brief speech at this opening of this session.

 

The land borders between Portugal and Spain will remain closed after May 14, the Minister of Internal Affairs announced today, without putting forward a date for the reopening.

In the parliamentary committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees, where he was heard this afternoon, Eduardo Cabrita said that the control of land borders will be extended “beyond May 14”.

“May 14, certainly not [reopening of borders]. I do not anticipate any date, ”said the minister, stressing that he is“ dependent on the success ”of Portugal and Spain in the fight against the covid-19.

The control of land borders with Spain is being carried out since 23:00 on March 16 at nine authorized crossing points due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The operating border points are Valença-Tuy, Vila Verde da Raia-Verín, Quintanilha-San Vitero, Vilar Formoso-Fuentes de Oñoro, Monfortinho-Cilleros Thermal Springs, Marvão-Valencia de Alcântara, Caia-Badajoz, Vila Verde de Ficalho -Rosal de la Frontera and Vila Real de Santo António-Ayamonte.

Within the scope of border control, tourist and leisure travel between the two countries is prevented, with only the transport of goods and cross-border workers being allowed.

To the deputies, the Minister of Internal Administration maintained that “the lifting of borders must be done with great prudence” and “it will be done in absolute dialogue with the Spanish authorities”.

Portugal has been in a calamity situation since Sunday due to the covid-19 pandemic, after 45 days in a state of emergency, which ran from 19 March to 2 May.

Asked by PAN deputy Inês Sousa Real about the role of security forces and services in the calamity situation, Eduardo Cabrita underlined that “it will be guided by the same principles” of the state of emergency, but “adapted to circumstances that are different”.

According to the minister, the police will give priority to the safe use of public transport, the reopening of commercial spaces and public services.

“The circulation issues will continue to exist naturally, but they will be less visible situations in the context of allocating available resources”, he said.

Decree law here https://dre.pt/web/guest/pesquisa/-/search/130326108/details/maximized

 

 

“It is essential to protect ourselves and others. It is essential that everyone wear masks and we must all be responsible to ourselves and others, “said the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, referring to the use of this protective equipment, which becomes mandatory in public transport.

During a visit to the Infrastructure Security Center of Portugal, in Lisbon, the Minister referred that in some trains in the metropolitan areas of Porto and Lisbon, the control of the capacity “is very difficult”, because “the infrastructure capacity at peak hours is full”.

“There is a dimension of individual responsibility that we want people to incorporate and realize that it is up to you, too, to ensure that the train is not overcrowded, that they do not enter a train that is already very full and that they always wear the mask, not only inside the train , but also inside the station”, he said.

On the first day of the plan defined by the Government for the progressive reopening of services and commerce, Pedro Nuno Santos said that “the entire offer was restored to 100%” and “signalling at all stations” was placed. The Minister also said that the trains “still have a good capacity, which allows distance, and the overwhelming majority of people are wearing a mask”.

Pedro Nuno Santos also said that security forces are at various stations to alert and recommend the use of a mask, adding that “in the coming days the pressure on public transport, and trains in particular, may increase and the security forces will enforce the law”.

The Minister also acknowledged that there are difficulties in reinforcing the offer of trains on some lines, as is the case with the Sintra and Cascais lines, so he appealed to the responsibility of each user to avoid getting on already full trains, thus helping to fulfill the maximum capacity. two-thirds defined by the authorities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rector of the Fátima Sanctuary, Carlos Cabecinhas, today asked pilgrims not to visit the enclosure on the 12th and 13th and to make the pilgrimage “by heart”, due to the pandemic of Covid-19.

In a message addressed to pilgrims regarding the International Anniversary Pilgrimage of May, Carlos Cabecinhas mentions that, for the first time in its history, the Shrine of Fátima will celebrate this date without pilgrims in its spaces.

“This is a painful moment: the sanctuary exists to welcome pilgrims and we are unable to do so is a reason for great sadness; but this decision is also an act of responsibility towards the pilgrims, defending their health and well-being”, he considers.

To those who intended to visit the sanctuary this year, the priest asks that he make this pilgrimage “by heart” and follow the transmission of the celebrations through the media, the internet and social networks.

The celebrations will take place in the enclosure, but this will be closed due to the sanitary rules defined by the Government in the context of the declaration of the State of public calamity, in articulation with the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, and which prevent religious celebrations with the presence of the faithful.

In view of this impossibility of traveling to Cova da Iria, the rector challenges pilgrims to make a spiritual path, presenting them with a concrete proposal for prayer for each day.

“We cannot count on your physical presence, but we would like to be able to count on you. Because it is not only a pilgrimage with the feet, but also with the heart, we propose you to make a pilgrimage through the heart”, he underlines.

The proposal goes through a “pilgrimage in stages”, between today and the 13th, in which “the path is not physical, but interior”, with pilgrims being challenged to light, every day, in the windows of their houses, a candle, what is considered “one of the most iconic acts of Fatima”.

“May each day have a moment of reflection and prayer, according to the proposals that we will make available; and that, each night, light a candle at the window, until the candle procession of the 12th. , a beautiful procession of candles, spread throughout all the places where you live and meet ”, he appeals.

Between the afternoon of the 12th and the end of the morning of the 13th, pilgrims will not be allowed access to any area of ​​the sanctuary.

“Making this painful decision now means trying to create conditions so that we can resume pilgrimages to this place as soon as possible”, stresses Carlos Cabecinhas.

The rector takes the opportunity to greet the various groups of pilgrims who had to cancel the pilgrimage to Fatima this May, which are about three and a half hundred, from all over the world.

Celebrations with the physical presence of pilgrims in Cova da Iria and in all Portuguese churches will not resume until the 30th.

Until then, the sanctuary will resume its activity, reopening, as of today, the places of worship, for visit and prayer, but without community celebrations and without the physical presence of pilgrims.

The rectory building will also resume its activity, as will the commercial units. The museum spaces are open to the public from the 19th.

In order to make the sanctuary spaces accessible, the institution adopted measures for both employees and pilgrims, such as wearing a mask in closed spaces, frequent hand washing, maintaining physical distance and monitoring access to spaces. closed (basilicas, chapels and commercial spaces).

 

 

 

 

 

The Prime Minister announced that the Government will support micro-enterprises, particularly in the commercial and catering sectors, with 80% non-repayable funds for expenses with compliance with safety and hygiene standards.

António Costa referred to this program at the end of his intervention at the National Palace of Ajuda, after the Confederation of Commerce and Services and the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) signed a cooperation protocol for good practices in combating the spread of Covid-19.

“We’re taking a new step in creating a program specifically aimed at micro-enterprises and, in particular, those in the commercial and catering sectors, with a view to supporting 80% non-refundable expenses between 500 and 5,000 euros that are incurred with the acquisition of individual protection material for workers and cleaning of workplaces “, declared the leader of the executive.

At this point, the Prime Minister referred that the program, with respect to state contributions, “will also extend to a set of other investments that companies will be called upon to make under the protocol with the Directorate-General for Health.”.

“We know that compliance with safety standards will represent increased costs. Therefore, in order to keep companies alive and jobs, and to preserve income as much as possible, the Government has been adopting a set of measures that aim to ensure liquidity to companies”, he defended.

As he had stated in the interview with RTP, on Thursday night, António Costa reiterated that the Government will pay until the 15th of this month all the lay-off requirements that entered until April 30th.

“Throughout this period, companies have already been able to benefit from payment moratoriums, whether from Social Security contributions or tax contributions. Others have had moratoriums in terms of leasing,” he said.

According to the prime minister, “there are more than 12 thousand companies in the trade and services sector that have requested support for credit lines, more than four thousand have already seen these operations validated by the Portuguese Mutual Guarantee Society and, as such, are in conditions to be hired by the respective banks”.

 

Clinics and dental offices will resume their activity, although conditioned, on Monday, with appointments to be previously scheduled by phone or email and users to wear a mask before being served by the doctor.

The information was provided to Lusa by the president of the Portuguese Dental Association, Orlando Monteiro da Silva, on the day that the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) published an orientation on dental medicine during the covid-19 pandemic, which covers clinics, offices or oral health services.

The DGS guidance is effective as of Sunday, the day when Portugal enters the state of calamity, which translates into the phased application of measures of deflation.

Since March 15, clinics and dental offices have been closed, with medical care being provided only in urgent and urgent cases.

In practice, as of Monday, according to the president of the Portuguese Dental Association, clinics and offices will be able to resume their activity, albeit with restrictions.

Consultations will now have to be booked in advance by phone or email, with the user answering a questionnaire to assess the risk of contagion by covid-19: if you have symptoms, if you have been ill or if you have been in contact with patients .

In case of symptoms or illness, the user is advised to postpone the consultation.

If the care you need is urgent and urgent, the appointment is rescheduled for late morning or afternoon, at specific times, so that the user does not cross with others.

In other situations, in which the user has no symptoms or infection, the appointment is scheduled for a due date.

Users have to wear a surgical mask, only removing it when they were being consulted and receiving medical care, explained the president Orlando Monteiro da Silva, adding that the waiting rooms will have limited capacity, to guarantee the necessary distance, and will no longer have magazines, leaflets or water dispensers to avoid their handling and, thus, the risk of infection by the virus.

The air must be renewed frequently, preferably with open doors and windows.

At the entrance to the offices and clinics there will be hand sanitizing gel.

In the doctor’s office, only companions are allowed to enter in special situations, such as when the user is a minor. In this case, the companion must be seated two meters away from the dental equipment and with a surgical mask.

Given the “close proximity” to users, dentists and other oral health professionals are exposed “to respiratory droplets and aerosols that can be created during clinical procedures, making the consultation office a potential source of virus transmission”, refers to the guidance of the DGS, pointing out that “additional measures must be taken to ensure that the transmission of this virus is minimized”.

“Nobody knows when this second wave will emerge”, underlined Paulo Morgado, guaranteeing that none of the services dedicated to combating covid-19 will be deactivated”.

The President of the Regional Health Administration (ARS) of the Algarve today warned of the possibility of a second wave of covid-19 coinciding with the flu period, stressing that the authorities are already preparing preventive measures.

“The second wave [of the pandemic] may coincide with the next flu is one of our concerns and we are already working to prevent the next winter”, namely, through the vaccination of more people, said Paulo Morgado.  According to that official, who was speaking at the weekly press conference of the District Civil Protection Commission, in Loulé, the authorities are “on the alert” for a possible second wave, which, joining “the flu wave creates a ‘stress’ health services ”.

“Nobody knows, nor does anyone have a way of predicting when this second wave will emerge”, he stressed, guaranteeing that none of the services in operation and in preparation in the Algarve dedicated to combating covid-19 will be deactivated.   However, the results achieved so far in the region give the president of the ARS confidence that health services will be able to respond to a second wave, “also because society is also much more prepared”.

Asked about the reinforcement of health professionals scheduled for the summer, Paulo Morgado said that health authorities intend to use “all legal mechanisms” at their disposal so that there is a reinforcement, assuming that the number of health professionals in the region is “Deficit”.

“The final model is still lacking in terms of response for the summer, but mobility is not excluded. We will try to create this extra mechanism in addition to direct contracting ”, he stressed, noting that“ the number of tourists is expected to be much lower than last year ”.

At the time, the regional delegate of Health of the Algarve stated that the situation in the region is, at this moment, “much calmer”, without community transmission, although there are still 162 infected people recovering at home.

With regard to rural communities of migrants, where some outbreaks of the disease have emerged, the situation is “very positive”, with most of the infected people already recovered, said Ana Cristina Guerreiro.

The president of the District Civil Protection Commission, António Pina, reinforced the idea that the mayors of the region want to “intensify the inspection actions” and will ask the security forces to be “even more active” during the deconfinition phase. “The municipalities will have all their capacity to inspect public spaces, sports and restaurants”, concluded the president of the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL).  Source – Lusa.

“After listening to the experts, social partners and parties and after listening to the President of the Republic, the Council of Ministers approved the state of calamity”, declared António Costa.

António Costa revealed that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa agreed “there is no need to continue in a state of emergency” and that it is possible to lower the level of containment from a state of emergency to a state of calamity. However, he warned that the danger has not yet passed. “The risk remains high and the pandemic remains active,” said António Costa. “Every day the numbers vary and that is why what is important to look at is the long trend that we are having”.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that the vast majority of infected patients are being treated at home, which leaves some room for response from the National Health Service. Therefore, “and with all the precautions that safety demands”, the Government believes it is possible to mitigate the restrictions imposed.

António Costa recalled that for this there are conditions that must be guaranteed: it is the case of disinfectant gel, masks, a strategic consolidation of the SNS, and the guarantee of a good distribution network.

In Portugal, 307.302 tests have already been carried out, announced the Prime Minister. “The number of tests that are carried out is much greater than the number of people who are actually infected”, he said.

The prime minister also said that the decrease in the number of people hospitalized in intensive care “has been consistent over the past few weeks”. There is also a “stabilization” in the number of deaths.

“If we look at the list of recovered patients, it has been steadily increasing. This means that we have gone through a phase of exponential growth, in which it was possible to control the risk of growth”, explained the Prime Minister.

The transition from a state of emergency to a state of calamity “has risks”, says António Costa. “Each of us has to adopt hygiene and distancing rules, in order to protect ourselves and others. As we reopen some activities, we are aware that the risk will increase”, explains the Prime Minister.

The situation will be assessed every 15 days. “I will not be ashamed to take a step back if necessary. This is a route that we have to take with confidence and together”, he added.

“The state of emergency is over, but the virus remains the same,” says the prime minister, adding that it will continue to be necessary to avoid unnecessary trips as much as possible.

“We are all aware that until there is a vaccine available on the market and accessible to all of us, or until there is treatment, we will have to continue to live and continue without our normal lives”, insists the Prime Minister.

“We must make this effort so that the path is a step forward and not a step back. I am not one to take steps back, but I guarantee that I will do it if necessary. This is what we owe to all who have already lost their lives, to those who are infected, to the families of those who have lost loved ones, to those who know infected people and to health professionals who do their best”, said Costa.

“We will not lose in the next month what we have achieved so hard in the past two months,” appealed the prime minister.

 

WHAT CHANGES

Regarding the rules to be adopted, there will be a mandatory confinement duty for sick people and those under active surveillance, with a civic duty of home confinement continuing. There cannot be gatherings of more than ten people and funerals will be held only with the presence of family members.

Regarding religious celebrations, the DGS will also create a set of rules for them.

The prime minister warned that “it will continue to be mandatory” that all functions that can be carried out in teleworking thus remain, at least throughout the month of May.

From June 1, there will be partial teleworking, with irregular shifts. The priority, explains the prime minister, is to reopen companies and businesses that cannot function remotely.

In public transport there will be mandatory use of masks, a maximum capacity of two thirds and the mandatory hygiene and cleaning of transport.

António Costa announced that on Monday, the 4th of May, deconcentrated customer service counters will open by appointment. On June 1, the citizen’s stores will open.

In terms of commerce and restaurants, stores up to 200 square meters may be reopened as of May 4, such as bookstores and car trade. Hairdressers, aestheticians and barber shops will reopen but with appointments, complying with the rules of hygiene and individual protection”, explained the Prime Minister.

From May 18, stores up to 400 square meters will be able to reopen. Restaurants, cafes and pastry shops can have a capacity of up to 50%. As of June 1, commercial spaces over 400 square meters and stores inserted in shopping centres will be reopened.

With regard to schools, the 11th and 12th year students will start face-to-face classes, and from June 1st day care centers, ATL’s and pre-school will be able to reopen. In culture, libraries and archives will reopen from May 4. From the 18th, museums, monuments, palaces, art galleries and exhibition rooms will reopen. On June 1, cinemas, theaters and concert halls will be able to return to business.

In relation to sport, starting on Monday, individual sports may be resumed (without the use of changing rooms) and at the end of the month, the 1st football league and the Portuguese Cup may be resumed.