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AMAL requests “urgent” clarification regarding the potential closure of the INEM delegation in the Algarve

The Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve unanimously approved a motion in which the mayors of the region state that they are “deeply concerned” about the news of the “possible extinction of the Regional Delegation of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) of the Algarve” and ask that the Government “clarify, urgently, unequivocally and completely, the scope of the measures being prepared”, demanding “maximum transparency and institutional dialogue and the involvement of the municipalities in the process”.

At issue are news reports that speak of a possible reorganization of INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency), including the potential closure of the Algarve delegation, the reconfiguration of the Urgent Patient Guidance Centers (CODU), structural changes in the National Health Service (SNS), and a reorganization of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).

“Given these possible scenarios, with potential impacts on the regional response and operational coordination in the Algarve, AMAL unanimously approved a motion expressing deep concern and apprehension and requesting immediate and detailed clarifications from the Government on the matter,” stated the entity that brings together the 16 municipalities of the Algarve.

“The Intermunicipal Community understands that the information made public raises well-founded doubts about substantial changes in their respective structures, competences, territorial scope of action and operating models, which could directly affect emergency response and access to healthcare for the population of the Algarve,” they say.

Therefore, the Algarve municipalities are “formally requesting from the Government, specifically the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Internal Administration, clear information on the scope, rationale, timetable, objectives, and operational impacts of the planned reforms.”

Making “an unequivocal defence of strengthening the emergency medical model, the National Health Service and civil protection in the region,” AMAL puts forward four demands if any type of reorganization is to proceed.

The first is that it respects and consolidates the investments already made, namely the Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command and the INEM Regional Delegation in the Algarve.

Ensuring “the continuity and improvement of the CODU’s response levels,” strengthening the regional structure of ANEPC, in particular by hosting a company of the Special Civil Protection Force (FEPC), and guaranteeing that the Algarve “does not lose operational capacity or quality of care” are the other requirements.

“The need for information and monitoring of the tender for the construction of the new Central Hospital of the Algarve is also reiterated, arguing that the Government’s commitment to this project cannot be undervalued or delayed, at a time of profound reforms in the health sector,” added AMAL.

Any change “to the structure, skills or operating model of the National Health Service (SNS), the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), the Emergency Operations Center (CODU) and the Civil Protection System will have a direct impact on the safety and confidence of the population, especially in a region of excellence in tourism.”

AMAL and its member municipalities emphasize that the Algarve “has specific demographic, territorial, economic and seasonal characteristics that require a robust and adequately sized emergency response system, in a territory with high international media exposure, and that the region has faced structural deficiencies in health services, insufficient human resources and constraints in hospital capacity for decades.”

Given this reality, the Intermunicipal Community says that “any reorganization must not only safeguard but also reinforce existing healthcare capacity.”

Meeting at Infarmed concerning evolution of Covid-19 -Live updates – 23 /03/ 2021

Today, another meeting is taking place at Infarmed, in which the Government and political figures meet with experts to analyze the epidemiological situation in Portugal.

At Infarmed, in Lisbon, from 10 am, as has been happening since February, only the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, and most epidemiologists will be present.

The remaining participants, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, António Costa and Ferro Rodrigues, party representatives, members of the Council of State and social partners, will follow the meeting by videoconference.

This week the Assembly of the Republic is expected to debate and vote on the draft presidential decree for the renewal of the state of emergency for a new period of 15 days, with effect from April 1 and which will cover the Easter period.

The session begins with a presentation by André Peralta Santos, from the Directorate-General for Health, on the epidemiological situation , following the perspective of the evolution of the incidence and transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in charge of Baltazar Nunes and Ricardo Mexia, from the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) .

João Paulo Gomes, also from INSA, will update the virus variants in the country, with Henrique de Barros, from the Public Health Institute of the University of Porto, giving a presentation on a year of learning from covid-19 in Portugal .

The meeting continues with the presentation of the social perceptions of the pandemic in the country, in charge of Carla Nunes, from the National School of Public Health of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and with the status of vaccination by the coordinator of the vice-admiral task force Henrique Gouveia e Melo .

The meeting starts 10.08 hrs

André Santos Peralta, the DGS, says there was a “downward trend of maintaining” the incidence of the virus, with an average of 79 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, in Greater Lisbon, “there are already some municipalities” with a growing trend. The active population became the population with the highest incidence, but there was a “very expressive” decrease in hospitalizations in the infirmary and ICU.

The active population became the population with the highest incidence, but there was a “very expressive” decrease in hospitalizations in the infirmary and ICU. “in a scenario of great incidence, only the population from 40 to 60 is enough to exceed the indicator of 245 beds of hospitalizations in ICU”. That is, “To be completely safe, the age group to be vaccinated will have to go up to these ages”.

Lisbon and Tagus Valley has the highest incidence (more cases per 100 thousand inhabitants every 14 days).

Regarding hospitalizations, there is a maintenance of the decline in the +60 group. In the ICUs, there is a “very significant drop” in the group of 50, 60 and 70 years old.

As for the variants, that of the United Kingdom increased, reaching 73% in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and above 60% in the North.

The testing rate is “quite considerable” and the 4% positive ceiling is only found “in some municipalities”. There has been a greater speed in laboratory notification, revealed the expert.

English variant already represents more than 70% of the cases in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region. “There has been an increase”

A new fact about lethality: “In the week of March 1st to 7th, there was a decrease in lethality in the more than 80 years,” he says.

Regarding the virus variants, especially in the United Kingdom, there was an increase, with a prevalence of new variants in the order of 73.3% in the Lisbon region, and 60% / 65% in the North and Center, and in the rest of the country the estimate is more uncertain but it will be around 30% in the Alentejo and 70% in the Algarve.

People who leave home are the most difficult to avoid visiting family and friends

LILIANA VALENTE

There are some measures that are easier to take, such as wearing a mask, but others that are more difficult, such as keeping your distance or teleworking. However, there were “critical indicators” that were analyzed such as “avoiding visiting family or friends” and “staying at home”
In these two indicators, there were 36.9% of people who admitted that it was difficult or very difficult not to visit family or friends and 35.2% to stay at home.
In a finer analysis, Carla Nunes says that “it is the people who naturally leave home, the ones who most report having more difficulty in avoiding visiting family members with friends”
Carla Nunes, from the National School of Public Health, presents the barometer data on the various public health indicators and notes that there are “slight” changes both in behaviour and in the perception of the global health status.
“46.3% of people saying they had reasonable, bad or very bad or overall health status” and “1 in 5 of people – felt agitated, anxious or sad” in the past few days.
In addition, says the professor at the National School of Public Health, there was a “slight increase in worse behaviors”.
Vaccinations

The coordinator of the vaccination plan against covid-19, Henrique Gouveia e Melo, revealed that, in April, “about 1.8 million vaccines” will arrive in Portugal. The 70% vaccinees are still expected “by the end of the summer” and, in the second quarter, the number of inoculations will reach between 95 thousand and 100 thousand per day.
1.8 million vaccines have already arrived in the country, 95,000 of which went to the archipelagos. Until Saturday 1.3 million vaccines had been administered and, this week, another 177 thousand will be administered.

AMAL requests “urgent” clarification regarding the potential closure of the INEM delegation in the Algarve

People who leave home are the most difficult to avoid visiting family and friends

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