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At the end of a meeting at Infarmed (National Authority for Medicine and Health Products) this afternoon 7^th April, which brought together several political leaders and health specialists, the President of the Republic indicated that data in Portugal on the pandemic curve showed a sign of “positive steps”, both in terms of daily growth in the number of cases, as in reduction of spread.

A “slow but positive” trend, stressed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The President drew attention to the importance of maintaining preventive measures in April: “If we want to gain back our freedom in May, we need to gain freedom in April”.

“In order to take steps in May towards a progressive return to normality, in economic and social activity and school activity, it is necessary to secure May while still in April”, he added.

Therefore, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asked the Portuguese for “a supplement of effort beyond what they have been doing” so that one can “turn a page at the end of April”.

“We have good news here, but one that doesn’t leave out the need for a complementary effort in the weeks that follow,” he added.

For this reason, the President of the Republic anticipated what the Prime Minister will announce, the day after tomorrow, in the sense that schools should remain closed during this month of April, insisting that the good indicators do not “dispense with a complementary effort in weeks ahead.

AMAL – Algarve Inter-municipal Community has confirmed it will ensure, as a Transport Authority, compliance with the minimum public road transport services for passengers, under the current State of Emergency conditions, in order to match supply to demand.

The operators of public road passenger transport in the Algarve – EVA Transportes and Frota Azul – have taken the decision to reduce the kilometres travelled daily on their routes, in order to adapt service supply to demand, which has been affected by the reduction in the number of users of this service due to the current lockdown situation. These operators are responsible for operating intercity and municipal services, with the responsibility of the Transport Authority, delegated by the Municipalities to AMAL.

In view of the difficulties experienced and the reduction in revenue in their operations, EVA Transportes and Frota Azul have been forced to put into place a ‘lay-off regime’ for 50% of their employees, effective since April 1^st 2020. In addition, considering that the current revenue does not cover the expenses associated with the performance of the services it operates, they also gave due consideration to the future possibility of the total stoppage of their operations, in the absence of any financial compensation.

As passenger transport is an essential public service, AMAL, at its last meeting on April 3rd, decided to transfer the finances available from the non-use of municipal funds allocated to school transport (currently suspended) from each municipality to AMAL. In this way, the diverted finances will provide payment of the necessary compensation and therefore will enable the supply of a reduced public road passenger transport services, to the meet the current demand.

AMAL considers it essential to adopt these urgent and extraordinary measures to minimize the negative impact on the activity of public road passenger transport operators during the State of Emergency, maintaining the minimum transport services that will ensure the mobility of citizens, whilst being compliant with the current regulations.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa warns that the covid-19 pandemic clash “can last for a few years”, so “you have to think ahead”.

In a testimony transmitted at the beginning of the “Prós e Contras” RTP channel program on 6th April , the head of state considered that there is now “convergence in the essential” at a political level, but that later “naturally, the proposed paths will be different – as they already are today – to face the economic and social effects of the pandemic”.

The President believes the Portuguese are united and show courage and commitment to “overcome the current outbreak until the summer and, if it reappears more faintly next winter, until spring”, and to “endure the economy and society”.

“And to consistently overcome afterwards the blow to society and the economy, which may last for a few years, but which cannot be interminable and which should not be just about plugging holes, but thinking about the future in the long term”, he added.

Marcelo also left an alert: “There are direct supports and financing that cannot wait months for the end of the health crisis, they are the most urgent of supports (…) After that support, there is a need for public investment and private investment, with European contribution, with national, state, banking and entrepreneurial contributions”.

Picture: JF

1 – Citizens cannot travel outside the municipality of habitual residence in the period between 00:00h on 9 April and 24:00h on 13 April, except for health reasons or other reasons of imperative urgency.

2 – The restriction provided for in the preceding paragraph does not apply to citizens covered by paragraph 4 of article 4, provided that they are in the performance of duties, as well as in the performance of professional activities admitted by this decree.

3 – In the period referred to in paragraph 1, workers mentioned in the final part of the previous number must circulate with a declaration from their employer that attests that they are in the performance of their respective professional activities.

4 – The restriction provided for in paragraph 1 does not prevent movement between the portions of the municipalities where there is a territorial discontinuity.

5 – During the period referred to in paragraph 1, commercial passenger flights to and from national airports are not permitted, with the exceptions of emergency landings, humanitarian flights or for the purpose of repatriation.

Article 4

4 – The restriction provided for in paragraph 2 does not apply, in the exercise of functions:

1. a) To health professionals and other workers of health and social support institutions, as well as civil protection agents;
2. b) The security, military and civilian forces and services of the Armed Forces and inspectors of the Food and Economic Security Authority;
3. c) Holders of political offices, magistrates and leaders of the social partners.

The Minister of Health said today that the fight against the outbreak of covid-19 “is a long marathon” and considered that it is necessary to continue to apply “the measures of containment and mitigation”.

“This fight, facing this outbreak, is not a 100-meter run, it is a long marathon and we have to dose our energies, our expectations and our efforts very well,” Marta Temido told reporters at the press conference held daily at the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

Taking stock of the first week of the mitigation phase of the new coronavirus, which causes the covid-19 disease, the minister highlighted the “great responsibility” of the Portuguese who stayed at home and who “conformed to their routines with what are the recommendations national health authorities “.

Marta Temido also praised “the great responsibility” of health professionals, elements of the security forces and services and those who ensure essential items.

This responsibility, however, “has to be renewed every day because there is no light at the end of the tunnel”, but only “a hope”, he maintained.

“We need to continue to apply containment and mitigation measures. We need to continue to inform correctly about what the recommended rules are and we really need to continue to support those who need support ”, he said, referring to the elderly who live in homes and are those who feel“ more fragile ”.

Shortly before the press conference, the update bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health was released, reporting 266 deaths, 20 more than the day before (+ 8.1%), and 10,524 confirmed cases of infection, which represents an increase of 638 (+ 6.5%), compared to Thursday.

Portugal has been in a state of emergency since 18 March and this week was extended until 17 April

The new coronavirus, responsible for the covid-19 pandemic, has already infected an additional 1.2 million people worldwide, of whom nearly 60,000 died.

After appearing in China in December, the outbreak spread worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic situation.

The National Data Protection Commission warns that municipalities and private security companies are prohibited from carrying out video surveillance in public places, in the context of the covid-19 pandemic, which is “exclusively attributed” to public security forces.

The use of video surveillance and alarm systems, during the state of emergency, “is exclusively assigned” to the public security forces and services, warns the commission.

“The decreed state of emergency did not change public powers and powers, so the functions of controlling entry and displacement in the national territory remain centralized in the State, with the Local Public Administration and private entities being prohibited from using means of capture of images and sound in the public space for this purpose ”, explains the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD).

Explaining that, following the covid-19 pandemic, “several doubts” have been addressed to CNPD, the commission clarifies that the use of video surveillance and alarm systems, by private security entities, is defined in the law that regulates that activity “And does not cover public places of common use”, whose control is exclusively assigned to public security forces and services.

Private security companies are prohibited from carrying out activities corresponding to the exclusive powers of the judicial or police authorities,” recalls the commission.

And he adds that, thus, the functions of border control and the prevention and repression of crimes in the public space “fall exclusively” on the security forces and services dependent on the Ministry of Internal Administration.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) announced that the PSP will use 20 portable video surveillance cameras, 18 of which on ‘drones’, during the state of emergency.

The Deputy Secretary of State and Internal Administration, Antero Luís, issued an order authorizing the use of portable cameras and their installation in unmanned aerial vehicles (‘drones’) of the PSP.

The use of this means was proposed by the national director of the PSP for “protecting the safety of people and property, public or private, and preventing the practice of crimes in places where there is a reasonable risk of their occurrence”.

The MAI, in the statement issued, that the use of mobile cameras covers, in the area of ​​responsibility of the PSP, places of great concentration and movement of people, namely access to road and rail terminals, sports facilities, parks and public gardens and fences or sanitary cords.

But, in the same document, it says that the authorization given, through the order, will comply with the recommendation in Wednesday’s opinion, issued by CNPD on the use of video surveillance cameras, namely the advance warning about the area to be controlled by the cameras portables, and the data controller.

According to the law, the use of ‘drones’ must be previously communicated by the security forces to the office of the Assistant Secretary of State and Internal Administration, which, on behalf of the minister, will validate it.

The MAI, in that note, further clarifies that “when using cameras coupled to unmanned aerial vehicles, the light that identifies the presence of the aircraft must be activated in order to reinforce the informational dimension”.

And also that “it must be ensured that the capture of images safeguards the privacy of those who are in their respective homes or other buildings intended to be used with reservation”.

This Thursday 2^nd April , Parliament approved the extension of the state of emergency, with Chega, Joacine Katar Moreira, PCP and PEV abstaining. The Liberal Initiative voted against

It was with the presence of 149 deputies that the renewal of the state of emergency was approved, with the favorable votes of PS, PSD, CDS-PP, BE and PAN, the vote against the Liberal Initiative and the abstention of PCP, ENP, Chega and non-registered deputy Joacine Katar Moreira, who announced the presentation of an explanation of vote, in a critical tone because it was not possible to speak in the debate, due to the rules of procedure of the Assembly of the Republic.

The State of emergency, with rules that further restrict citizens’ freedoms, was renewed precisely on the day that marks the 44th anniversary of the approval of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, in the same space where the country’s Basic Law was approved: the Assembly of the Republic. Fact that was not ignored by the Prime Minister

“44 years ago, no one dreamed that today we would celebrate, thus, the approval of the Constitution”, pointed out António Costa, recalling that, this Thursday, it is also a month since the diagnosis of the first case of Covid-19 in the country.

Recalling that in the next 15 days, the country will enter the most critical phase of fighting the pandemic, the Prime Minister considered “absolutely essential” that the state of emergency be renewed and asked the Portuguese for some more effort, pleading with them to celebrate Easter at home, away from their villages.

“The real way we have to stop this pandemic and move as little as possible”, stressed António Costa, promising that the reopening of the school year will be analyzed, on the 7th, with “the maximum of restraint”.

On the other hand, the prime minister insisted on leaving a harsh word to those who are taking advantage of the pandemic crisis, exploring the fear it causes in people. António Costa referred to those who are “abusing in industrial relations”, the “attempted economic exploitation” and the “authority to impose unjustified restrictions on rights, freedoms and guarantees”.

In fact, something pointed out harshly by PCP and BE. “The Government has to protect jobs and wages”, stressed the national coordinator of the Left Bloc, Catarina Martins, thus demanding more measures to protect jobs and wages.

The parliamentary leader of the CP, João Oliveira, agreed that what is needed is to stop “the law of the jungle against workers” and abusive dismissals using coercion and threats. “” This pandemic poses health, economic and social problems. None of this requires a state of emergency “, considered João Oliveira, thus justifying the PCP ‘s abstention.

“It’s anything goes,” reinforced the ENP parliamentary leader, José Luís Ferreira, arguing that “it is not the state of emergency that allows the government to provide the necessary answers” than the country at this time of epidemic crisis.

“Democracy is not suspended and the fight against this pandemic cannot be limited by fundamental rights”, justified, in his turn, the only deputy João Cotrim Figueiredo, the reason why the Liberal Initiative voted against the renewal of the state of emergency .