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LATEST SITUATION IN CHINA

The European Centre for Disease Control has raised the risk of contagion in the European Union (EU) of the coronavirus to ‘moderate’, keeping an eye out for new developments, notably after the Chinese New Year celebrations.

“The ECDC is monitoring the situation and conducting rapid risk assessments, having verified in the most recent one, made on Wednesday, that there is a ‘moderate’ probability there are cases in the EU in the European Economic Area “, according to the Community executive in a written reply sent to the Lusa news agency.

This represents a “small increase” compared to the risk assessment made by ECDC last week and follows the “confirmation of human-to-human transmission”, said the community executive.

The virus has killed 18 people in China, with 633 affected with 95 in serious condition.

IN CHINA

Chinese authorities have imposed lockdown measures on five cities in an unprecedented effort to contain the outbreak during the busy lunar new year travel period.

Authorities banned transport links from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, on Thursday morning, suspending buses, subways, ferries and shutting the airport and train stations to outgoing passengers. Later in the day, the nearby central Chinese cities of Huanggang and Ezhou announced similar measures. Travel restrictions were also placed on the smaller cities of Chibi and Zhijiang.

Starting at midnight, long-distance buses, the rapid transit system, and train station in Huanggang would be shut, according to a notice from the local government. Cinemas, internet cafes, and other entertainment venues would all stop operating. Residents should not leave the city, except for “special reasons”.

 

The European Commission further states that, together with ECDC, it is making “efforts to support the carrying out of reports and rapid surveillance actions, should a case be detected in the EU”.

“As the situation evolves, the Commission and the Member States will continue to coordinate to ensure an optimal and aligned response across the EU,” says Brussels.

It is a new type of coronavirus, which is transmitted between animals and passed to humans, with records of transmission from person to person, but still in circumstances that are not fully substantiated.

The symptoms of these coronaviruses are more intense than the flu and include fever, pain, malaise and breathing difficulties, including shortness of breath.

Regarding the outbreak of pneumonia due to a new Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), taking place in China, the Directorate-General for Health informs:

According to information provided by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), from January 21, 2020, since December 31, 2019, were 295 laboratory confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)in China:

▪ 270 cases in Wuhan, including 4 deaths;

15 confirmed cases in Health professionals;

▪ 14 cases in Guangdong province; 5 cases in Beijing province; 2 cases in Shanghai  Thailand: 2 cases; Japan: 1 case; South Korea: 1 case.

• The outbreak remains under investigation to better characterize the situation, with research active case management and contact surveillance to identify new cases. This fact reflected in the delay between the registration of locally reported cases and the notification international circuits, by the competent authorities.
• All cases reported outside Wuhan refer to connection to this city.
• Most cases are epidemiologically associated with a specific market for food and live animals (fish, seafood and poultry) in Wuhan (Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market), which was cleared and closed to the public on January 1, 2020.
• To date, there is no evidence of sustainable human-to-human transmission to date.
• ECDC considers that there is a low probability of importing cases into Union countries

European / European Economic Area (EU / EEA).

• The Directorate-General for Health (DGS), in continuity with the initiatives it has been developing since the identification of the new coronavirus, today it convened a committee of experts, composed by representatives of DGS, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Services Shared by the Ministry of Health, National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) and representatives of reference hospital units, among others.

The objective was to assess the evolution of the situation and to define, in a proactive and coordinated way, possible measures to be taken, according to the precautionary principle in the health response to the public.

The World Health Organization will meet tomorrow, 22 January 2020, the Health Committee Emergence of the International Health Regulations.

DGS continues to monitor the situation and reinforces the recommendations previously issued for travellers to Wuhan and Beijing, Guangdong and Shanghai, in China:

• Avoid close contact with people who suffer from acute respiratory infections;
• Wash your hands frequently, especially after direct contact with sick people;
• Avoid contact with animals;
• Adopt respiratory etiquette measures: cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing (with tissue paper or with the arm, never with the hands; throw the tissue in the trash);
• Wash your hands whenever you blow, sneeze or cough.
• If travellers staying in Wuhan experience symptoms suggestive of illness during or after the trip, they should seek medical attention, informing you of your travel history.
• You can also call 808 24 24 24 (SNS24) to clarify any points or ask questions

Communiqué 160_03_v1 of 1/21/2020 2/3

Alameda D. Afonso Henriques, 45 | 1049-005 Lisbon – Portugal | Tel: +351 21 843 05 00 | Fax: + 351 21 843 05 30 | E-mail: geral@dgs.min-saude.pt | www.dgs.pt

 

NEW CORONAVIRUS IN CHINA – NUMBER OF DEATHS DOUBLE

LATEST UPDATE 22^ND JANUARY 1600 HRS

Mainland China has 444 confirmed cases and 17 fatalities as of 2000 hrs (China time) Wednesday 22^nd January, according to state broadcaster CCTV. On Tuesday the figure was given as 9.

Most of the cases are in Hubei province where Wuhan is located, with smaller numbers in other provinces and municipalities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong. There had been 15 cases among medical professionals in Wuhan, with one in a critical condition.

Hong Kong reported two infections with positive results in initial tests, while Macau confirmed its first case on Wednesday. A five-year-old in the Philippine province of Cebu has been tested, while Australia has placed a man in isolation at his home in the city of Brisbane. Cases have been confirmed in USA, South Korea,

No deaths have been reported overseas.

The WHO is holding an emergency meeting today in Geneva to decide whether the outbreak should be declared an international public health emergency.

In Macau, the authorities announced that they will individually check passengers from Wuhan, “by air, sea or land”.

Chinese authorities have urged people to stop travelling in and out of Wuhan, the city at the centre of a new virus outbreak.

The virus, known also as 2019-nCoV, is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans. The Sars virus that killed nearly 800 people globally in the early 2000s was also a coronavirus.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of these coronaviruses are more intense than the flu and include fever, pain, malaise and breathing difficulties. In the cases initially confirmed, 90% had fever, 80% dry cough, 20% shortness of breath and only about 15% had difficulty breathing.

What is the mortality rate of the new coronavirus?

According to currently available data, mortality from the new coronavirus stands at 1.5%, but health authorities warn that it is necessary to continue to monitor developments.

However, until now, 2019-nCoV is being considered less aggressive in its consequences, when compared to the atypical pneumonia of 2002/2003, which had a mortality rate around 10%.

The pulmonologist Filipe Froes recalls that all respiratory infections, including the flu, can cause death, especially in patients with other associated pathologies or more fragile and elderly people.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL HEALTH

OUTBREAK OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN WUHAN CHINA

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

Communiqué from the Director-General of Health

The Directorate-General for Health is monitoring the situation and recommends that travellers for that region of China take the following measures:

• Avoid close contact with people who suffer from acute respiratory infections;
• Wash your hands frequently, especially after direct contact with people sick;
• Avoid contact with animals;
• Adopt respiratory etiquette measures: cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing (with a tissue or with your arm, never with your hands; throw the paper in the trash); wash your hands whenever you blow, sneeze or cough.

If travellers to that region of China show symptoms suggestive of illness during or after the trip, they should seek medical attention and inform the doctor about the history of the trip.

They can also call 808 24 24 24 (SNS24) to answer questions.

Communiqué 160_01_v2 of 1/14/2020 2/2

Alameda D. Afonso Henriques, 45 | 1049-005 Lisbon – Portugal | Tel: +351 21 843 05 00 | Fax: + 351 21 843 05 30 | E-mail: geral@dgs.min-saude.pt | www.dgs.pt

The Directorate-General for Health monitors the situation, in line with the organizations international organizations, in particular with WHO, and will disseminate new information whenever relevant.

World Health Organization information:

More than 12,000 weapons and accessories and close to 16,000 personal protective equipment have been delivered to PSP, GNR and SEF since 2017, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) announced today.

On the day that elements of the PSP and GNR carry out protests simultaneously in Braga, Lisbon and Faro, the Ministry of Internal Administration took stock of the Law of Programming of Infrastructures and Equipment for the Forces and Security Service of MAI since 2017.

In a note sent to the Lusa agency, MAI said that since 2017, 12,279 weapons and accessories have been delivered to the GNR, PSP and SEF, of which 1,438 glock pistols and 919 extendable sticks, and it is also expected to receive 3,481 weapons and accessories, including 2,230  pepper gas sprays between this year and 2021.

The MAI also notes that the Law on the Programming of Security Forces and Services allowed the delivery of 3,179 ballistic protection vests and 1,590 helmets, as well as 11,513 other personal protective equipment such as belts and tactical gloves, with 1,115 batons being delivered this year.

The Ministry of Internal Administration points out that “investment in equipment for specialized functions” was also reinforced when 290 alcohol meters were delivered since 2017 and another 359 are planned for 2020.

According to the MAI, the criminal investigation received 319 pieces of equipment.

“The renewal of the automobile fleet of security forces and services has been a priority for MAI”, the note states, noting that around 1,000 vehicles were delivered, including 311 for patrolling, 308 for road enforcement and 137 for criminal investigation .

MAI says that about 600 vehicles will be delivered this year.

The Ministry of Internal Administration also indicates that the focus on preventing and fighting fires resulted in the delivery of 9,450 forestry intervention equipment to GNR, such as suits, gloves, boots and goggles.

This MAI balance comes also after the challenge to the statements of Minister Eduardo Cabrita, who, in an interview with Diário de Notícias and TSF, assured that the police “do not need” to buy personal protective equipment from their own pocket

Publication: Diário da República No. 11/2020, Series I of 2020-01-16

•  Issuer:Autonomous Region of the Azores – Legislative Assembly
•  Type of Diploma:Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores
•  Number:1/2020 / A
•  Pages:18 – 19

•  ELI:https://data.dre.pt/eli/resolalraa/1/2020/01/16/a/dre

Pdf version: Download

• SUMMARY

The Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores decides to set up a working group, within the scope of the Permanent Commission for Economics, for the purposes of evaluation and general monitoring of the process of rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by the passage of Hurricane Lorenzo through the Azores, with a special focus on monitoring the process of supplying goods and merchandise to the islands of the western group

• TEXT

Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Azores No. 1/2020 / A

Summary: The Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores resolves to set up a working group within the Permanent Economy Commission to assess and monitor the process of rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by the passage of Hurricane Lorenzo through the Azores, with special focus. monitoring the process of supplying goods and merchandise to the islands of the western group.

The Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores resolves to set up a working group, within the framework of the Permanent Economy Commission, for the purpose of evaluation and general monitoring of the process of rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by the passage of Hurricane Lorenzo through the Azores, with a special focus on monitoring of the process of supplying goods and merchandise to the islands of the western group.

Whereas the passage of Hurricane Lorenzo through the Azores on 2 October has caused a huge trail of destruction on several islands of the Azores archipelago, with considerable economic and social impacts;

Whereas in total Hurricane Lorenzo has caused an estimated € 330 million in damage resulting from damage to port infrastructure and support to port activity, the road network and other public facilities, housing, fisheries, agriculture and the private business sector;

Considering the brutal extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Lorenzo and, in particular, the fact that it left a trail of destruction on several Azorean islands;

Considering, in particular, that the island of Flores has been most severely affected by the passing of Hurricane Lorenzo, in particular in view of the almost total destruction of the port of Lajes das Flores, with an estimated loss of around 190 million euros. ;

Whereas the destruction of the port of Lajes das Flores entails limitations and serious constraints in terms of supply operations to the islands of Flores and Corvo;

Whereas, similarly, the pre-existing normality of Hurricane Lorenzo must be restored in the multiple areas affected and therefore damaged by it;

Considering, finally, that it is urgent to ensure that the processes inherent in the recovery works and other procedures necessary for the regularization of the functioning of the regional economy proceed as quickly as possible and that they fully respect the legitimate aspirations of the Azorean populations affected by the passage of Hurricane Lorenzo;

In this sense, without prejudice to the prompt and effective action of the Regional Government and Civil Protection, as well as the Government’s willingness to financially reimburse the losses incurred, it is now necessary to closely monitor the implementation of solutions for the effort to which meet the needs of the populations and businesses of the various islands affected.

Thus, the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores resolves, under the applicable regimental terms and under the terms of paragraph 3 of article 44 of the Political-Administrative Statute of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, to constitute, within the Permanent Commission of Economy, a working group to assess and monitor the process of rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by the passage of Hurricane Lorenzo through the Azores, with a special focus on monitoring the process of supplying goods and merchandise to the western group islands.

Approved by the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in Horta on December 13, 2019.

The President of the Legislative Assembly, Ana Luísa Luís.

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The Portuguese submarine “Tridente” set off today on a two-month mission to the Mediterranean Sea, which “discreetly” aims to gather information to help combat drug and human trafficking. .

“The great advantage of the submarine is really, to do it discreetly without changing the environment, that is, we are in the place and the prevaricator does not know that there is the submarine to gather information”, explained the commander Ribeiro da Paz .

The military was speaking to reporters at the Lisbon Naval Base in Almada, Setúbal district, at the 32-man farewell ceremony at the start of the mission    over the next 60 days to gather “vital information” on arms, drug trafficking and people.

Still, he said, the submarine “has no immediate counter-ordinating action”, only collects “information in the area” to pass on to “Atlantic Alliance partners who will act at sea with surface or land means”.

This is a mission within NATO’s “Sea Guardian” operations, which is more focused on illicit arms and narcotics trafficking, and the “Shopia”, which the European Union has put in place to combat illegal migration.

It was a match in a heavy fog, but with “the morale of the garrison always on top,” because, “in a narrow corridor like the interior space of the submarine, everyone should be in a good mood,” said the commander.

The Minister of National Defense, João Gomes Cravinho, attended the ceremony, stressing that, through this mission, Portugal is “contributing to make the Mediterranean a little safer”.

“This is a very important operation because we all know the daily tragedies in the Mediterranean, human tragedies and also some sources of insecurity that also affect Portugal,” he explained.

According to the official, security in this area “had some improvement” last year, but “the broader conditions remain, namely the insecurity in North Africa and also great difficulties on the African continent that are a source of migration to Europe” .

At the end of its participation in these operations, the Tridente submarine conducts an exercise in southern Spain with the Spanish Navy, which, according to Gomes Cravinho, “strengthens the joint capacity to combat the scourges, which are the same.”

The return of the “Trident” to the Lisbon Naval Base is scheduled for March.

 

 

Nearly 50 people have been arrested after a migrant smuggling ring that operated through Gibraltar was broken up in a huge police operation.

Over 200 Policia Naconal agents worked with the Royal Gibraltar Police through Europol in an operation that spanned throughout Spain and Europe.

Five vehicles as well as 12 mobile phones and €19,000 in cash was seized after a number of searches both in Gibraltar and the Campo area.

A total of 44 people were arrested from Spanish provinces, with three more detained in Gibraltar on European Arrest Warrants.

The people smugglers were believed to have made up to €1million euros from the scheme, charging each migrant up to €8,000 to bring them into Europe.

The alarm was first raised in 2018 after the RGP noticed an unusually large number of people entering Gibraltar with UK short-stay visas.

Following further investigation, it was revealed that Moroccans from Casablanca and Tangier had their documents fraudulently arranged by the ring.

They were then provided with flights and accommodation in Gibraltar, being instructed to meet with local contacts.

Under cover of night when it was difficult to identify them, they were driven into Spain via the frontier on their own vehicles.

After a night in La Linea at hostels or the ringleaders’ homes they were then given coach tickets to different parts of Spain.

Drivers, taxi-drivers and other members of the criminal group helped move around the migrants at the cost of upto €200 each.

The ring, which also smuggled tobacco, proved resourceful in evading police for some time, bringing around 130 Moroccans into the EU.

“Organised crime is inherently transnational, causes significant harm and affects the stability of communities,” said RGP Commissioner Ian McGrail.

“We are satisfied with the successful outcome of our joint operation with the CNP (Cuerpo Nacional de Policia) which has made possible thedismantling of an organised crime group operating on both sides of the border.

“This cross-border police cooperation serves to underline just how seriously the RGP views threats of this nature, and how seriously we take our responsibilities to thwart activities that pose serious risks to the community.”

 

The Assembly of the Republic today approved two votes of condolence for the victims of domestic violence who died last year, one presented by the PS party and approved unanimously, and the other by Chega, approved by majority.

The vote put forward by the PS expresses “the most vehement rejection of all forms and acts of domestic violence and violence against women”, and stresses that “domestic violence is a serious crime that causes irreparable damage to many lives and in some cases their loss.”

“It is a crime that mostly victimizes women, their agents being mainly men”, says the socialist party, which warns that “it should not be ignored, however, that the most recent statistical elements confirm a tendency for the number of male domestic violence victims increasing”.

The PS notes that this is a “cross-cutting issue with other countries in our civilizational context, and that even societies with high levels of equality maintain large numbers on the subject,” but notes that “Portugal was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention. Istanbul, approved by the Assembly of the Republic and ratified by the President of the Republic in 2013

Still, “the fact that this is a cross-sectional drama cannot but excuse us from recognizing the imperative to continue to seek answers that contribute to their more efficient prevention and repression.”

In this regard, the Socialist deputies point out that “Portugal has adopted a broad set of measures aimed at preventing and repressing domestic violence, both as regards the criminal law regime and the adoption of protection and assistance measures of the victims ”.

“Still, we must continue to go this way and do more, expressing the deepest regret for the lives that were lost in 2019 as a result of this serious crime, which is domestic violence,” they note in the text.

Chega’s vote of “the deepest condemnation of the continued occurrence” of these crimes and “the deepest regret for all the deaths” was approved, although the PS voted against, the abstention of PCP, ENP and Free and the favourable vote of the others.

The text, signed by Mr André Ventura, points out that “in a saga that seems endless, rare is the week when it is not the country facing another death at the hands of one of the greatest scourges of our time, domestic violence”.

In Portugal, 35 women victims of domestic violence died last year and Chega notes that “Portugal cannot continue to whistle sideways while every year, every month or every day continues, one after the other, emerging” cases.

From the deputy’s point of view, this paragraph should “make everyone ashamed as a society and more as political decision makers”.

For this reason, according to Ventura, “it is therefore urgent to provide the necessary legislative changes so that this problem can be more muscularly tackled”.

At the session today, two votes from Chega, one of repudiation for assaulting a doctor, when she was giving consultations at the hospital in Setúbal, which had the votes against the PS, BE, Livre and PAN, party that made a statement, were voted down.

 

Seven people were detained in a PJ operation to dismantle a criminal drug trafficking organization that led to the seizure of 3.5 tons of hashish that were being transported by sea from North Africa to Portugal.

Under the operation, which resulted from an investigation launched last year, the vessel used to transport the drug was also seized. Five of the detainees have already appeared before the judicial authorities and detained, said PJ in a statement. .

The investigation, under the responsibility of the National Judicial Police’s Counter-narcotics Unit, aimed at dismantling this organization, “suspected of introducing large quantities of hashish from North Africa into the national territory for later transport, by land to several European countries, “the statement said.

The PJ states that in this operation, called “Catavento” and which had the support of the Navy and the Air Force, “it was possible to locate and then intercept, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, in front of Cape St. Vincent, a fishing vessel that the criminal organization concerned was transporting approximately 3,500 kg of hashish, which were seized with the vessel.”

The detainees, a Portuguese citizen and six foreigners, are between 29 and 52 years old.

The research, which was also supported by the Spanish National Police Board and the Lisbon-based Maritime Analysis and Operations Center – Narcotics (MAOC-N), will continue with a view to collecting further evidence, the report adds. PJ