Sunday 7 June 2020
Introduction 
Good Morning Portugal to another SCP POSITIVE SUNDAY! We know that this can be difficult with the continued Covid-19 pandemic and now widespread discontent witnessed cross the World with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests – but we must stay positive for our collective well-being as in Portugal, our lives are improving every week as a result of good and measured management by the government and the excellent application of the rules and guidance by its citizens including our expatriates.
On the SCP POSITIVE SUNDAY theme – please post positive news and pictures that you may have from recent events or this week onto our Facebook pages or email to info@safecommunitiesportugal.com. We will be posting these and we will also be keeping them for historical purposes – we must have a sense of history even as we endure the pandemic. Please also see our SCP Overseas Report from Louise Birch as it contains some great stories for POSITIVE SUNDAY about several of the countries that are experiencing challenges with containing the virus amongst other in interesting information that will help inform ,you about what is happening across the World in relation to the pandemic. We post the SCP Overseas Report a little time after the SITREP so as not to coincide and give you time to digest both reports.
Today we first have a beach theme – one joyous and one to reflect on and remember with gratitude – Yesterday saw the official opening of the beaches for the bathing season and the visit of the Prime Minister and other colleagues to the Algarve at Praia da Rocha in Portimão to signal the opening of the season and also to promote the INFO PRAIA App – we recommend that you download this App for beaches – it has multiple uses but importantly allows you to see the occupancy conditions and the beach ´flag´ system of allowed occupancy. SCP also has a very useful table that you can download or access on our website to complement
Yesterday was a date that also coincided with the 76th anniversary of the D-Day landings on beaches across Northern France by the Allies. It is perhaps a time to reflect on those brave people who were part of the invasion to bring freedom to us all on mainland Europe and to remember our relatives that were part of this amazing force and those who followed.
Yesterday we provided important posts about: the CLEAN and SEAL Guide from the Portuguese Tourism Board for owners, users and management agencies in regard to accommodation including a guide translated by SCP that can be downloaded; a successful GNR operation to arrest a suspect caring our burglaries on homes owned by foreigners; the Prime Minister´s visit to the Algarve and call for compliance with the rules of the beaches and; as well as the usual Portugal SITREP and Overseas Reports – take some time to review, share and download today if you are able.
Today we report on a number of other important issues provided to us by our volunteers across the mainland and Islands – please take time to read these short reports to keep yourselves updated on the main health, economic, crime and other Covid-19 issues. The SCP Core Team take this weekly opportunity to thank our dedicated unpaid volunteers, specialists and translators for their continued significant daily effort – now for almost 3 months every day. Thank you so much.
Finally…….SCP is not a political platform for uninformed debate, rumour and conjecture so we respectfully re-affirm our call for our Facebook pages in particular to be available for all SCP followers to get the facts and official guidance as well as questions as a result of the facts easily – many that we translate into English for you – please respect this for the benefit of us all who want facts to enable our lives at the moment. SCP has totally condemned racism in policing and we are saddened to see the violence that is occurring across the World – but we cannot be a platform for daily updates on violence on this very sad issue.
Please stay ´Covid-Safe´ but also enjoy getting back to the beach for those who are lucky enough in Portugal to be able to enjoy them – they are fantastic! Do not forget to post those pictures and positive comments to us today!!!!!
DGS HEALTH REPORTS
Headline Reports for Portugal announced on yesterday on Saturday 6 June
Covid-19 Update
A problem in the information system used by the General Directorate of Health (DGH) to make the daily bulletin about the pandemic of covid-19 is prevented the disclosure of data at the usual time, said an official source. The number of tests to covid-19 carried out in Portugal is not “purified of repetitions”, explained the Minister of Health today.
At the daily press conference on the situation of the covid-19 pandemic, today without an updated bulletin due to a flaw in the information system, Marta Temido specified that the number of tests is “global”, covering “not only the testing of new cases , but the repeat tests of cured patients or even for checking positive cases ”.
The Minister of Health stressed, however, that “the number of tests has not stopped increasing”, with 908,291 diagnostic tests having been carried out since March 1, of which 8.8% in March, 38% in April, 46 % in May and 6.6% in the first five days of the current month.
The fault of the bulletin was solved later today. Portugal recorded 1,474 deaths related to covid-19, nine more than on Friday, and 34,351 infected, 382 more, according to the epidemiological bulletin released by the Directorate-General for Health. In the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (12,818), where there has been a greater number of outbreaks, there are 345 more cases of infection (+2.76%).
The press office of the Ministry of Health informed journalists, the daily bulletin on covid-19 will be released as soon as possible and, at that time, another session for questions and answers on the data will be scheduled.
SCP NOTE: This is the first time we are aware of this has happened.
Number of Cases in Highly Infected Regions to Increase
The Minister of Health admitted today that “it is very likely that the number of cases in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley will grow in the next few days”, but dismissed the adoption of “more restrictive measures” for the region. As of June 5, the cumulative incidence in the “municipalities that most concern” health authorities were: 555 cases in Lisbon, 545 cases in Loures, 504 cases in Amadora, 402 cases in Odivelas and 391 cases in Sintra. These are “new cases reported in the last 14 days, which remain active,” specified the minister.
https://covid19.min-saude.pt/
SOME WEEKEND REPORTS FROM SCP
Leisure
Bathing Season Begins, However Rules Still Apply 
The bathing season starts today at all beaches in the Algarve, Almada, Cascais and at Nazaré beach, with rules of social distance and maximum capacity defined, due to the pandemic of the covid-19, and with appeals to the common sense of bathers.
This year the Government established rules for the use of beaches, such as the physical distance of 1.5 meters between different groups and a distance of three meters between parasols, awnings or stems.
The executive defined rules for the operation of restaurants, bars or beach terraces, which should regularly clean the spaces (with a minimum of four daily cleanings), limit the capacity to 50% and reorganize the terraces to ensure safety distance.
The awnings and hats in charge of the concessionaires can only be rented by each person or group in the morning (until 1:30 pm) or afternoon (after 2:00 pm) and all equipment such as seagulls, showers, sunbeds or ashtrays “must be cleaned daily or whenever the user changes ”.
The Portuguese Environment Agency has defined the potential occupancy capacity of the beaches and reports in real time on the capacity of each one, through the ‘Info Praia’ application.
On the beaches there will also be “traffic light type signs”, where green indicates low occupancy (1/3), yellow means high occupancy (2/3) and red means full occupancy (3/3).
Graça Freitas, the Director-General of Health, also stresses the importance of maintaining physical distance from people outside the household, not sharing bottles, glasses or other objects, in addition to recommending the use of a mask and proper hygiene.
PM Appeals for Safety Regarding Upcoming Holidays
The Prime Minister, António Costa, today appealed to the Portuguese to have extra care and to “leave safely”, at a time when a week with two holidays is approaching and after several weeks of confinement.
“When a week marked by two holidays approaches, many Portuguese people after many months of confinement in which the word was ‘stay at home’, certainly want to enjoy this week in which they can enjoy, but with a new slogan. which is ‘get out safely’, said António Costa, in Portimão.
Touradas Will Return When Rules are Approved
The Minister of Culture, Graça Fonseca, said today that bullfighting shows (touradas) will be able to be resumed “as soon as the rules” for this restart “are approved by the Directorate-General for Health”, due to the pandemic Covid-19.
Health
Non-Essential Activity in Hospitals Suspended 
The government has again suspended non-urgent activity in hospitals in Lisbon, Amadora, Sintra, Loures and Odivelas, due to the concentration of cases of covid-19, according to a source from the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health stated that the resumption of face-to-face activity “implies that the safety of users and health professionals is guaranteed, without compromising the responsiveness of hospitalization and intensive care (covid-19 and not covid-19 ) ”.
The Ministry stated: “As long as the specific epidemiological situation in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Region justifies it, safeguarding the readiness to respond to SARS-Cov-2 infection remains a priority”.
President Says Situation in Lisbon Should Not be Facilitated or Alarmed
The President of the Republic today asked that the situation of the covid-19 pandemic in the Lisbon region should not be facilitated or alarmed, where there has been an increase in the number of contagions.
The President described that, regardless of the increasing number of contagions, for example in Azambuja, or with a strengthening of tests in the area of civil construction, it is necessary not to generalize.
“We cannot confuse a massive action [of testing] in the area of civil construction in five municipalities with a spread [of the disease] in society”, he said, warning that everyone “must respect the sanitary rules”, distance, restoration, in beaches, wearing a mask.
Education
7 out of 10 Pre-School Children Did Not Return
Only 30.6% of pre-school children returned to kindergarten, according to a survey by the National Teachers Federation (Fenprof) carried out in all districts of the country and released today.
“The Ministry of Education facilitated, and seven out of 10 children did not return,” says the union structure in a statement in which it reports the data collected at the end of the first week of operation of kindergartens.The federation stresses that this result means that “almost 70% are still at home or parents have found an alternative to kindergarten”.
This survey was based on information related to 579 kindergartens, counting in this number are 91 complete groupings, which total 358 of the total kindergartens considered in this survey, according to the data presented.
Economy
President Warns that Stabilisation Plan is “Cushion” Not “Miracle”
The President of the Republic warned today that the Government’s stabilisation plan to combat the effects of the covid-19 pandemic “does not make a miracle”, it is “a cushion” for what it is I need to do in the coming years.
“The stabilisation plan is to make the transition, slowing down from here until the end of the year, but then there is a lot of work ahead,” Marcelo told reporters, leaning against a wall on the street leading to Ericeira beach, in the municipality of Mafra, district of Lisbon, where he went to take a shower.
It is a job, he said, to do in 2021, 2022, because restarting tourism takes time, but “restarting investment too,” he said.
Demonstration in Lisbon “Black Lives Matter”
Hundreds of people went to some of the main streets of Lisbon in a demonstration against racism called “Black Lives Matter”, to peacefully evoke the protests that occur in the United States. Most of the people who make up the demonstration are young people and most of the demonstrators were wearing a mask, but without respecting the social distance imposed by the prevention of Covid-19. Passing the headquarters of Bloco de Esquerda, arriving at Martim Moniz, it was the leader, Catarina Martins, who speaking on the veranda who was applauded. “The united people will never be defeated,” the protesters shouted, amid applause to the leader. The march started shortly after 5 pm at Alameda D. Afonso Henriques, next to the Fonte Luminosa and more than an hour later it arrived at Largo do Martim Moniz, with an end scheduled for Praça do Comércio.
Lisbon – Moves to suspend non-urgent consultations in hospitals
The government has again suspended non-urgent activity in hospitals in Lisbon, Amadora, Sintra, Loures and Odivelas, due to the concentration of cases in Covid-19, the Ministry of Health source told Lusa today. “The guidelines have already been sent to hospitals and the decision will be published in the Diário da República this week,” added the same source, noting that an assessment of the situation according to the evolution of the virus at national and international level has always been on the table in the resumption of services.
In response to Lusa, the Ministry of Health stated that the resumption of face-to-face activity “implies ensuring the safety of users and health professionals, without compromising the response capacity of Cov-19 inpatients and those in intensive care”.
Questioned by Lusa, the ministry stated: “As long as the specific epidemiological situation in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Region justifies it, safeguarding the readiness to respond to SARS-Cov-2 infection remains a priority.” The decision will be rendered in a joint order of several ministries to be published in the next few days, after having been determined to take effect “since June 3 and as long as the epidemiological situation justifies it,” said the source contacted by Lusa.
Prime Minister calls for compliance of rules on beaches
Prime Minister António Costa was this morning at Praia da Rocha, in Portimão, in the Algarve, to mark the official opening of the bathing season, where he appealed to people to comply with the new safety rules. During the visit, he raised one of the flags, which will be used as traffic lights, to identify the capacity of the beach. The Prime Minister stated if everyone complies with them we can all continue “to have the freedom to go to the beach” this year. “Our health needs it”, he added.
The Minister of Defence at the same gathering, said that the beaches will have a reinforcement of 169 Navy personnel to ensure the safety of the bathing season.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the minister stressed that this reinforcement “aims to increase the level of safety on the 552 beaches” in the national territory. Gomes Cravinho warned of the possibility that this year “access to beaches is more intense due to the enormous attachment that the Portuguese have to the sea”.
ALGARVE
Man arrested for several home burglaries in the Algarve and Alentejo
A man in his 40s, resident between the municipalities of Monchique and Ourique, was detained by GNR last Thursday after a long investigation by the Criminal Investigation Centre (NIC) of GNR. The thefts occurred in several houses in the municipalities of Monchique, Portimão, Vila do Bispo and Beja. The individual took advantage of the fact that the owners were in their country of origin to carry out the robberies. According to sources the stolen objects are: cars, motorcycles, construction tools, among others. The suspect will be present to court for bail conditions.
Vessel with migrants intercepted in Ria Formosa Olhão
A vessel with seven migrants on board was intercepted by the Maritime Police of Faro and Olhão on Saturday, around 12 noon, in the Ria Formosa. According to the National Maritime Authority (AMN), the men were between 20 and 30 years old and claim to be Moroccan.
The alert was given by a fisherman, who telephoned the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Faro reporting “that a vessel with men on board appeared to be lost, near the Faro-Olhão bar. AMN immediately deployed two Maritime Police vessels, one from Faro and the other from Olhão, to the location”.
“The vessel intercepted, was already inside the Ria Formosa, between the Hangares Nucleus and the Culatra Nucleus”, added the Maritime Authority. The Maritime Police followed the vessel up to the Olhão Lifeguard Station quay, “the seven men disembarking and being directed to the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Olhão, where they were monitored by an INEM team, awaiting the arrival of the Aliens and Borders Service”.
MADEIRA
Situation Report Madeira 6 to 7 June – From our colleague reporting on Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new Covid-19 cases today. The number of cases remains at 90. There are now 83 recoveries (a recovery rate of 92%) and 7 active cases. Six patients are in isolation in a dedicated hotel and one is at home. There are 5 active cases in the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos while the Municipalities of Funchal and Ponta do Sol have 1 active case each.
There are 306 people under active monitoring and 256 people in self-monitoring. As of yesterday, there had been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which had come back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 16,950 samples from 15,443 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 38 calls from Friday to Saturday, bringing the total number of calls to 8,321.
The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,182 calls, with 136 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/06/nao-ha-novos-casos-de-covid-19-mantem-se-o-total-cumulativo-de-90-casos-registados-na-ram/
Water supply disruption
There will be a water supply disruption in the parish of Santo António da Serra (Machico), on the 9th of June, due to scheduled work on the water supply network. The following areas will be affected: Fajã das Vacas, Portela, Ribeira de Machico (9h00-12h00 – Zone A; 14h00-18h00 – Zone B).
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/06/interrupcao-de-abastecimento-de-agua-no-santo-da-serra/
AZORES – from our volunteer in the Azores
The President of the Portuguese Republic “Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa” is flying to São Miguel, today to visit the municipality of “Nordeste” that recorded the most “Covid-19”cases & deaths, more than a third, in the ‘Archipelago’. The visit was planned on Friday, the first day that the Azores became ‘virus-free´ in nearly 3 months!
Around 5,000 people live in “Nordeste” that’s ‘home’ to the ‘virus-troubled’ residential care facility for the elderly “Santa Casa da Misericórdia” from where, sadly, 12 old folk died including the first “Covid-19” victim, an 88-year-old who got infected at the “Divino Espirito Santo” hospital in Ponta Delgada.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, around 25 thousand “Covid-19” tests were carried out, prior to the region having no ‘active’ cases on June the 5th.
SCP Source Information
All figures quoted in this report come from the Portuguese Department of Health DGS – see https://www.dgs.pt
Any Overseas figures come from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU who are the accepted world leaders in the collation of global figures during this pandemic – see https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Another very useful source of COVID-19 information and analysis can be found at https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ For Portugal only – see https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/portugal/
See also https://www.covidvisualizer.com which also has very good and reliable information based upon the JHU figures.
For WHO information that affects us globally or Portugal specifically see
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen.
Portugal Situation Report Saturday 6th June 2020
IntroductionGood Morning Portugal to Day 6 of the latest phase of the Situation of Calamity and the recent deconfinement measures in force in Portugal. Today, sees another milestone with the opening of the bathing or beach season. There are a number of new regulations and procedures that will come into force today so we recommend that you take a look at the table that SCP has produced in English for you and also we recommend that you download the ´INFO PRAIA´ App that is available and that provides valuable information about specific beaches. SCP has posted information about this App on our Facebook passages and our website for you to access and understand about it more easily. The Prime minister and other governmental figures will be in the Algarve today to promote this App.
We hope that you spend some time today looking at the reports that have been provided by our dedicated volunteers across Portugal, the regions and the Islands. Today we cover a wide range of important subjects such as: a number of important health issues; the return of political rallies by the PCP; the reactivation of flights from within and to EU destinations from 15 June and the potential for flights to non-EU destinations from 1 July as announced by the Prime Minister; the reaffirmation of the use of the Portuguese defence forces to NATO missions during Covid-19; information about the increase in infections in Lisbon and the review of the State of Emergency by Parliament yesterday, as well as the latest DGS figures.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) changed their opinion on the wearing of masks yesterday and has now, at last, recommended the wearing of what we know as ´social masks´ in public to help prevent infection from wearers to others in the vicinity. It seems strange that it has taken such a long time for this UN body to change its view as it has been such a regular part of our daily lives in Portugal for so long and without any big issues about wearing them in establishments. This, the early lockdown and the social distancing measures so well effected in Portugal by the government and the population are some of the main reasons why Portugal is now on the bow-wave of the introduction of de-confinement measures across Europe.
Looking ahead – tomorrow will be our regular SCP POSITIVE SUNDAY report and our call for nice, positive and uplifting stories from you and some hopefully great pictures that we can share with our almost 26,500 followers on Facebook – we will be saving these stories and pictures on our website for posterity so that we may look back in the future at the pandemic and how it affected our lives but how we stayed positive!!! Tomorrow will also be the 71st anniversary of D-DAY, so will also be asking for any memories or photographs of your families that may be good to share.
Please take a look at our Overseas Report by Louise Birch today that contains a lot of detail about several of the countries that are experiencing challenges with containing the virus amongst other in interesting information that will help inform ,you about what is happening across the World in relation to the pandemic.
Please stay ´Covid-Safe´ and maintain social distancing and hygiene when you are out and about this weekend and also on beaches where new regulations will apply as we have outlined.
DGS Situation report
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced on Friday the existence of 1,465 deaths and 33,969 cases of Covid-19 in Portugal, since the beginning of the pandemic.
The number of deaths rose, from Thursday to Friday by 10, while the number of infected people increased from by 377, which represents an increase of 1.1%. The number of recovered cases rose from 20,323 to 20,526, plus 203. There are 475 inpatients, 47 more than Thursday. 64 are in Intensive Care Units, six more compared to Thursday.
Again nearly all the new positive cases are in the Lisbon area.
Recovered cases
The number of people already recovering from Covid-19 is already 20,526, more than 60% of the 33,969 confirmed cases of this disease in Portugal since the beginning of the pandemic, according to data from the epidemiological bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) on June 5th.
In the Algarve, as the regional health delegate announced yesterday morning, there 381 cases, five more of which were reported by DGS yesterday, and 16 deaths in the Algarve region. However, today’s DGS bulletin reports 380 cases and the same 15 deaths in the region.
According to Ana Cristina Guerreiro, regional health delegate, the failure to account for death by the DGS may be due to the fact that “it is a foreign citizen”.
In Alentejo, there is more than one case on Thursday, bringing the total to 263.
Compared to Thursday, Portugal has 203 more recovered and 377 more confirmed cases of the disease. In this last indicator, the numbers are again strongly inflated by the situation experienced in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, where the number of infected people increased by 336 overnight.
Strengthening the Health service
The Council of Ministers yesterday approved the Economic and Social Stabilization Program (PEES) which, from a social perspective, assumes as priorities the strengthening of the National Health System (SNS), support for income protection, promotion of the universalization of the digital school, the implementation of a national strategy to combat poverty, support for youth and children and housing reforms.
At the press conference on the measures now adopted, António Costa revealed that a strengthening of the SNS is foreseen, which, in the first place, will translate into “the job consolidation of the approximately 2800 professionals” hired in the emergency phase.
“We will reinforce by another 2700 professionals to hire until the end of the year to increase the response capacity of the SNS in its different dimensions”, added the Prime Minister.
The document presented is based on four axes: a first segment of an institutional matrix, a second axis directed at companies, a third chapter related to employment and, finally, an axis related to social issues.
Pregnancy
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) published on Friday a guidance on pregnancy and childbirth, which updates guidance 18/2020. This guideline aims to minimize exposure to infection by the new coronavirus of pregnant women, new-borns and professionals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, resizing the available resources, increasing assistance to infected women and containing transmission chains.
“Given the scarce scientific knowledge, decisions must be based on the clinical evaluation, the physical conditions and human resources of each institution, as well as the couple’s choices”, reads the document.
With regard to prenatal care, each institution may introduce restrictions in the visitor’s policy, whenever the pregnant or puerperal woman is a confirmed or suspected case, in order to limit the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Health
Municipalities in Lisbon experience growth in rate of Infection
Six municipalities in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon registered increases of more than 150% in the number of cases of covid-19 infection since the end of the state of emergency, with Loures and Amadora the climb exceeding 180%.
Portugal was in a state of emergency between March 19 and May 2, since then, the state of calamity and the gradual lifting, every 15 days, of the confinement measures.
Higher total death rates (all illnesses) this year
This year 2,374 more people died between March 1 and May 24 than in the same period last year, reveal preliminary data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) released today.
By comparison with 2018, there were 1,133 more deaths, according to the INE, which today released a set of context indicators for the covid-19 pandemic in Portugal.
Resumption of regular Hospital activity cannot be prevented
The President of the Order of Doctors (OM) defended today that the resumption of the programmed activity in hospitals, although gradual, should not be prevented due to the area of the country that records more or less cases of covid-19.
The president of the OM commented on the fact that at the moment some hospitals in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo areas are experiencing greater pressure due to the number of cases of the new coronavirus, which is now concentrated in that region.
But when invited to comment, if he admits a resumption of the programmed activity at two speeds, Miguel Guimarães said that “patients cannot wait any longer, they have to be observed, they have to do the complementary diagnostic tests and they have to be operated”.
“It is a very large number of patients that can have a very large implication in morbidity and even mortality itself”, he said.
Politics
Partido Comunista Portugues Holds First Rally
The PCP was the last party to hold a rally in March, before the country “stopped” due to the covid-19 pandemic and will be the first to organize such an initiative, on Sunday in Lisbon.
On March 6, the communists marked 99 years of history at the Pavilhão dos Desportos, in Lisbon, two weeks before the state of emergency was declared. On Sunday the party led by Jerónimo de Sousa will organize a rally against the withdrawal of workers’ rights.
On May 17, after a meeting of the Central Committee, Jerónimo de Sousa said that the rally will mark the beginning of a series of initiatives under the motto “Not one less, trust and fight for a better life”, and rejected that which calls into question “the inalienable right of political activity”.
PCP Discuss Workers and Proposed Budget
The secretary general of the PCP said yesterday that he will only take a position on the Supplementary Budget when he knows the “concrete proposals” of the Government, but defended that workers in ‘lay-off’ must have “ a salary paid to 100%”.
The PCP yesterday considered “insufficient and limited” the program announced by the Government to respond to the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic and referred to a position on the Supplementary Budget for later.
At a press conference in parliament, Communist deputy Duarte Alves said he hoped for a better implementation of some of the measures of the Economic and Social Stabilization Program (PEES) announced by the Prime Minister on Thursday in the Supplementary Budget, which will be delivered on Tuesday in parliament.
Parliament Approve resolution of review of State of Emergency 
Parliament yesterday approved a resolution on the review of the state of emergency due to the covid-19 pandemic in which it is concluded that “the principle of proportionality” had been respected and rights had been “limited”.
Another of the conclusions is that no situations that could be identified as “possible civil and criminal liability for violation of the provisions of the declaration of a state of emergency” during the time that the state of emergency was in force, in March and April.
Travel – Borders
PM assures that National Airports are ready
The Prime Minister considered today that Portuguese airports guarantee safety and hygiene conditions to prevent contagions from the covid-19 and are prepared for the resumption of air traffic from the next 15th.
With the chairman of ANA’s Board of Directors, José Luís Arnaut, at his side, and after a brief intervention by President da Vinci, Nicolas Notbaert, the executive’s leader considered “very important that the country be prepared, as of June 15, for the reactivation of routes and for the opening of borders, with a collective effort being made within the framework of the European Union so that tourism can fully resume its activity “.
Restriction on Non-Essential Flights outside EU Upheld
The Minister of Internal Affairs announced yesterday that Brussels had recommended maintaining, until July 1, the restrictions on non-essential flights to countries outside the European Union.
Portugal, he said, will maintain, however, some exceptions, which already existed, namely in relation to Portuguese-speaking countries or with significant Portuguese communities.
Portugal, he said, will maintain, however, some exceptions, which already existed, namely in relation to Portuguese-speaking countries or with significant Portuguese communities.
According to the minister, the European Commission will issue a set of recommendations next week to all member states on the gradual and coordinated lifting of external borders.
“Countries will be assessed according to their health situation and access to flights will take into account the recommendations of the European Center for Disease Control. This will be the criterion that will lead us, as of July 1, to define the cases in which we will authorize the existence of flights “, he said.
EU Countries should not impose quarantine after opening Borders
The Minister of Internal Administration stressed today that the member states of the European Union (EU) should not impose situations of internal quarantine after the reopening of borders, scheduled for July 1.
“Portugal reaffirmed that situations of internal quarantine should not be applied within the EU, because they are unjustified in terms of health and potentially discriminatory,” said Eduardo Cabrita, in a press conference.
The Minister of Home Affairs, who attended the informal meeting of EU Home Affairs Ministers today, considered that such measures “are not proportionate and are not justified”.
Regarding the borders with Spain, for example, the date indicated for the reopening is the 1st of July, but this will not happen as long as there is “any situation of internal quarantine” in Spain, underlined the minister.
Religion
Small groups returning to Fátima Sanctuary 
Some groups of pilgrims are contacting the Sanctuary of Fátima to schedule visits to this Marian sanctuary, seeking to resume religious activity suspended during the peak of the 19-covid pandemic, the rector said today of the Sanctuary.
“We want to keep this flame and that connection alive, but we still don’t have concrete data to say ‘come on that date or on that date’”, lamented Carlos Cabecinhas, referring to the lack of dates for the reopening of land borders and the resumption of airline operations.
Leisure
Portuguese must have “Common Sense” during bathing Season
The Minister of the Environment today appealed to the “common sense” of the Portuguese during the bathing season, which begins on Saturday, clarifying that access will be free, but the occupation must be consulted in the application Beach Info.
“When this flag is red, people do not enter the beach because it is a sign that they are going to enter a beach that already has the capacity it should have so that people can be there,” warned João Matos Fernandes, speaking to journalists.
Defense
Portuguese participation in Peacekeeping guaranteed despite Pandemic
The Minister of National Defense admitted yesterday that there were changes in the missions of the Portuguese Armed Forces abroad due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but reaffirmed Portugal’s commitment to respect the commitments to the allies and with NATO.
“There were some rearrangements due to the pandemic. Each mission is its own reality and, therefore, their circumstances are different. In most cases there was a decrease in activity, as the different forces sought to protect themselves”, said João Gomes Cravinho.
“There was the return of six of our soldiers from Afghanistan, there was the return of some soldiers from the Central African Republic and Mali, but our commitment remains in full”, added the minister, adding that Portugal is also already preparing the return of the national contingent to Iraq, which also returned to Portugal during the suspension of training activities due to the pandemic.
Public Prosecutor’s Office asks for suspension of functions of the President of EDP
The Public Ministry wants the suspension of functions of the President of EDP, António Mexia and also of the Administrator Manso Neto. The promotion of coercion measures was presented today by the prosecutor to Judge Carlos Alexandre, who is due to decide next week.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office also requested that Antóno Mexia and Manso Neto be banned from traveling abroad, with an obligation to hand over the passport and even if the two are prevented from entering all EDP buildings and contacting some people. Finally, a security deposit of 2 million euros is requested from Antonio Mexia and one million from João Manso Neto.
The judge will now give the right to contradict the defences of the two defendants, accused of crimes of corruption and economic participation in business.
Region Reports
Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new Covid-19 cases today. The number of cases remains at 90. Two patients, from the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos, have recovered. There are now 83 recoveries (a recovery rate of 92%) and 7 active cases. Six patients are in isolation in a dedicated hotel and one is at home. There are 5 active cases in the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos while the Municipalities of Funchal and Ponta do Sol have 1 active case each.
There are 415 under active monitoring, of whom 312 are in hotels and 103 at home. There are also 219 people in self-monitoring. As of yesterday, there had been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which had come back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 3,089 samples were tested in the last 7 days, with an average of 441 tests being carried out per day. Overall, 16,377 samples from 14,893 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab). Next week, Covid-19 testing will continue to be carried out on staff from the health, civil protection and social services.
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 233 calls in the last 7 days, bringing the total number of calls to 8,264.
The Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents received 116 calls in the last 7 days. A further 11 people are being monitored. Overall, it has received 1,159 calls, with 133 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/05/ha-sete-casos-activos-de-covid-19-na-ram-foram-testadas-ja-14-893-pessoas/
Changes to mandatory quarantine policy
T
he period of mandatory quarantine for all passengers arriving in Madeira was reduced to a week. Testing will be carried out in hotels. After a week, if the Covid-19 test is negative the passengers will be allowed to leave hotel quarantine. However, they will continue to be monitored by the health authorities and will be tested again on the 14th day since their arrival. This change in policy allowed the Regional Government to overcome the increasing number of Habeas Corpus applications against the quarantine policy.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94955/Covid-19_Quarentena_reduzida_para_uma_semana_e_testes_nos_hoteis
Habeas Corpus application
The second Habeas Corpus application, submitted by a male passenger, had the same outcome as the first application. In other words, the health authorities allowed him to leave hotel quarantine at Hotel Vila Galé after his Covid-19 test came back negative.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94939/Covid-19_Inutilidade_do_Habeas_Corpus_por_ter_cessado_confinamento
Campaign “Ajuda Vale” raised 23 tons of food
According to Grupo Jerónimo Martins (owners of Pingo Doce) and Sonae (owners of Continente), 19 tons of food were donated through the campaign “Ajuda Vale”. Another 4 tons of food were donated through the online campaign launched in March on the website (www.alimentestaideia.pt). These goods will be donated to the Banco Alimentar da Madeira warehouse, which will then distribute them for free to other institutional partners. This campaign took place on all 27 Pingo Doce and Continente stores in Madeira, from the 22nd and 31st of May.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94985/Campanha_Ajuda_Vale_e_Campanha_Online_angariaram_23_toneladas_de_alimentos
Algarve
Regional Health Situation report
As the Regional Health directorate stated yesterday morning at a press conference at the District Civil Protection Command, that the region has registered 5 more cases of Covid.19 (381), in relation to the data reported yesterday by the General Health Directorate, which pointed to 376.
Ana Cristina Guerreiro spoke of 4 people who are hospitalized, but without any cases in in intensive care units. There have been 299 recovered so far, giving an average of 78.5% recovered and 16 deaths.
136 people are under active surveillance. Altogether 30 thousand tests were carried out in the Algarve, which is equivalent to 7% of the resident population.
The Health Delegate said that in Lar de Boliqueime there are 3 residents who are hospitalized and two employees who are recovering at home. Regarding the outbreaks of migrants that were registered in Tavira and Armação de Pêra, the “infected people are recovering” she confirmed.
Director Regional Health Algarve regarding Social distancing concerns
Despite the region is going through a “stable and close to normal” phase, Ana Cristina Guerreiro, reminded people to be more careful with the social distance in the esplanades of cafes and restaurants, “I have received complaints about this; reporting cases of people who do not respect the minimum distance on the terraces. She added you can remove the mask but it is essential to respect the safe distance”.
At the same conference, Paulo Morgado – President of the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve (ARS), stated that there is only one infected health professional, “all others have recovered”.
He added “that despite the situation being stable, the disease exists and is in the community, so I call for a responsible attitude to continue to prevent the transmission of the virus, not only to residents but also to all those who visit us, minimizing the number of cases and helping the economy, as I think that nobody wants to go backwards”.
The Algarve is preparing for the arrival of tourists, the borders will also open, “but the rules must be strictly adhered to by everyone”, he stressed.
Opening of the Bathing Season at Praia da Rocha in presence of the Prime Minister
On Saturday, June 6, the opening of the bathing season and the public presentation of the application “Info Praia”, will take place from 10:30 am in Praia da Rocha with the presence of Prime Minister António Costa.
Before the public session for the presentation of the new application of the beaches, the delegation will have the opportunity to walk the walkway to the area where the information flag of the beach is raised. Then the Prime Minister will walk through the connecting bridge to the beach support bar where the ceremony takes place.
The ceremony will begin with a welcome by the Mayor of Portimão, Isilda Gomes, and the Vice President of the Portuguese Environment Agency, Pimenta Machado, will present the “Info Praia” application, which provides a set of rules and procedures so that beaches can be enjoyed safely.
The Minister of National Defence, João Gomes Cravinho, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Action, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, will participate in the ceremony, with the closing by the Prime Minister.
The initiative, which will also count on the presence of the Secretaries of State for Fisheries, Tourism, Environment and Health, marking the opening of the bathing season, being transmitted live on Facebook in the Municipality of Portimão.
Judicial Police donates computers to children from CPCJ Faro
Southern Directorate of the Judicial Police (PJ), have donated 14 pieces of equipment to the Children and Youth Protection Commission (CPCJ) of Faro to distribute to those who need it most.
Aware of the added difficulties that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the most vulnerable families, especially with regard to access to computerized means for distance learning, the PJ decided to make the donation.
The initiative, which received the agreement of the national director of the PJ, aimed to help students from needy families. According to Nídia Cavaco, president of CPCJ Faro, it was that police who came into contact with the institution.
“It was an excellent and unexpected surprise. I had already received some requests for help from parents who were experiencing many difficulties. Even organized and working families, with two or three dependent children and low wages, find it difficult to manage this situation. Thus, we were able to respond in record time. The computers were cleaned and delivered”.
The beaches of the Algarve will reopen to the public this June 6th, according to the requirements defined by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).
In a statement, Regional Tourism Algarve highlights the “quality and safety of Algarve beaches” attested by the 87 Blue Flags awarded this year by the European Blue Flag Association, with Praia do Ancão, in Loulé, to be the first nationally to hoist this symbol on the 15th of June.
João Fernandes, President of RTA underlines “the region is prepared to receive, as always, tourists and visitors on its beaches and it will be the duty of all of us, from tourist agents to citizens, to assume as positive the access rules in force and individual protection measures and safety distances”.
The official points out that “awards such as the Blue Flag are proof of the success of the destination’s bet on an increasingly safe, environmentally sustainable and accessible sun and sea tourism. These distinctions gain even more relevance in this phase of lack of definition in which the Portuguese can already enjoy the beaches again as a place of leisure and, above all, of well-being for the body and mind”.
Azores
Situation Report Azores 5th June – 6th June 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Azores is “Coronavirus” ‘free’ for the first time in nearly 3 months, namely since the 15th of March! There have been no ‘registered’ new ‘positive’ cases of infection since the 18th of May and today, it was announced that the last ‘active’ case, a 40-year-old woman on São Miguel, had ‘recovered’ from “Covid-19”.
The President of the Regional Government “Vasco Cordeiro” wrote on “Facebook”, “This is excellent news and I want, first of all, to congratulate the Azorean people and all those who made this extraordinary victory possible”.
Nevertheless, he stressed that while the region has travelled a “long and arduous path” to fight the pandemic, that path “has not yet ended”. He continued, “It is not over because we must always bear in mind the probability of new cases arising”.
The Regional Health Authority has also highlighted the need to maintain preventive measures because with the ‘re-opening’ of the economy and the return of flight connections with the outside world, clearly there’s an increased possibility of new cases of “Covid-19” arriving in the ‘Archipelago’.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, there have been 146 cases of “Covid-19’ infection on six islands in the archipelago; 130 have recovered but sadly, 16 people have died.
Portugal Situation Report – 5th June 2020
Introduction
Good Morning to all of you who are reading the SCP SITREP for 5 June. It is almost a week since the latest phase of measures were enacted and we entered a phase of de-confinement – this phase lasts until 23:59 on 14 June. SCP has been really pleased, as we have throughout this pandemic, with the obedience of the population in Portugal, which includes a significant expatriate community in respecting the measures that have been produced by the government to manage the pandemic. We hope that you take some time to read the reports that we are covering today in this SITREP across the mainland and regions as well as the islands – forwarded by our dedicated volunteers who work every day to support our communities and for our common knowledge as expatriates in this fantastic country.
We entered the current de-confinement phase on Monday this week, and we at SCP believe that we have witnessed a particularly well-respected observance of the new measures that came into force – if you have not yet done so, please take some time to visit our website and look at our translations of the current Decree Law measures in force as of now and a host of guides about activities such as visiting restaurants, gym facilities, beach regulations, bar regulations, cultural facilities etc.
Those of you who read our report yesterday will be aware that there were 3 big issues that we covered in our introduction as well as many important announcements and reports around Portugal and the Islands – as well as the usual excellent overseas report by Louise Birch. The SCP condemnation about racism in Policing was very well-received and whilst we will not continue on this theme today or into the future at the moment so that we can continue to bring you Covid-19, crime and civil protection reports, we wish to leave the lasting message that SCP states that racism has no place in policing.
Our message about correct and balanced journalism regarding a particular article by the SUN newspaper in the UK was also well commented upon by SCP followers on Facebook. We also covered the emerging report about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Thank you to all of you who responded on Facebook with ´likes´ or comments – this was an extraordinary response to our report for a SITREP which kept our volunteer moderators very busy responding to your questions and comments!!
Please take some time to visit our Facebook pages and website from yesterday if you have not already done so to get important information about the protection and hygiene measures in force at Portugal´s airports which we have had translated to English by our volunteer officially qualified SCP translators – thank you to them all again for their dedication for no fee. Yesterday we also published our weekly crime report by Leanne Turner – our specialist crime specialist – please take a look at this report which covers a number of. important reports in relation to Portugal and further afield.
The official Beach season begins tomorrow so for those living close to the coast expect the beaches to be busy – our experience from last weekend was that the beaches were very busy – much busier than at the same time in previous years as a result of the then upcoming de-confinement measures but a need for our fellow citizens to get out of their apartments and enjoy some fresh air and good weather. Fort the final time before the season begins we recommend that you take a look at our SCP guide for the beach season which has been directly translated from the excellent guide issue by the government through their beach authorities.
Please stay ´Covid-Safe´ and maintain social distancing and hygiene when you are out and about with our newly acquired ´de-confinement´ freedoms at this stage of the pandemic. Please also think of your fellow citizens by carrying spare masks for those who have merely forgotten to bring them with them or are struggling to afford them with the current economic conditions – maintaining social distancing and hygiene measures of course if you offer them to someone who needs a mask to enter a premise.
DGS Situation Report
Portugal recorded eight deaths from Covid-19 and 331 new positive cases of the disease, the overwhelming majority in the Lisbon Region, in the last 24 hrs.
According to the daily bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health, eight people died in Portugal in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities from 1447 to 1455.
In the same period counted until midnight on Wednesday, there were 331 more positive cases of covid-19, which increases the total to 33,592.
Of the 331 new cases registered in the last 24 hours, 309 (93%) were registered in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Region, which surpassed 12 thousand positives, accumulating, now, 12137, against 11828 registered on Wednesday.
The North Region added 15 more positive cases of covid-19, for a total of 16819. There are five more positive cases in the Center Region, for a total of 3765, and two in Alentejo (262 now). The Algarve (376), the Azores (138) and Madeira (90) did not register any changes in the last 24 hours.
Of the eight fatalities listed by the DGS, five were recorded in the Northern Region, which now totals more than 800 deaths (801) and three in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Region (383 in total). The remaining regions of the country did not have any deaths in the last 24 hours.
Changes in place of residency, can account for small discrepancies in the figures. For example this week an individual was reported as positive when he was identified as living in Madeira, this was then amended and reported in Coimbra. This can happen when individuals move for work or study.
Complications of Covid- 19
A hospital study of patients who were seriously ill with Covid -19 is underway, with the aim of identifying the health complications that may arise, particularly with regard to the respiratory system.
Diagnostic Tests
There has now been 860,000 tests performed in Portugal, which is 83,000 tests per million inhabitants, now putting Portugal into 7th place in Europe, regarding number of tests performed. Since the start of the epidemic, tests now average 11,500 per day, rising to 13,500 in May.
Of these 40% were in the North, 25% in Lisbon and Vale of Tagus, 14% in the Central Region and the rest in other parts of the country.
Within the Lisbon area approximately 6,000 workers have been tested, mainly in Azambuja, and more tests are scheduled this week.
Ventilators
More information is available on the delivery of these medical devices from China. 108 have arrived and a further 335 are expected before Saturday. The Secretary of State for Health confirmed that 1,151 ventilators have been purchased, in order to double the capacity within the country.
Health
600 Mutations of Coronavirus Detected
The National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) has already detected 600 mutations of the new coronavirus, which appeared in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, as part of a study for sequencing the genome of SARS-CoV-2.
The information was provided by the Secretary of State for Health, António Lacerda Sales, who said that, in the scope of this study, INSA has already analysed about 800 sequences of the genome of the new coronavirus, obtained from samples collected in 116 counties.
“This number has nothing significant, in terms of research, it has it, [because] it allows us to understand the extent to which there is something variability and that is what we are doing”, he underlined.
Portugal Contribute to Vaccine Alliance 
Portugal will contribute for the first time to Gavi, the Alliance of Vaccines, with 100 thousand euros, Health Minister Marta Temido announced today during an intervention at an organized global fundraising summit by the United Kingdom.
“The current pandemic reminds us of how crucial vaccines are. We count on Gavi for the distribution of a future vaccine for covid-19, so that it is accessible to everyone and can constitute an international public good for health. Portugal has been strengthening relations with Gavi and for the first time we will contribute financially to the Alliance”, he said.
On behalf of the European Union (EU), the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, pledged a contribution of 300 million euros for the period between 2021 and 2025, in addition to the individual contributions of member states.
Various Nurses Not Eligible for Sick Leave
Dozens of nurses hired by the Ministry of Health (MS) because of the covid-19 pandemic are not entitled to sick leave because they do not have six months of social security discounts, the Independent Union of All United Nurses (SITEU) reported today.
Fruit Plant Workers to be Tested After Series of Infections
A fruit plant in Bombarral, in the district of Leiria, has 11 workers infected by covid-19, with health authorities conducting tests on all 330 employees, said the director of West North Health Centers.
The first cases of infection, the results of which were known on Monday, “are related to the fact that there are workers living without a mask with each other during lunchtime,” Joana Torres, human resources director at Lusa.
Health Council Warns of Possible Increase in Poverty
The National Health Council (CNS) warned today of the possibility of an “increase in population poverty” based on the results of a study on requests for help from parish councils due to the pandemic of covid-19.
“The CNS warns of the fact that these results may reflect an increase in poverty in the population, associated with sudden changes in the labor market and in income, whether due to a situation of ‘lay-off’ or unemployment”, says a statement from that body, following a study based on an ‘online’ survey sent to 3,092 Portuguese parishes and which obtained 860 valid responses (27.8%).
The CNS is a government consultation body in the definition of health policies and its mission is to provide the participation of the various scientific, social, cultural and economic entities in the search for broad consensus.
Economy
Stabilization Plan and Lifting Restrictions in LisbonThe Council of Ministers today approves the Economic and Social Stabilization Plan, which will be part of the Supplementary Budget, and analyses the lifting of restrictions on the opening of citizen’s shopping centres and stores in the Lisbon region.
For the elements that have been put forward by António Costa so far, the stabilization plan will have four distinct pillars, the first of which is “institutional”.
In this first pillar, among other objectives, is the coverage of the financing needs of the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores. The second pillar of the program includes measures to support companies.
Regarding the third pillar, that of employment, António Costa, also before the Political Commission of the PS, said that measures will be put forward to eliminate asbestos from all educational establishments, taking advantage of the closure phase of many schools, or for removing obstacles to mobility for citizens with disabilities.
The Economic and Social Stabilization Plan will also have a fourth pillar aimed at strengthening public investment, both in the National Health Service and in the education and housing sectors.
Lisbon
The Citizen’s Shops (Lojas do Cidadão) in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area will remain closed until 15th June, given the growth of covid-19 cases in the region, according to a rectification statement published this Thursday in Diário da República.
The stores in Laranjeiras, Saldanha, Marvila, Cascais, Cacém, Setúbal, Odivelas, Mafra and Pinhal Novo and Pinhal Novo (mobile) will continue to be closed, and the appointments planned for these locations will be rescheduled at the initiative of the services.
The appointments can be made through the telephone lines of the respective services, the citizen contact centres (300 003 990) and the company (300 003 980) or online at the ePortugal portal.
Environment
Environmental Organizations fear goals are Jeopardised 
Environmental protection organizations, all meeting on World Environment Day, which is celebrated on Friday, fear that the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic, and the consequent economic recovery, will jeopardize goals on biodiversity and climate change.
In addition to the “dramatic” consequences for people and the economy, the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) reminds us that this week the Ocean Conference should be taking place in Lisbon, in which goals to protect marine ecosystems would be debated and agreed upon.
Regarding waste and recycling in Portugal, covid-19 brought “a step back in selective collection and waste treatment”, along with the growth in the use of disposables. And “there are no health reasons for this setback”.
In the fight against climate change, the national goals are also “below what is required in the Paris Agreement”.
Politics
Parliament Votes for State of Emergency to Finalize
Parliament voted, without debate, on Friday for a draft resolution that determined that the state of emergency due to the covid-19 pandemic in March and April “followed the principle of proportionality” and suspended rights “to a limited extent”.
It concludes that no situations liable to “possible civil and criminal liability for violation of the provisions of the declaration of the state of emergency” have been identified.
This was the first time that Portugal lived in a state of emergency, from March 19 to May 2, in democracy, since 1976, and was decreed by the President of the Republic, after being authorized by parliament on March 18.
Crime
Pandemic Triggers Rise in Cybercrime
The covid-19 pandemic triggered cybercrime allegations in Portugal and the figures for the first five months of 2020 have already surpassed all records last year, according to indicators from the Attorney General’s Office (PGR).
The data compiled until May 31 by the cybercrime office of the PGR show an “extraordinary increase”, according to the report released, indicating that a total of 268 complaints were received this year (of which 56 were referred for investigation), well above 193 reported (and 67 sent for investigation) throughout 2019 and higher than every year since 2016, when this accounting started.
Borders
Clarification over Spanish statements over re-opening on Portugal/Spanish border
The mayor of the municipality of Elvas, where the Caia border is located, received today with “satisfaction” Spain’s announcement that it will reopen the borders with Portugal and France on 22 June.
Spain will lift restrictions on the entry of people to the borders with Portugal and France as of June 22, as announced yesterday by the Spanish Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto.
The Spanish Government thus anticipates the date of opening the borders by one week, after having announced on 25 May that it would lift restrictions on the movement of people, namely foreign tourists, only on 1 July.
The Prime Minister, António Costa, however devalued today “some unilateral announcements” from the Spanish government, which have already been denied, about the reopening of the borders with Spain, considering that “everything is cleared up” and that “normality is restored”.
He added. “It is true that in the last few weeks there have been, in some sectoral ministries in Spain, making some unilateral announcements, which in fact have already been denied by Spain and, therefore, the land border will remain closed until June 31”, he stated.
Leisure
Demonstration to press for Bars and Nightclubs to re-open in Porto
The Movida do Porto Association of Bars and Nightclubs announced today that it will move forward with a demonstration this Saturday in Porto to claim the reopening of the sector that has been closed since March due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Beach Security “Prepared and Strengthened”
The Assistant Secretary of State and National Defense, Jorge Seguro Sanches, guaranteed today that the National Maritime Authority (AMN) “is perfectly prepared and strengthened” to coordinate security on the beaches with the beginning of the bathing season. The season begins tomorrow.
The DGH confirmed that river beaches should be considered in the same manner as normal sea beaches, but the risk of disease transmission over large stretches of water is minimal
Education
UC Aids International Students
The University of Coimbra (UC) has adopted “extraordinary and exceptional measures” to protect international students and mobility students in situations of greater vulnerability, as a result of the pandemic, the institution announced today.
These measures – called Contingency Support (ApC) -, created within the scope of the Social Support Fund, cover “the international and mobile university population” in Coimbra.
The Regions
Covid-19 update
There were no new Covid-19 cases today. The number of cases in Madeira stands at 90, with 81 recoveries and 9 active cases. The patient who was identified as a positive case at Madeira Airport remains in isolation at a dedicated hotel.
There are 412 people under active monitoring and 206 in self-monitoring. As of yesterday, there had been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which had come back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 16,119 samples from 14,669 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab). Testing is also being carried out on staff from the health, civil protection and social services.
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 37 calls from Wednesday to Thursday, bringing the total number of calls to 8,231. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1,134 calls, with 127 people being monitored.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94853/Madeira_mantem_90_casos_confirmados_e_nove_ativos
New reopening measures announced
From Saturday, places of worship will no longer have a maximum capacity of 1/3. Instead, they will be allowed to have a maximum capacity of 50%, while keeping the usual sanitary measures.
From Monday, indoor swimming pools will reopen for club swimmers. Gyms and indoor sports facilities can also reopen. These sporting activities must be carried out in compliance with the following guidance:
a) Submission of a contingency plan to IASAÚDE, IP-RAM and Direção Regional de Desporto
b) Ensure all people connected to the relevant sports comply with the contingency plan
c) The sporting infrastructures must comply with the contingency plan
d) The use of changing rooms is forbidden
e) Sporting equipment must not be shared between sportspeople, without being disinfected
f) Sportspeople and staff must use the relevant personal protection equipment
g) Increased cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipments
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94851/Governo_Regional_anuncia_novas_medidas_de_desconfinamento
New Habeas Corpus application in Funchal
Another young passenger has submitted a Habeas Corpus application against spending mandatory quarantine in a hotel. The student and Herberto Jesus, the president of IASAÚADE (Instituto da Administração da Saúde – Health Administration Institute) testified at a court in Funchal. The passenger, who had landed at Funchal Airport on the 29th of May, is in quarantine at Hotel Vila Galé, in Santa Cruz. The result of his Covid-19 test is expected to be known today. The court case will continue today.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94869/Novo_habeas_corpus_no_Tribunal_do_Funchal
Volunteer group praised for its work
Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, thanked the volunteer group “Hotelaria Madeira ajuda a nossa Ilha” (Madeira Hotels help our island) for its vital work during the state of emergency. The volunteers were staff from Madeira hotels and in April and May they helped to provide meals, food, masks, gloves and disinfection products to people in need.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/04/albuquerque-agradece-trabalho-voluntario-do-grupo-hotelaria-madeira-ajuda/
Algarve
Foreigner resident in Portimão is the 16th fatal victim of Covid-19 in the Algarve
The number of deaths caused by Covid-19 rose to 16, according to daily information that the regional health authority sends to mayors. The death was that of a foreign citizen residing in Portimão, as the Portimão Chamber itself reported on the page dedicated to the pandemic.
The Portimão City Council revealed that the person who died came to be considered recovered “after several weeks of hospitalization”, but “died due to other complications”.
This death appears today in the report that the Algarve health authority sends daily to the municipalities, the South Information found from an official source. Even so, perhaps because it is not a death that can be directly attributed to Covid-19, this death was not included in the bulletin of the epidemiological situation in Portugal of the General Directorate of Health today.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/06/estrangeiro-residente-em-portimao-e-a-16a-vitima-mortal-da-covid-19-no-algarve/
Algarve beaches will have surveillance monitored by the minuteNon-concessioned beaches will receive increased attention during the 2020 bathing season. Guarded areas will have informative signs about the capacity. Officers of the Maritime Police will use their own mobile application ( app ), coordinated by the Captains of Porto, with information in real time, in order to facilitate a faster management of resources and resources. Everything to promote safety in the Algarve sands.
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) revealed the maximum capacity numbers for each concessioned bathing area on Wednesday, May 27. Despite numbers still in informal consultation, it is already possible to have an idea of what the 2020 bathing season will be like, starting on Saturday, June 6th.
Fernando Rocha Pacheco, head of the Southern Maritime Department, says that he made “a very detailed and exhaustive survey” for the Captaincy of the Port of Faro [which has jurisdiction at Praia da Deserta, Praia de Faro, Quinta do Lago , Ancão, Garrão Nascente, Garrão Poente, Vale do Lobo, Loulé Velho, Almargem, Forte Novo, Quarteira and Vilamoura].
“In all of them, in general, the numbers of the maximum capacity defined by the APA are always higher than the average daily frequency of bathers in previous years. That is, we will not have difficulties in accommodating people who come to our beaches with the proper spacing, because the maximum capacity was calculated with the factor COVID-19, of social distance, and in fact the maximum capacity numbers are higher than that which is the average frequency”, estimates Rocha Pacheco.
Beach Capacities in the Algarve
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) published on its website (https://apambiente.pt/), all the maximum capacity values for the beaches in the Algarve. In the west, there are 79 concessioned bathing areas, 48 of which are large and 31 small. With greater capacity is Praia da Rocha, in Portimão, with potential for 8800 people. Next is Meia Praia Nascente, in the municipality of Lagos, with 8700.
Much smaller beaches are with less than 100 users, are: Arrifes (Albufeira), Albandeira (Lagoa), Camilo (Lagos), Marinha (Lagoa) and Tremoços (Lagoa). Praia da Marinha is the smallest in the entire region, with the possibility of 15 bathers in total.
In the east the 31 referenced beaches were classified as large. Faro Beach and Monte Gordo Beach (Vila Real de Santo António) are the largest, with the potential for 12600 users.
Next is Manta Rota (Vila Real de Santo António), with capacity for 6300. The only Sotavento beach that is below 1000 bathers is Fuseta-Ria, with the possibility of having 700 people.
Bathing season: Câmara carries out several interventions in Praia de Faro
The Municipality of Faro informed that several interventions were carried out in Praia de Faro with a view to preparing the bathing season, which will start this Saturday, June 6th.
In a statement the municipality says that in the last few days, “minor repairs and regularization of sidewalks and pavements, wall paintings, horizontal signs (pedestrian crossings, parking, indications and pedestrian arrows on sidewalks and walkways) have been carried out, as well as cleaning the road and in the estuary (sand, urban garbage and debris) “.
Soon the Municipality hopes to also disclose new safety and prevention measures to be implemented, taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic, “in order to promote an environment of safety and well-being among users” in this bathing area of the municipality, read in the same document.
Algarve nurse on the front line against suicide
Carolina Marques, 45, a nurse at the Pedopsychiatry service at the Faro unit of the Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Algarve (CHUA), has volunteered since April in a national prevention line launched by the Center for Suicide Studies (NES). Goal is to save lives.
The COVID-19 virus attacks physical health and, above all, has caused a significant and widespread increase in the psychological suffering of many people, from all age groups and social backgrounds.
For this reason, in April, during confinement and in a state of emergency, the Center for the Study of Suicide (NES), of the Hospital de Santa Maria, launched a specialized response for the whole country.
Carolina Marques, an Algarve nurse who is at the forefront, considers that the exceptional height that we live requires to overcome the social taboo that has led this problem to silence.
“Most people, even health professionals, approach the topic with fear. But this suicide prevention work cannot be done out of fear. It has to be done realistically. When approaching someone, we have to ask clearly, if they have thoughts of death, if they have a suicidal ideation or plan. These are different things, but this is how you assess the seriousness of the situation. If we are around, what happens is that the person does not feel understood”, begins by explaining to the windward Carolina Marques, a specialist nurse in mental health. Read more.
https://www.barlavento.pt/destaque/enfermeira-algarvia-na-linha-da-frente-contra-o-suicidio
Situation Report Azores 4th June – 5th June 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
Currently, the Azores is considered ‘one of the safest destinations in Europe in 2020’. It’s been chosen by the travel organisation, “European Best Destinations” that connects tourism offices throughout Europe with the world’s travellers, as one of the best places to visit during the “Coronavirus” crisis:
https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/best-of-europe/coronavirus-safest-holiday-destinations/
This distinction is based on its ‘tourism’ health initiatives like the “Clean & Safe Azores” ‘seal of approval’, given to businesses that achieve a high standard of ‘cleanliness’, the lack of ‘active’ infection cases and the quality and availability of good local health services.
For the Azorean government, this is an extremely important acknowledgement of the measures that have been taken and for the Azoreans themselves, deserved recognition for the way they’ve complied with various new health regulations.
“Taking into account the ‘new normality’ that we live in, being considered ‘one of the safest destinations in Europe in 2020’ is a source of pride in the work, done so far”, said the Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism “Marta Guerreiro”.
She added, “This is one of the best recognitions we could receive this year, motivating us to continue the path we have taken in the fight against the pandemic of COVID-19 and in the resumption of tourist activity”,
She also pointed out that Azorean business people “have shown themselves prepared to receive tourists, interested in the Azores, ‘safely’”.
Another reason why the ‘Archipelago’ has received this international distinction is that the Azores is seen as a perfect destination for travellers who want to ‘connect’ with nature; hiking, enjoying wonderful flora, fauna & unspoilt countryside, dolphin & whale-watching trips, tasting a wide & interesting range of local food and drink plus experiencing ‘real’ & ‘authentic’ traditions.
“European Best Destinations” has previously recognised the Azores as ‘The Most Beautiful Landscape in Europe’ and as ‘The Best Destination for Dolphin and Whale Watching in Europe’.
In total, 146 cases of infection have been detected in the region since the ‘outbreak’ began on March the 15th with 129 ‘recoveries’ and 16 deaths, leaving just 1 ‘positive’ case on São Miguel. There have been no new cases since the 18th of May, that’s now 18 days-running!
Thursday 4th June 2020
Introduction
Good Morning Portugal on 4 June. At SCP, we want to start this SITREP today in a very serious and non-Covid-19 manner. We totally condemn the circumstances of the death of George Floyd by police officers and the racial issues it has exposed again. Several of our SCP Board Members and Advisors are former police officers across the ranks in national, international and military police forces. In addition, there are very many followers of SCP who are former or serving officers in police forces similarly.
All of our SCP followers will be appalled by the death of Mr Floyd we are sure. We, therefore, take this solemn opportunity on behalf of all at SCP and our followers to completely condemn any racism in policing. Racism has no place in the special duty of care that is placed on all police officers to provide security and stability to all of the population that an individual police force serves.
A very big issue re-emerged yesterday in relation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007 with the announcement that a German police investigation has identified a German national as a prime suspect. Investigations continue and have come about as a result of a number of appeals on German television. The International media is covering this subject extensively and you will be able to follow the headline news on this. At SCP we will also follow developments closely especially any announcements that are made by the Portuguese policing authorities and governmental justice, policing and administration and departments. Note: This report coincides with the disappearance of Madeline McCann on 3rd June 2007.
At SCP we do not normally comment on the quality, truthfulness or ´obscuration´ of statistics by Media reporting nationally or internationally. But today has to be different after the SUN newspaper in the UK published an article that clearly showed to its millions of readers that Portugal was the second worst destination to go on holiday due to the occurrence of Covid-19 after the USA and showed that the UK was in a much better position Covid-wise than Portugal! This was a completely inaccurate and badly researched article which purported to be based on just one day´s ´infection´ figures. These were inaccurate, but which also paid no attention to the number of deaths per 100,000, testing regime as well as a host of all normal and respected research methods – for which Portugal is at the forefront of the international effort. SCP brought this potentially very damaging assessment to the personal attention of the Secretary of State for Tourism’s office for follow-up. We hope that our followers follow more balanced reporting in their national newspapers such as the Times of London who today carry a positive report about potential bi-lateral arrangements for exchange of tourists.
Today we report on a host of important issues in Portugal such as: Justice – the return of the face-to face investigations and return of the court system in relation to trials as well as the return of the football season policing wise; Health – DGS statistics for yesterday, use of the military and lifeguards as well as other health issues; Economy – encouragement measures to get the economy going again; Borders – the demand for borders to be opened again by mayors across Portugal and; Tourism – the drop in occupancy rates, amongst other regional reports from the Algarve, and for the Islands of Madeira and the Azores.
The weather has broken in many parts of the country so please take extra care on the roads which will be particularly greasy and water-laden after the long period of dry weather – maintaining slow speeds and keeping extra braking distances on a, roads are essential to safe driving in these conditions. Take this opportunity to review the state of your tyres on your vehicle as well and get new ones if needed – it is not worth the risk of life and injury for the sake of a set of new tyres.
Please also stay Covid-safe and maintain meticulous social distancing and hygiene and help us al in Portugal to keep the situation under control as it is at the moment.
DGS Situation Report
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced this Wednesday there are 1,447 deaths and 33,261 cases of Covid-19 to date in Portugal, since the beginning of the pandemic.
The number of deaths rose, from Tuesday by 11, while the number of infected people increased by 366, which represents an increase of 1.1%.
The number of recovered cases rose from 19,869 to 20,079, plus 210.
There are 428 inpatients, four less than Tuesday. 56 are in Intensive Care Units, two less compared to Tuesday.
High incidence rate increase of Covid-19 in Lisbon
Lisbon and Vale de Tejo (LVT) continues today the region with the most new cases of infection by the new coronavirus, with 91.5% of the 366 cases reported in the country, according to the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).
As of Tuesday, LVT had 81.02% of the 195 new cases reported.
Regarding the data released on Tuesday, LVT registers 335 new cases, for a total of 11,493, the North, with 15 new cases, represents 4.87% of the new infected, for a total of 16,804, the Center, with 11, represents 3%, to 3,765, and the Algarve 1.09%, with four new cases, to 372.
There were no new cases in Alentejo, which remains with 260 infected, and in the Azores there was one more infected (0.27%) than the previous day, now presenting a total of 138.
Progress of the Pandemic
The DGH believes that the current figures are as expected and in line with the norms for Portugal. The death rate is 4.4% overall, 17.3% for the over 70s, deaths now total 1436. Since the start of the outbreak there have been 32,895 cases, and since yesterday there has been an increase of only 0.6%. The Northern Region still has the greatest number of cases, the Centre a small localised focus, Lisbon and the Vale of Tejo has still transmission in the community. Whereas the Algarve and the Alentejo have very small outbreaks, and Madeira and the Azores likewise.
Ventilators
The DGH clarified the numbers of ventilators in the system, and confirmed that press reports of ventilators lost in China, as incorrect. As of today 942 ventilators have been delivered to the Portuguese Embassy in Beijing, and 646 have been transported to Portugal, the remaining ventilators will be transported in due course. All ventilators are subject to rigorous testing.
Health topics
Military Help to Tackle the Pandemic
The Armed Forces maintain a large part of their resources on the ground to help fight the covid-19 pandemic, with more than 6,100 beds, and have already produced 151,000 liters of alcohol gel, the Government said yesterday.
Workers Tested in Greater Lisbon
Around 6,000 workers, out of a total of 18,100, are currently testing for covid-19, announced the Secretary of State for Health, referring to the plan underway in companies in Greater Lisbon (LVT), mostly in Azambuja.
Since March 1, more than 860,000 diagnostic tests for covid-19 have been carried out in Portugal, according to the official.
Normal Health Facilities
Normality is slowly returning and now 35% of activities postponed have been rescheduled. The situation is not uniform throughout the whole country, for example in Lisbon and Vale of Tejo there is less normal activities due to the prevalence of the disease in this region. The DGH urged the population to be confident as non-Covid health access is well developed.
Lifeguards encouraged not to enter the water if possible
The Portuguese Federation of Lifeguards today released some of the procedures that vigilantes must adopt at the time of the bathing season in the face of the pandemic, such as privileging rescue “without going into the water” or approaching the castaway from the back.
According to the official, these are “very technical issues” related to rescue, in which, for example, the lifeguard must “try to save without entering the water, using equipment”, as a way of preventing the contagion of the covid-19.
“If you really have to enter the water due to the situation, you should use equipment that keeps them at a distance, such as a torpedo buoy or a rescue belt, which have a two-meter cable and allow you to stay at least two meters of the victim”, he indicated.
Use of Water in Reservoirs and Rivers Safe
The Director-General of Health said today that the risk of transmission of the new coronavirus in the water of reservoirs and river beaches is “negligible”, stressing that its use is safe.
Justice
Courts Resume Today
Courts today resume conducting face-to-face investigations, but leaders in the sector anticipate that the return to normal activity will be asymmetrical and progressive, and in some cases, it is difficult to fully guarantee security measures against covid-19.
The Ministry of Justice (MJ) and the Directorate-General for Health have announced measures to ensure the hygiene, detachment and individual protection of procedural stakeholders, also guaranteeing that masks and disinfectant gel will be made available to those who work in the courts.
Drug Trafficking Trial Resumes
A drug trafficking trial with 16 defendants that started in Braga today will take place in a sports hall, to guarantee social distance, and will be behind closed doors, for security reasons.
As the football season recommenced today, requiring many PSP staff to monitor the games, the court decided to exclude advertising from the trial, “as long as these conditions are maintained, as advertising would jeopardize the safety of the work and its normal course, since it would not be possible to ensure the necessary deployment of staff”.
Economy
PSD Encourages Foreign and Private Spending to Recover Economy
The PSD wants to attract foreign investment to Portugal, in the next three years, to allow the creation of “four to five large industrial projects like Autoeuropa” and to constitute a true development bank with a capital of one billion euros.
The party also presented an economic recovery program for the post-covid-19 phase based on companies and private investment, with the aim of increasing the weight of exports to 50% of GDP by the end of the year.
Rio Defends Rights of Closed Companies
PSD (party) President Rui Rio defended today that companies that are closed due to the covid-19 pandemic or that experience declines in demand should continue to receive state support in terms similar to the current ones.
“What I understand is what is obvious and sensible: companies that have to remain closed, either because they do not have a market or for health reasons, must continue to receive the ‘lay off’ in the terms in which they now receive”, he pointed out.
Ombudsman “Perplexed”
The Ombudsman today expressed her “perplexity” with the existence of performance bonuses for debt collection in Social Security taking into account the “recurring and permanent” issue of scarcity of resources in the administration public.
Costa Promises Support for Youth
The Prime Minister said today that the Government’s Economic and Social Stabilization Program will have measures to reinforce school social action, including higher education, and to increase young people’s access to employment and housing.
António Costa spoke in the fortnightly debate, in the Assembly of the Republic, after an intervention by the socialist deputy Joana Sá Pereira on the theme of youth.
Borders
Mayors Demand that Borders reopen
Portuguese and Galician mayors from municipalities bathed by the river Minho yesterday demanded the “immediate” reopening of three more points between Portugal and Spain in order to correct what they say is an injustice of the two situations that exist.
Twelve of the 14 Portuguese and Galician mayors with municipalities located along 70 kilometers of the river Minho yesterday morning carried out a joint protest action in the middle of the international Friendship bridge, which connects Vila Nova de Cerveira, in the district of Viana do Castelo, to Tomiño, in Galicia, Spain, closed since the replacement of borders between the two countries.
In the action, promoted by the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Rio Minho, which was attended by Portuguese and Spanish journalists, the mayors displayed the
Social Media
Facebook Launch Symptom Map
The social network Facebook started today to share information about Portugal and other countries on the covid-19 symptom map, released in April only for the United States of America (USA), which results from surveys to its users.
The company run by Mark Zuckerberg began researching the symptoms of covid-19 in the US in early April, as part of a research project at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and until the time of its launch, on April 20, an average of 150,000 people a day were taking the survey.
Additional mobility data is now also available, showing the rates of reduced mobility in different communities.
The updated map also shows travel patterns between countries and states within the same country, “to help researchers and non-governmental organizations to understand how long-distance travel continues to impact the spread of covid-19”.
Other topics
Portugal and Spain and several other European countries at ‘high risk’ of wildfires this summer
Spain and several other European countries are at a ‘high risk’ of wide-spread wildfires this year as a result of drier weather, according to the EU’s Crisis Commissioner, Janez Lenarcic.
ABOVE-average spring temperatures have already resulted in wildfires in Spain, France, Portugal and Sweden. Drier weather in usually wet regions are “also at higher risk of wildfires this year,” which means that they are no longer limited to the “traditional hot spots,” stated Lenarcic at a news conference on Tuesday.
“The areas that are prone to forest fires are no longer only in the southern parts of Europe, but also in central Europe, and even in the northern part of Europe, which are usually at less risk,” he added.
Lenarcic expects the situation will “get much worse over the summer,” predicting more than the average number of European wildfires this year between the months of June and September. “This fire season is expected to be above the 10-dozen-year average when it comes to the number of fires and areas burned in Europe,” he explained.
Regional Reports
Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new Covid-19 cases today. A patient from the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos has recovered. This means the official number of cases in Madeira is still 90, with 81 recoveries and 9 active cases.
There are 352 people under active monitoring and 168 in self-monitoring. As of yesterday, there had been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which had come back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 15,627 samples from 14,257 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 39 calls from Tuesday to Wednesday, bringing the total number of calls to 8,214. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1103 calls, with 124 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/03/mais-um-doente-recuperado-de-covid-19-na-madeira-casos-activos-sao-agora-nove/
Donations at Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital
Face masks were donated by Movimento de Voluntariado Hospitalar Presença Amiga (MVHPA – a voluntary organisation) for use by the Madeira Regional Health Service. A coffee shop, to be run in partnership with Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro (LPCC – Portuguese League Against Cancer) was also opened at the hospital.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/01/voluntariado-entrega-mascaras-ao-sesaram-e-ha-nova-cafetaria-no-hospital-dr-nelio-mendonca/
Further training for lifeguards and emergency personnel
Frente MarFunchal, which belongs to the Municipality of Funchal, has been providing questions and answers sessions and further training to lifeguards and emergency personnel to ensure they are able to provide rescue and emergency services while complying with Covid-19 guidance. This includes training on the correct hand-washing procedures, the correct procedure for wearing and removing PPE and procedures for safely dealing with victims. They have been having online and face-to-face training sessions.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94728/Frente_MarFunchal_realizou_acoes_de_debate_e_de_esclarecimento_com_profissionais_do_socorro_sobre_epoca_balnear
Accident and emergency ward to reopen in Porto Moniz
Valter Correia, a member of parliament and former Mayor of the Municipality of Porto Moniz, informed that the accident and emergency ward of the Porto Moniz Health Centre will reopen on Monday. According to Pedro Ramos, the Madeira Health and Civil Protection Secretary, the reopening of accident and emergency wards across Madeira will be gradual but he refused to announce any reopening dates.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94735/Porto_Moniz_Deputado_do_PSD_anuncia_regresso_do_servico_de_urgencia_no_Centro_de_Saude
Madeira and Canary Islands share Covid-19 common interests
The regional governments of Madeira and the Canary Islands agreed that the islands are similar in aspects such as accessibility and in having Covid-19 policies in areas such as the need for sanitary controls for passengers at the point of departure. This is a common position that both governments intend to promote at national and EU level. They also agreed to jointly fight for more EU funding and assistance to the islands, so as to face negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/01/voluntariado-entrega-mascaras-ao-sesaram-e-ha-nova-cafetaria-no-hospital-dr-nelio-mendonca/
Tablets delivered to 128 children
The Municipality of Santa Cruz started delivering tablets to 128 primary school children from deprived families or families facing difficulties, such as reduced earnings or unemployment, due to Covid-19. The tablets are equipped with a router and three months of free internet access. The Municipality invested about €50,000 on this assistance program, which is crucial when school teaching is being carried out remotely. The Municipality has asked for residents facing difficulties to contact it, so that it will try to assist them.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94701/Santa_Cruz_iniciou_entrega_de_tablets_a_128_criancas_
Algarve
Algarve Anticipates Severe Drop in Occupancy This Summer
The Algarve is expected to register a 30% occupancy for the summer of 2020, something that “had never been experienced” in the region, the president of the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVT) said yesterday.
In the specific case of the Algarve, as it is “the region that most depends on tourism and international air bridges”, he stressed.
“The big challenge will be to maintain a reference structure for the Algarve’s hotel and entertainment offer”, he suggested, emphasizing that the Algarve “has to survive the crisis”.
Since May 18, some businesses have reopened, with the opening of the bathing season scheduled for June 6.
The president of APAVT was speaking during the digital conference “Algarve no Horizonte – How the next bathing season will be”, organized by Ambitur magazine and which brought together several public and private entities in order to discuss how the destination is preparing for the season bathing in the context of the pandemic.
Municipality of Loulé supports the reopening of pre-school education
The return of preschool education that took place on Monday has been supported and accompanied by the Municipality of Loulé, which aims to “ensure a better integration and adaptation of the entire school community to this new reality”, announced the municipality.
Throughout the month, pre-school staff in the municipality of Loulé will receive awareness-raising activities, with advice on the adaptation and reorganization of routines, spaces, materials and activities related to hygiene and means of protection.
Socio-emotional action is also planned, due to the psychological impact that the pandemic had on the school community, which will focus on the weaknesses, resistance, insecurities, anxieties and fears of the professionals.
The principals, coordinators, general supervisors and other elements of the school groupings in the municipality of Loulé will also receive technical training on hygiene, protection and basic recommendations to be adopted.
In April, the Municipality of Loulé purchased 750 tablets and 170 computers from students who did not have this equipment, so that they can access distance learning.
Faro Airport: EasyJet resumes 3/4 of their operation in July and August
EasyJet has announced that it will resume three quarters of its operations in July and August, starting with around 50 flights in and out of Portugal – including Faro airport – in a “very cautious schedule” that will depend on the response of demand for flights and the evolution of the pandemic.
Speaking to Lusa, the Director General of the airline responsible for Portugal, José Lopes, explained that the goal is to try during July and August, the peak of the summer operation, to stimulate demand, with a balance between a launch of a promotional tariff for travel between July 1 and October 31st, 2020, in conjunction with the implementation of security measures, that will be put in place in order to allow the airline to resume some operations.
EasyJet will operate 50 flights in July, and 59 in August, to and from Portugal, through its four main airports (Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal). EasyJet expects to fly around 78% and 92% of the routes that serve Portugal in these two summer months.
These destinations will, however, operate less frequently than usual, he said.
“It is a scenario where we must respond to apparent demand. At any time, if demand does not react in the way we expect or if there is a change in the restrictions implemented in the various destination countries, or even a change in the level of the pandemic itself, we may logically have to readjust ”, explained the Director-General of the company in Portugal.
Azores
Situation Report Azores 3rd June – 4th June 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
The Regional Secretary of Health has delivered new ‘safety’ equipment to the ‘Voluntary’ Fire Brigade of “Angra do Heroísmo”. It includes 10 pieces of breathing apparatus and a special ‘spray’ cleaning machine for disinfecting the surfaces of ambulances.
Teresa Machado Luciano said these fire-fighters on the island of Terceira are the first to receive this new equipment but there are plans for all 17 fire departments in the region to have it.
Meanwhile “Azores Airlines” has completed a fresh ‘repatriation’ flight between Lisbon and the city of “Praia” on “Santiago” island in Cabo Verde. Like the ones in April and May, it was a ‘chartered’ flight, carrying Cape Verdean and Portuguese people who’d been stranded abroad because of “Coronavirus” flight restrictions, back to their respective home countries. Medical equipment was also on board.
Staying with “Covid-19” news, there been one more ‘recovery’ on the island of São Miguel, a 45-year-old woman who worked at the ‘virus-troubled’ residential care home “Santa Casa da Misericórdia” in Nordeste from where 12 people, sadly, died.
That means that now, the municipality of Nordeste has no ‘active’ cases and also, the last & biggest, local ‘transmission’ chain has been eliminated.
In total, 146 cases of infection have been detected in the Region since the ‘outbreak’ began on March the 15th with 129 ‘recoveries’ and 16 deaths, leaving just 1 ‘positive’ case on São Miguel, the very last in the entire region!
Wednesday 3rd June 2020
Introduction
Good Morning Portugal and to the readers of the SCP daily SITREP. The big issues today are announcements by the government about border controls – by land and air, in relation to tourists and visitors to Portugal in this period of de-confinement, as well as the continuing positive numbers released by the DGS yesterday in terms of continued steadying of the number of deaths and increase in recoveries.
Looking back to yesterday, we published important information about the use of sporting and leisure facilities such as gyms, health clubs and swimming pools as well as the intended keeping of the road borders with Spain being closed until June 15 – we recommend that you review if you have not already done so. We also publisher a positive news story about the rescue of 3 peacocks! It is well worth looking at the humorous story provided to us by the GNR – well done to the GNR! Of course, there were also the regular SITREP and Overseas reports – thank you again to our dedicated volunteers for their valuable inputs to keep us all well-informed every day.
Looking forward, Portugal has signalled that it is well-prepared to be open for business in a limited way to tourism – The Foreign Minister announced this yesterday in an interview with the BBC and this has been subsequently widely reported in international media especially international news feeds. SCP is aware of the concerns of many citizens about a change that will likely see may people coming to Portugal from countries with higher Covid-19 infection, especially as the Portuguese strategy to counter the pandemic has been so meticulous and, so far, successful in its containment.
However, in keeping with the good management of the phases of Emergency and now Calamity and gradual and measured de-confinement in Portugal, we can be assured that the government here intend to have appropriate measures in force to manage risks from visitors and tourists coming to Portugal by road and through so-called air bridges with several countries within the EU and outside such as the UK. They will be informing visitors of the rules for social distancing, hygiene beach occupation, restaurants and ´nightlife´ amongst other activities and facilities.
We reiterate our message posted yesterday that we would respectfully ask that people check the facts before commenting on our Facebook pages – we please ask that our pages are not used as a debating platform for hearsay and gossip which is not helpful to the wider community and obscures the purpose of SCP – to provide factual information and translations of governmental, Police, civil protection and security information – so important to us all at this critical period of our lives. We have provided translations of what the Minister for Internal Administration said yesterday in respect of border controls and a translation of the current border control laws – please read these before commenting or asking questions of our moderators that can be found in these documents that we have provide for you.
Also looking forward – the Bathing season starts officially on Saturday 6 June – SCP has translated a very useful guide from official government guidance for your use – please take some time to look at this and as it is in tabular format, you can download or carry a paper copy of this – mindful of the environment of course!
It is still going to be long journey to increased normality but we must keep up with the personal hygiene an social distancing lifestyle which so far seems to be working well in Portugal and widely obeyed. So, please stay safe and maintain meticulous social distancing and hygiene.
DGS Covid 19 Situation Report
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced this Tuesday the existence of 1,436 deaths and 32,895 cases of Covid-19 in Portugal, since the beginning of the pandemic.
The number of deaths rose, from yesterday by 12, while the number of infected people increased by 195, which is five less than the previous 24 hr period. The number of recovered cases rose from 19,552 to 19,869, plus 317.
There are 432 inpatients, 39 less than yesterday. 58 are in Intensive Care Units, minus six compared to Monday. The number of those in hospital and in ICU is continuing to decrease.
Lisbon and Tagus Valley with 81% of new infected cases
Lisbon and Tagus Valley (LVT) yesterday was the region with the most new cases infected by coronavirus, with 81.02% of the 195 cases reported, followed by the North, with 14.87%, according to the Directorate-General for Health.
The city of Lisbon, with a total of 2,447 (+38 than the previous day), is also the municipality with the highest number of infected people in the country, and the LVT health region that has the most new cases today, a total of 158, compared to Monday, according to the daily bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), released today.
Wearing Masks and Maintaining Distance Helps Protection
A meta-analysis published today confirms that the use of masks, visors and physical distance is the best way for a person to avoid, although not totally, being infected by the covid-19 virus or infecting other people.
The authors of the study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet, point out that additional measures, such as hand hygiene, are essential to reduce the chances of transmission of the infection.
Analysis of data from nine studies, which included 7,782 participants, concluded that the risk of infection drops from 13% to 3% when people are more than one meter away and not just one meter away from the infected person.
Operation of Disinfecting Ambulances too Time Consuming
The Union of Pre-Hospital Emergency Technicians today criticized INEM’s decision to have the technicians disinfect the ambulances, which was carried out by the GNR, warning of the time that the operation takes far too long a while, especially concerning the higher infected region of Lisbon and the Vale do Tejo.
Neighbourhood in Azambuja reports 6 cases not 40
The Quinta da Mina neighborhood in Azambuja, Lisbon district, has six cases of infection by covid-19, among the nine people already tested, said the local health delegate today, correcting the initial information of 40 infected, as that figure refers to the number of residents.
The mayor of Azambuja explained that it is “a large family of 40 people”, referring that, starting at 15:00 today, the health authority will start testing the other 31 that remain to be tested.
Communication
Phone Service Statistics Increased due to Pandemic
The covid-19 pandemic increased monthly traffic per mobile service and the average call duration, which reached a historic high of 184 seconds at the end of the first quarter, 20 seconds longer than the previous year, revealed the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (Anacom).
Travel
Borders in Spain should Remain Closed Until the End of JuneThe Minister of Internal Administration today admitted to keeping land and air borders with Spain closed (subject to exceptions) so long as there is an internal quarantine in the neighboring country.
The official stressed that “it does not make sense to restart the land border as long as there is an epidemiological situation in Spain that requires monitoring and as long as there is an internal quarantine”.
Eduardo Cabrita recalled, however, that at this time the movement of cross-border workers “within authorized crossing points” and the movement of seasonal workers is authorized.
In addition, he added, Portugal, in conjunction with the Spanish authorities, has health corridors that allow Portuguese emigrants from France to cross Spain, “not to be in Spain, but to come to Portugal”.
Regarding airspace, the minister explained that it was never closed in the European Union, with only flights to Italy and Spain being limited, “as a result of the epidemiological situation verified in these two countries”, a situation that remains today.
Justice
Restarting of Courts could be Gradual and Uneven 
Courts resume their normal activity on Wednesday, but leaders of the sector anticipate that the resumption of activity will be asymmetrical and progressive and, in some cases, it will be difficult to fully guarantee security measures against citizens.
The Ministry of Justice, in conjunction with the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), released a series of measures aimed at guaranteeing the hygiene, detachment and individual protection of procedural stakeholders, also guaranteeing that protective masks and disinfectant gel will be made available as necessary who works and belongs to the courts.
However, the president of the Union of Magistrates of the Public Ministry, António Ventinhas, has stated: “There are courts that operate in apartments or office blocks where compliance with the rules of the Directorate-General for Health is difficult.”
Covid-19 and fire fighting 
The Independent Technical Observatory on fires considered today that the evolution of the pandemic “may decisively influence” the behaviour of the fire-fighting plan, recommending that the Civil Protection should consult with the Directorate-General of health.
“We have this new data [covid-19 pandemic] that can be extremely critical for the development of operational activity and the agents’ own behaviour,” said Duarte Caldeira, one of the members of the Independent Technical Observatory (OTI) created by the Assembly of the Republic to evaluate the work of fighting forest fires.
Three members of the OTI were heard today at the committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees on the Special Device for Fighting Rural Fires (DECIR) for this year, at a hearing requested by the PSD.
The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority has already sent all operational personnel involved in DECIR a plan with measures and instructions to prevent contagion by covid-19, ranging from individual protection, hygiene rules for rest areas, food and transportation operational.
These measures are intended to protect civil protection agents from contagion by covid-19 during the time of fighting rural fires and reflects, according to ANEPC, the recommendations of health authorities.
Madeira Report by Daniel Fernandes
Covid-19 update
There were no new Covid-19 cases today.A further 4 patients, from Câmara de Lobos Municipality, have recovered. The health authorities announced that the Covid-19 case that was identified yesterday in Madeira will not be included in Madeira’s Covid-19 statistics, because the patient was infected in Central Portugal, where he lives. Instead, his case will be included in Central Portugal’s data. The epidemiological investigation into this case will be led by the Central Portugal health authorities, in cooperation with the Madeira health authorities. The patient is isolation at a designated hotel in Madeira.
This means the official number of cases in Madeira is still 90, with 80 recoveries and 10 active cases.
There are 322 people under active monitoring and 147 in self-monitoring. As of June 1st, there had been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which had come back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 15,120 samples from 13,794 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 51 calls from Monday to Tuesday, bringing the total number of calls to 8,155. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1103 calls, with 124 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/02/ram-nao-regista-novos-casos-de-infeccao-pelo-coronavirus/
Habeas Corpus application against hotel quarantine
The passenger who applied for a Habeas Corpus challenging mandatory quarantine at Hotel Vila Galé, in Santa Cruz, will now be in quarantine at home, after the Covid-19 test she underwent yesterday came back negative. In fact, due to her negative test, the Regional Health Authority decided to “free” the passenger and opted not to keep fighting in court for her to remain in quarantine in a hotel. As a result, politically speaking, both sides (the passenger and the health authorities) have benefited. The passenger was allowed to be in quarantine at home while the Regional Government escaped a potential defeat in court, which would have potentially forced it to change the quarantine policy for passengers arriving in the Madeira Archipelago. The current quarantine policy in Madeira remains the same.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/02/passageira-que-moveu-habeas-corpus-vai-cumprir-quarentena-em-casa-e-nao-no-hotel/
EasyJet to restore Madeira flights
EasyJet announced flights will be gradually restored. It expects to fly to 50% of its usual destinations in July and 75% in August, with a lower frequency and about 30% of its usual July to September capacity. Regarding its flights from Portuguese airports, it plans to fly to 50 destinations in July, 59 in August and to restore internal flights from Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal. It expects to serve between 78% and 92% of its usual destinations in July and August.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94547/easyJet_anuncia_retoma_de_voos_de_e_para_o_Funchal
Algarve
Covid.19: António Pina criticizes the “irresponsible” attitude of young people who went to a “party of deflation”
The case of Covid-19 announced yesterday in Olhão is of a woman of about 30 years old, who contracted the disease during a party of deflation “outside the region”, where she travelled with four other “young adults” from this municipality, revealed the António Miguel Pina, Mayor of Olhão.
What Sul Informação has learned from other sources is a group of five young women, who will have participated in a party in the Greater Lisbon area, to which other recent cases from Covid-19 are associated.
In a post on the social network Facebook, the mayor of Olhão spares no criticism of the five residents, who accused them of “disrespect for the sacrifice of all” and of having “a selfish and irresponsible attitude”, contradicting “what has been the general behaviour of the local population”.
Contacted by Sul Informação , António Pina said he did not want to give further details about the case, referring to his post , but admitted that “there is a risk of community transmission”, since the case was only detected days after the party in question.
“At this moment, all people who have been in contact with the members of the group – family, friends and others – are in quarantine and being followed by health authorities. I don’t have the exact numbers, but there will certainly be dozens of people”, he said.
The five young women were tested, but only one was positive.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/06/jovem-que-foi-a-festa-de-desconfinamento-e-o-novo-caso-de-covid-19-em-olhao/
Portimão Museum receives “Clean & Safe – Cultural Heritage” seal from Turismo de Portugal
The Portimão Museum received the “Clean & Safe – Cultural Heritage” seal, an initiative promoted by Turismo de Portugal to recognize organizations and companies of interest to the tourism sector that fully comply with the recommendations of the Directorate-General for Health, avoiding contamination by the new coronavirus.
The Museum of Portimão, which can be visited on Tuesday from 2.30 pm to 6 pm and from Wednesday to Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm, ensures the health and safety conditions of visitors and collaborators, through a set of rules, in articulation with the competent authorities, namely the mandatory use of a mask and disinfection of the hands, with a gel solution at the entrance and exit of the building, a disinfectant mat, social distance and maximum capacity for long-term exhibitions in 20 people, while that the temporary exhibition rooms can receive up to seven visitors, points out the municipality.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/museu-de-portimao-recebe-selo-clean-safe-patrimonio-cultural-do-turismo-de-portugal/32539-1
Workers of the JJW Hotels & Resorts Group advance to strike
The workers of the JJW Hotels & Resorts Group, owned by the sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, held on, Tuesday 2 June, a plenary session at the group’s headquarters in Portugal, at the Pinheiros Altos project, in Quinta do Lago, in protest concerning overdue wages
The workers unanimously decided to go on strike next June 12. With this form of struggle, “they demand payment of wages in arrears and the fulfillment of their rights”.
At the moment, according to the Hotel Union of the Algarve, “there are workers who say they have not yet received the full salary for the month of March and others have not yet received anything for the month of April, in addition to the fact that the monthly salary is already in arrears of May”.
This Union also denounces that “once again, when the company’s management became aware that the workers were organizing themselves to participate in the plenary, it confronted them with a new promise, which once again was not fully fulfilled, and with phone calls from hierarchical superiors so that workers do not participate in the plenary ”.
Tavira Camping
The Ilha de Tavira Camping Park will remain behind closed doors during the summer, due to the “impossibility of ensuring all hygiene and safety conditions”, announced the municipality.
The decision was taken after the conclusion that the opening of the campsite would have to lead to the implementation of extraordinary measures that, according to the Tavira City Council, “are not operational”.
Among the new measures was the adaptation of the health facilities, the reinforcement of security and cleaning and additional hiring that “due to its specificity and rules imposed on public procurement, would not be possible immediately”.
“We believe that next summer we will all be able to enjoy our beaches, concerts, fairs, terraces and restaurants as we wish and that our municipality, with the collaboration of all, will again offer its residents and those who visit us the riches of its natural, cultural and gastronomic heritage ”, concludes the municipality in a statement.
Orange sells more and at better prices thanks to the pandemic
The covid-19 pandemic has benefited the Algarve citrus industry with an increase in demand and prices, which foresee the total flow of production until the summer, said the president of the Algarve Citrus Operators Association (AlgarOrange).
José Oliveira, president of AlgarOrange, which groups nine companies and associations of citrus growers from all over the Algarve, told Lusa that this is one of the sectors that “least suffered from the pandemic” and that the summer varieties of orange are being sold “practically twice” the price of the previous year.
“At this moment, in this last phase of the summer varieties, with the phenomenon of covid-19 the demand has increased and – as production is not much, because it was lower this year – this has been reflected in prices, which have risen,” he said that leader, quantifying in the order of 70 cents the value that the producers are getting for the kilo of orange.
The same source underlined, however, that “there is still no perception of how the market can evolve in the near future”, because “there are variables that can influence” the prices paid to citrus growers.
https://jornaldoalgarve.pt/laranja-vende-se-mais-e-a-melhores-precos-gracas-a-pandemia/
Azores – From our correspondent in the Azores
The President of the Regional Government of the Azores “Vasco Cordeiro” has started a ‘whistle-stop’ tour of the ‘Archipelago’, now that inter-island flights and several sea connections have been re-established, to discuss plans for ‘economic recovery’ throughout the region with local leaders.
Yesterday, on the island of Terceira, he had a meeting with the President of Angra do Heroísmo, Álamo Meneses when they agreed that, ‘the way the region deals with the “Coronavirus” pandemic is critically important for the safe resumption of tourism’.
In summary, a total of 146 cases of infection have been detected in the region since March 15th. There have been 128 recoveries and 16 deaths, leaving just 2 ‘active’ cases, both on the island of São Miguel.
Meanwhile, there were another four earth tremors felt, overnight and up until the early afternoon, yesterday, in the municipality of Povoação on São Miguel.
Each one was stronger than the previous; the first at 00.51 hrs measured 1.8 on the “Richter” scale, the second at 02.34 hrs, was 2.3, the third at 11.10 hrs was 2.4 and the last, most powerful one at 13.36 hrs. was 2.5.
The epicentres of the first three ‘quakes’ were 7 kms (SSW), 5 kms (SW) and 6 kms (S) from “Faial da Terra” and the ‘origin’ of the last was about 5 km south of Povoação itself.
Earth tremours of this magnitude are common in the Azores.
http://www.ivar.azores.gov.pt/Paginas/home-cvarg.aspx
Tuesday 2 June 2020
Introduction
Good morning to the second day of the third phase of de-confinement! As expected yesterday was very busy, with people getting used to returning to some of the activities which have not been possible for many weeks. Yesterday we saw the re-opening of many stores and shopping malls across the country.
Many people took advantage of this and long queues formed at some of the larger shopping centres. In Braga the queue at one point reported stretched some 150 metres to enter Primark, and there were early queues to enter IKEA in Mar Shopping Loule. We remind everyone that in our eagerness to get back to normality, we do not forget to wear facemasks and respect the social distancing rules in place. There will be security staff at the major malls to ensure that the capacity of the centres are not exceeded. Please be patient if you are asked to wait before entering.
Safe Communities yesterday undertook an informal translation of the DGS guide concerning the operation and use of cultural facilities, which included libraries, cinemas and museums. Although this is primarily for operators and staff, we encourage readers to check this guide so you what to expect when you arrive at these establishments. Safe Communities has now translated 11 of the guides into English mainly originating from DGS.Also on the subject of guides, we know there are many questions concerning sporting facilities, swimming pools, gyms etc. Our very helpful volunteer translator Jenny Byers, has therefore translated the DGS guide dated 29th May on this subject, which we are posting this morning. We are sure you will find this very useful.
We remind those living in the rural areas regarding the cleaning of land. The GNR yesterday began the inspection of rural land following the end of the cleaning period, which was extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Failure to clean lands can result in fines from 280 to 120,000 euros.
The land cleaning phases is under the law now over, but if you have to still to complete this it is better to continue it now rather than not at all – for your own safety. It is reported that so far, 23,852 non-compliant situations have been identified!
DGS Covid-19 Situation Report
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced on Monday that there were to date 1,424 deaths and 32,700 cases of Covid-19 in Portugal, since the beginning of the pandemic.
The number of deaths rose, from Sunday by 14, while the number of infected people increased by 200, which represents an increase of 0.6%. The number of recovered cases rose from 19,409 to 19,552, plus 143. There are 471 inpatients, three less than Sunday. 64 are in Intensive Care Units, the same number as on Sunday.
In the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Region, where there has been a greater number of outbreaks. There were 193 more cases of infection (+1.7%).
The specific response plan to curb outbreaks of covid-19 infection in Lisbon and the Vale do Tejo is 7,000 daily tests, with a total of up to 49,000 “in this first week” of testing, the government announced yesterday.
Age is the biggest risk factor for being hospitalised or dying from covid-19
Risk increases from the age of 60 and becomes even more relevant from the age of 70, concludes a study conducted by the National School of Public Health. Having other illnesses also increases the risk of the patient needing hospitalisation, intensive care or dying from the infection, but with less weight.
A total of 20,293 positive cases recorded in the National Epidemiological Surveillance System were analysed between 2 March and 28 April. Of these, 2972 (14.6%) were admitted to the hospital, 261 (1.3%) in intensive care units and 502 (2.5%) died. Of the total sample, 42% are male, 52% are over 50 years old and 17% suffer from at least one chronic disease.
The researchers used the age group from zero to 50 years old as a reference, taking into account that at these ages the effects were less – of the sample, 5.1% of the cases were hospitalised, 0.26% were admitted to intensive care and 0.04 % died – to compare with the other ages, those grouped for ten years.
In the case of hospitalization (infirmary), the most significant impact was on people between 80 and 89 years old, with a 6.4 times greater probability of being hospitalized than those who are up to 50 years old.
Protective Shield Created for Oral Health
Two Portuguese researchers have created an aerosol protective shield for use in the oral health field, which promises to solve some of the challenges that the covid-19 pandemic has placed on this clinical area.
Researchers at the University of Porto claim that the patent, whose analysis process started on April 2, has already been submitted to the competent authorities.
They explain that this innovative instrument consists of an inverted U-shaped protection bell. In the oblique side walls, there are two holes that allow the hands of the oral health professional and his collaborator to enter.
Health Professionals Experiencing Negative Effects due to Pandemic
A study carried out by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) concluded that, during the “fight” against the covid-19 pandemic, more than half of the health professionals showed signs of ‘burnout’, stress and anxiety.
The study, entitled “Impact of covid-19: the role of resilience in depression, anxiety and burnout in health professionals”, also concludes, based on an online questionnaire, that 51% of health professionals are “In physical or psychological exhaustion” and that 35% “have even high levels of exhaustion”.
Symptoms Following Serious Cases of Covid Still to be understood
Follow-up after discharge for patients who were hospitalised with covid-19 is one of the major challenges of the health system to understand what sequels, as yet unknown, the disease may leave, said experts questioned by Lusa agency.
“Only in six or twelve months, at least, will we be able to assess the extent of the sequelae and which organs are most affected,” said pulmonologist Filipe Froes, adding that at least the hospitals of São João (Porto) and Santa Maria (Lisbon) already has a post-covid-19 follow-up consultation plan.
Sanitation
Selective Door to Door Waste Collection Returns in Lisbon 
The selective collection of waste door to door in the city of Lisbon is resumed today, more than two months after the interruption due to the covid-19 pandemic, keeping the days determined for common garbage, paper and packaging.
“It is now possible to separate the garbage, packaging and paper in the different bins of the buildings”, said the Lisbon City Council.
Covid-19 Related news
“Drive In” Mass Sermon
Yesterday more than a hundred cars filled Largo da Feira, in Alcanede (Santarém), transformed “into the most beautiful cathedral in the world” for the priest who had the idea of promoting a mass ‘drive in’.
Some of the parishioners could not resist standing next to the car, some on a stool, or peeking out the window, but most of them attended the Pentecost Mass that took place yesterday at the end of the afternoon, in masks, in masks, that Father António Vicente Gaspar acknowledged to be “original”.
Travel
EasyJet have advised people that “some” UK airports will be temperature-testing passengers before departure, and those who fail will not be permitted to fly.
The EasyJet video stating this and the safety measures the airline are taking can be downloaded here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRZP9eKF7RQ&utm_source=easyJet&utm_medium=email&utm_content=lang_EN_market_PT&utm_campaign=mkt_01062020&fbclid=IwAR1d6mfxqzPCKECcnoIC5NyrNfuyOVRfzDioqx0rj7V0m-G06FzeYVteqA0
Politics
Propositions to Combat Child Poverty made
The increase in family allowances, ensuring full functioning of school canteens and the signaling, by schools, of the situations of students in emergency situations are three of the measures to combat child poverty proposed today by the Bloco Esquerdo (BE).
In the draft resolution and delivered today to parliament to mark Children’s Day, BE “identifies priorities in the fight against child poverty, recommending to the Government, at the time when the Supplementary Budget and the response to the economic effects of the pandemic crisis, measures that respond to the social emergency of thousands of families”.
Opposition Party (PSD) to Require “Elasticity” to Support the Government
The leader of the Social Democrats, Rui Rio, said today that “the PSD is going to have an enormous elasticity” to “support” the Government in this period associated with the pandemic of the covid-19, but with the right to the constructive criticism that “improves” the country.
“Everything that is to combat the pandemic, we are not on the side of the problem, we are on the side of the solution. As time progresses and we move away from more serious situation that we are still experiencing in part, naturally everything returns to normal”, described Rui Rio.
Education
Concern for Reopening of Kindergartens
The National Teachers Federation (Fenprof) yesterday expressed “a lot of concern” about the reopening of kindergartens and criticized the Ministry of Education for not carrying out widespread testing of educators and staff at Covid-19.
Preschoolers are returning to kindergartens, which are working with new rules, after being closed for more than two months, due to the covid-19 pandemic.
However, the Minister of Education yesterday praised the work of schools with pre-school education, which adapted to a new organization and functioning to reopen on the day when the third phase of de-confinement starts.
Sport
Football Fans Advised to “Respect the Rules”
The director-general of Health today appealed to football fans to respect the rules, adding that there can be no gatherings near stadiums and gatherings of people in cafes or elsewhere.
At the daily press conference to update data on covid-19, Graça Freitas was asked about the return on Wednesday of the football championship without fans on the stands and appealed for individual responsibility.
“The great appeal is to see the games, yes, to be happy with the results of the team, yes, but respecting the rules, whether in the vicinity of the stadiums, in cafes or in recreational societies or where you can see the games”, said the director- General Health (DGS).
Citizen Stores reopen on June 1
Citizen Stores reopened on June 1 for face-to-face service by appointment, with the exception of those located in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. As for these stores, the decision will be reassessed on June 4.
In the remaining stores, the current context requires services to be resumed gradually, adopting measures that guarantee the protection of workers and users. Therefore, Citizen Stores will only open for pre-booking and with rules for maximum capacity (1 person per 20 m2), mandatory use of a mask and availability of alcohol-gel dispensers for hand hygiene.
In order to avoid clusters in the Stores, it will not be possible to resume spontaneous service, so people should only go to these spaces when they have confirmation of the appointment by the service they want. Appointments can be made through the telephone lines of the respective services, the citizen contact centers (300 003 990) and the company (300 003 980) or online on the ePortugal portal.
Car Sales decline
Car sales in Portugal totalled 7,579 units in May, a decrease of 71.6% compared to the same month of 2019, the Automobile Association of Portugal (ACAP) indicated this Monday. In cumulative terms, in the first five months of the year sales decreased 46.8%, to 64,323 units.
Despite the reopening of dealerships on May 4, sales continue to fall well short of last year’s figures.
In the passenger car segment, which has the greatest weight in the market, sales amounted to 5,741 units, a year-on-year decrease of 74.7%. Between January and May, sales of these vehicles totalled 53,772, 47.9% less than in the first five months of 2019.
Among the light commercial vehicles, the decrease was less pronounced, with a drop of 51.3%, to 1,691 vehicles. Year-to-date sales fell 39.6% to 9,275 units.
Economy
Public debt soars to record 262.1 billion in April
According to data from Banco de Portugal, indebtedness reached 262.1 billion euros, which represents an increase of 7.3 billion euros compared to the 254.78 billion euros recorded in March.
Public debt (in Maastricht’s view) took a sharp leap in April, due to the sharp increase in government spending to respond to the impact of the pandemic on economic activity, which led the IGCP to increase bond issuance.
According to data from Banco de Portugal, indebtedness reached 262.1 billion euros, which represents an increase of 7.3 billion euros compared to the 254.78 billion euros recorded in March.
In nominal terms, the value of public debt is now the highest ever.
Region Reports
Situation Report Madeira 1 June to 2 June – From Daniel Fernandes
A new Covid-19 case was announced yesterday, after 26 days without any new cases. The new case is that of a male passenger, aged 20-29, from Central Portugal, who had been awaiting for the result of a Covid-19 carried out in the Portuguese mainland. The passenger had been in quarantine at Vila Galé hotel and was transferred to Hotel Dom Pedro, in Machico, where he will be in isolation. He is reported to be asymptomatic.
A further 4 patients, from Câmara de Lobos Municipality, have recovered. At the moment, there are 11 active cases and 80 recoveries. The overall number of cases is 91.
There are 290 people under active monitoring and 140 in self-monitoring. Until the 31st of May, there had been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which had come back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 14,683 samples from 13,394 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 33 calls from Sunday to Monday, bringing the total number of calls to 8,104. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1086 calls, with 123 people being monitored.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94496/Caso_positivo_na_Madeira_e_proveniente_da_Regiao_Centro_do_pais
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94497/Sao_ja_80_os_casos_recuperados_de_covid-19_na_Madeira
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/01/iasaude-confirma-novo-caso-de-covid-19-ha-mais-quatro-recuperados-na-ram/
Flights to Porto Santo resumed
As planned, flights between Funchal and Porto Santo resumed yesterday. The first flight departs from Funchal Airport at 7h30 and the return flight from Porto Santo departs at 8h30. The afternoon flight departs from Funchal Airport at 16h55 and the return flight from Porto Santo departs at 17h50.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94399/Binter_ja_voa_para_o_Porto_Santo
Face masks and shields donated
Ribeira Brava parish (Freguesia) donated reusable face masks and shields to staff from nursery school “O Balão”, in Ribeira Brava. Each member of staff received 1 face shield and 2 face masks. The aim of this donation is to increase the protection of staff, children and their relatives.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/06/01/junta-da-ribeira-brava-entregou-mascaras-reutilizaveis-e-viseiras-a-infantario/
Madeira Aquarium
Families accompanied by children aged 12 or below will have free entry to Madeira Aquarium, until the 30th of June. All children visiting will also be offered sweets. This initiative is to celebrate the yearly World Children’s Day, which was yesterday.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94458/Aquario_da_Madeira_no_Porto_Moniz_gratuito_no_mes_de_Junho
Water supply disruption
Due to planned work on the water supply chain, there will be a water supply disruption in Machico Municipality, affecting Caniçal (Figueirinhas and Palmeira), on Wednesday, from 10h00 until 12h00.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94463/Interrupcao_de_abastecimento_agua_no_Canical
Algarve
Algarve Hotel and Tourism School reopens its doors
The face-to-face classes start again today, June 1st, at the School of Hospitality and Tourism of the Algarve, in Faro, and will continue until the end of July. The practical component of the courses is a high priority on this return to school.
«Expectation, anxiety, nervousness, joy…. There are many sensations on the return to school for EHTA students who today resume their classroom activities », emphasizes the direction of EHTA.
Students take back control of stoves, benches and utensils for a new, renewing and stimulating stage for everyone: the return to practical classes in Cooking, Pastry, Bakery, Restaurant, Bar and Housekeeping.
EHTA management has implemented all safety measures and therefore sees this return of life to the school premises with complete confidence.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/06/escola-de-hotelaria-e-turismo-do-algarve-reabre-portas/
ASAE seize 200 thousand masks in South region
ASAE apprehended a total of 206 thousand masks from two stockholders in the South Region. In one case, CE marking labels were being used on masks that had never been evaluated.
In a first warehouse, ASAE detected “the existence of KN 95 masks, whose safety and use instructions were not in Portuguese and others had the CE marking, without being accompanied by the EU declaration of conformity”, explains the ASAE in communicated.
In the same importer, “social” masks were also detected without any document proving their compliance with safety requirements.
In that warehouse alone, inspectors learned 6365 units of KN 95 masks and 130,000 “social” masks, for a total value of 272,000 euros.
Tests on preschool professionals in Lagos were negative
74 professionals from pre-school education in Lagos were tested this Saturday, May 30, at Covid-19 and all were negative.
According to the Câmara de Lagos, the tests covered “educators, animators, operational assistants and some administrative staff from the two school groups”.
The tests were carried out at the Júlio Dantas School Group by technicians from the Algarve Biomedical Center, an entity that had also previously tested the teaching and non-teaching staff who resumed their on-site activity with a view to restarting classroom activities with students from the high school.
ICNF issues 92 infractions for wild camping in Costa Vicentina
The operation, which took place on 24 beaches, resulted in the issuing of 92infractions for offense, resulting from camping, wild motorhome and parking in places that are not allowed.
The Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), through the regional directorate of the Algarve, in conjunction with the Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA) of the National Republican Guard (GNR) and National Maritime Authority carried out, on Saturday, May 30, inspections and action in the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina.
The action involved 14 vehicles (seven from ICNF, five from GNR and two from the National Maritime Authority) and 35 agents (17 Nature Watchers and 14 Military from GNR and four from the Maritime Police).
Azores
Situation Report Azores 1st June – 2nd June 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 on the “Richter” scale was felt, early yesterday morning, on the island of “São Miguel”. Its epicentre was about 19 kilometres E.N.E. of the “Formigas”, a small group of uninhabited islets between “São Miguel” and “Santa Maria”, popular ‘fishing grounds’ for both islands.
The ‘quake’ was felt most strongly in “Nordeste” and its surrounding eastern towns and villages and less so, in the west. There are no reports of any damage to people or buildings. It was a bank holiday here, “Azores Day” so most folk would have been ‘at home’.
Two earth tremors followed. One of 2.5 on the Richter scale was recorded at 09.31 hrs just of the south coast to the east of the island and another at 9:54 am local time (10:54 am in Lisbon), with a magnitude of 2.4 (Richter) with an epicentre about 4 kms south-south-southwest of Povoação.
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes/quake-info/2816222/M4-Mon-1-Jun-Azores-Islands-Region-Portugal.html
A total of 146 cases of infection have been detected in the region since March 15th. There, have been 128 recoveries and 16 deaths, leaving just 2 ‘active’ cases, both on the island of São Miguel.
Monday 1 June 2020
Introduction
Good Morning to the first SCP report of June and the first report of the third phase of the Situation of Calamity – or as it is becoming equally known as the next period of ´de-confinement´. This phase came into effect at Midnight last night and will last until 23:59 on 14 June. SCP has translated and published on our website much information concerning the new rules, guidance and advice that will come into force today as well as posting summaries of these on our Facebook pages over this weekend as well as the details of the new Decree Law for this phase of the pandemic.
We recommend that you visit these pages and our website to ensure that you know the new information. These sources of valuable information also include details of the many facilities and services that will, from today, start to re-open with the now normal social distancing and hygiene operations in force. There is much to know about the changes that will affect our lives more positively in Portugal from today. Portugal is a significant European leader in its response to the pandemic and the manner in which it has provided its citizens and businesses with a measured plan and operation of de-confinement.
Yesterday, as is also the new normal for SCP, we ran the Positive Sunday program and we thank all of those followers that published positive stories and some great pictures that were enjoyed by many on our Facebook pages – as we have said, we will be transferring these messages to a dedicated area on our website for posterity so that in a year and following years we can hopefully look back with positivity about this difficult period in our history. The SCP dog SCooP posted a very positive message too – this is well worth re-reading or reading for the first time!
The SCP Core Response Team take this opportunity to thank our many volunteers who have provided so much of their weekend (starting on Friday actually) to research and translate legislation and announcements by the government, police, security and safety agencies as well as answering the literally hundreds of questions each day about the new phase information – on our Facebook pages – thank you to our SCP Facebook moderators who work without praise often in the background to answer your important questions! On this subject, we have decided to collate the questions and replies that we have researched and provided for you and will be placing these on our website as a Covid-19 pandemic Facebook FAQs. We will provide more information on this as we develop this service. We also hope to provide some interesting statistics for you towards the end of this phase about this work and the engagement with SCP by you.
Stay safe during this next phase of the Situation of Calamity and ensure that you still carry sufficient PPE with you and in your car so that you can visit so many more facilities and services from today – and also be in a position to offer fellow citizens a mask if they do not have one or have forgotten theirs – social distancing and hygiene of course being respected.
DGS HEALTH REPORTS
Covid-19 Statistics
Portugal yesterday recorded a total to date of 1,410 deaths related to Covid-19, which represents 14 more people than on Saturday, and there are now 32,500 infected people which is man additional 297, according to the epidemiological bulletin released by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).
https://covid19.min-saude.pt/
SCP REPORTING FOR THE FIRST DAY OF JUNE – from our volunteer media analyst Ramiro Martinez
Health
Workers Being Tested in Lisbon
Workers in companies and workplaces with risk factors in the Greater Lisbon region are being tested for Covid-19 in a screening action that started on Saturday and will continue for the next few days, the government have announced. In a statement, the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security said that the main focus of this coordinated worker testing operation will be “in areas with more identified cases and, in particular, in companies and workplaces with diagnosed cases or factors with associated risks.
Health Professionals are ´Discriminated´ [against]”.
The Independent Union of Doctors (SIM) has lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman against what it considers to be discrimination against these professionals in the exceptional regime for the protection of immune-compromised and chronically ill patients. At issue is the fact that the exceptional regime for the protection of immune-compromised and chronically ill patients, provided for in Decree-Law 20/20, which “alters the exceptional and temporary measures relating to the pandemic of the covid-19 disease”, does not include health professionals, option that the union understands that un-protects “the health and life of those it should protect the most”.
SNS Services in Lisbon Unable to Resume
The Minister of Health admitted today that SNS services in Greater Lisbon areas that are responding to the Covid-19 outbreaks in this region will not be able to resume their normal activity due to this increased demand.
More than 85% of new cases are registered in the Greater Lisbon region, and for this reason, the authorities are focusing on the work to contain the new coronavirus in this region, having met today with several officials from the municipalities involved.
Environment
Lockdown Ending Leads to Rise in Air Pollution
The environmental association Zero said today that the second phase of deconfinement led to an increase in air pollution, highlighting the 86% increase in the concentration of nitrogen dioxide on Avenida da Liberdade, in Lisbon. Using the nitrogen dioxide concentrations measured at the air quality monitoring stations in Lisbon and Porto, the environmental association also notes that, in Lisbon, there were also increases of 6% in Olivais and 48% in Entrecampos.
Politics
President Warns Youth and Praises Churches’ Example
The President of the Republic today appealed to the youngest to respect the distancing rules imposed by the covid-19 pandemic and warned that the health rules “are valid for everyone”. The President of the Republic added that if young people “have the feeling that they are not at risk, they can carry risks”.
Additionally, in statements collected by televisions at the entrance to the mass at the Cathedral of Lisbon, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa reiterated the praise for the various religious confessions in Portugal for the example they gave in this pandemic and, specifically on this occasion, the Catholic Church. “The church, with a wisdom of millennia, set an example for the Portuguese people,” he said.
He also shared concern for the current reputation of the country, as he reiterated today the appeal to the population not to go “from 8 to 80” in the measures to prevent covid-19, warning about the risks of the country’s image “here inside and outside”.
Rule Regarding the Self-Employed Considered “Insulting”
The political bloc – ´Bloco Esquerdo´ (BE) demanded that the Government remove from the support form required for self-employed workers an “insulting” rule that requires them to commit to resume their activity within eight days after the reopening of a closed sector.
The form for independent workers and managing partners to request the support created in the context of the pandemic Covid-19, related to May, was available on Saturday at the Social Security Direct site, and can be delivered until 9 June.
However, the requirement that “self-employed workers are now required to subscribe to a new paragraph in the declaration on honour; that they will resume ‘professional activity within 8 days’, is considered “absurd” by the BE.
Further reasoning was stressed: “the Government allows the opening of some activities does not mean that workers are able to exercise it, since this does not depend only on their will, but on the existence of scheduled activities, of services that are contracted to them by entities or persons, or even, in the case that some establishments or institutions are open, of having customers or spectators”.
Alternative Housing Assured
The Minister of Health said today that there are already cases of people in Greater Lisbon who are being assured alternative housing because they are unable to fulfill the isolation by covid-19.
Without specifying the number of specific cases in this situation, the minister stated that structures such as Youth Hostels, Inatel spaces or campaign structures are “available to accommodate these people”, as has already been done to ensure an alternative for residents in homes where there were outbreaks of covid-19.
Religion
Muslims Return to Lisbon’s Central Mosque
Anxiety is great next to the Central Mosque of Lisbon, where several believers are taking their places in the prayer room, after having been deprived of two months of communal prayers due to the pandemic of the Covid-19.
It is in that place of Muslim worship that people approach, with their carpets, a large strip of plastic that marks the new positions. Now, the faithful are separated by two places, in order to keep the safety distance.
“When talking about the reopening of religious spaces, the Islamic Community reflected and thought about creating conditions for people to come and say their prayers,” he observes.
According to the Imam of the Central Mosque of Lisbon, rules of social distance have been created, and people are obliged to wear a mask during prayers, as well as to bring their own rug.
Alerting believers to stay at the premises for as little time as possible, Sheikh Munir announces that the religious space will be closed at the time of Salat al-Jummah, which brings together about 1,200 people.
International
Israeli-Palestinian Relationships Worsen due to Pandemic
The United Nations (UN) today warned of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on deteriorating Israeli-Palestinian relations, and of the danger to the region’s fragile stability that may take unilateral steps. , such as the Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
The special envoy for the Middle East warned that the “peace and security situation will worsen” if the current trend continues to give way to “more extreme policies on both sides” that could undermine “the achievements of the Palestinian Government” in the past 25 years. “The emergence of covid-19 highlights the insufficiency of the structures that govern economic and administrative relations between Israel and Palestine”.
REGIONAL REPORTS
ALGARVE – Selected reports from SCP
Covid- 19 Situation Algarve
As of Sunday 31st May in the Algarve there are 370 confirmed cases – 3 more than yesterday and 15 deaths. A total of 292 have recovered.
Mayor of Castro Marim wants tourists tested for Covid-19 to avoid “a disaster”
Francisco Amaral wants tourists arriving from countries hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic to either bring recent negative test results with them, or to undergo an examination on arrival in the Algarve, to avoid “a disaster”.
The Mayor of Castro Marim and a doctor by profession, told Sul Information that he was “very concerned” about the fact that there are no concrete screening measures for Covid-19 for those arriving from outside the country – as happens, for example, in Madeira – and fears that there may be a new wave of cases in the region, even worse than the first. “What was ideal was that whoever came, namely from countries with high levels of pandemic, such as the United Kingdom – we already have thousands of English reservations and bookings -should bring with them a negative test, done very recently”, considered the Mayor.
If that didn’t happen, they would have to do it on arrival. It could be done there on the drive thru of Parque das Cidades, where there are all the conditions. Logically, tourists would pay for this test” he added.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/05/amaral-quer-turistas-testados-a-covid-19-para-evitar-um-descalabro/
Beaches: Dealers consider the year “practically lost”
Concessionaires for the Algarve beaches disagree with the capacity defined by the authorities for the beaches in the region, considering that it will be difficult to cover costs and that this year it is “practically lost”, according to the vice-president of an association of the sector, in a report covered by Lusa on Saturday. “We understand that the Portuguese Environment Agency and the Ministry of the Environment have tried and done everything, because it is not easy, in this pandemic situation and with restrictions, to get the beaches up and running. We are not going to say that we agree, but at least we accept” said Artur Simão.
The vice-president of the Association of Industrials and Similar Concessionaires of the Beaches of Orla Marítima do Algarve (AISCOMA) believes that the formula found to define the capacity of each beach can help the concessionaires to “cover some expenses”.
However, despite recognizing that, “in the situation in which entrepreneurs and dealers are now,” the solution found “can help”. He added that this “is going to be a very different year from the others”.
“We will see how things will go, because only during the bathing season will we see the difficulties that we will have, although we already know that this year is practically lost”, he stated”. On the defined occupation capacity for the beaches in the Algarve, Artur Simão replied that “there are numbers with which he does not agree, because some sand areas, have more capacity than the defined”.
106th anniversary of the municipality of São Brás de Alportel
The Secretary of State for Social Action, Rita da Cunha Mendes, will participate this Monday, June 1, in the celebrations with a solemn session broadcast live on social networks.
In the context of a pandemic, São Brás de Alportel prepared a “special” program to commemorate the 106th anniversary of the elevation to the municipality. In order to ensure compliance with the safety rules of the Municipality Contingency Plan in the context of preventing the spread of the new coronavirus COVID19, the commemorative program was adapted using new technologies to restrict access. The program starts at 9:30 am, with the traditional homage to the Mausoleum of João Rosa Beatriz, founder of the municipality, in a more restricted format. The protocol ceremony of Hastear da Bandeira is scheduled for 10 am, in the outer space of Paços do Concelho. A moment with restricted access and which will count on the collaboration of the Humanitarian Association of the Voluntary Firefighters of São Brás de Alportel and the Philharmonic Band of São Brás de Alportel – ACREMS.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/secretaria-de-estado-da-acao-social-nas-comemoracoes-dos-106-anos-do-concelho-de-sao-bras-de-alportel/32501-1
Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education visits Mayor of Loule
According to the municipality, this is a working meeting between the Minister, the municipal representatives and the ABC – Algarve Biomedical Center, where “the status of the development of the ABC – Loulé Health and Research Center project” will be made.
After the meeting, Manuel Heitor, accompanied by the President of the Autarchy and other members of his team, as well as the President of ABC, will travel to the site where the Loulé building will be built, where several research projects will operate in the future, together with scientific research in the field of biomedical sciences.
The Municipality of Loulé considers it an “important investment”, in partnership with ABC – Algarve Biomedical Center, with the objective “of improving the health conditions of the population and the prestige of the entire Algarve region in the area of innovation and scientific research” , he says.
MADEIRA
Situation Report Madeira 31 May to 1 June – From Daniel Fernandes
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 26 days. Three more people have recovered. There are now 14 active cases and 76 recoveries. There are 329 people under active monitoring and 140 in self-monitoring. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 14,321 samples from 13,055 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 23 calls from Saturday to Sunday to Saturday, bringing the total number of calls to 8,091. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1073 calls, with 122 people being monitored.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94391/Covid-19_Mais_tres_doentes_recuperados_na_Madeira
Hotels requisitioned for quarantine
Three hotels have been requisitioned by the Madeira Regional Government to ensure there are facilities where passengers, landing at airports in Funchal and Porto Santo, can spend the 14-day (compulsory if needed) quarantine period. Its aim is also to reduce the risk of Covid-19 contagion and spreading in Madeira. Dom Pedro Ocean Beach Hotel (in Machico), Hotel Vila Galé Santa Cruz (in Santa Cruz) and Aldeamento Turístico Village Cabo Girão have been requisitioned from today, as part of the renewal of the Situation of Calamity until the end of June.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/31/governo-regional-renova-requisicao-de-hoteis-para-a-quarentena/
Nazaré Health Centre to reopen today
Nazaré Health Centre (Centro de Saúde da Nazaré) will reopen today. Priority for appointments will be given to patients with chronic diseases. Appointments will be from Monday to Friday (9h00-13h00 and 14h00-18h00). Appointments can be booked by calling the following number (969376991 – a doctor will answer the call). The following guidelines will be applicable:
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94371/Centro_de_Saude_da_Nazare_reabre_amanha_para_assegurar_consultas_presenciais
AZORES
Situation Report, Azores, 31 May to 1 June – From our colleague in the Azores.
‘Azores Help-line’ for ‘Non-Medical’ questions about “COVID-19” is ‘Re-scheduled’ 
From today, June 1st, the free ‘Azores Help-line’ for ‘non-medical’ enquiries about “Covid-19”, 800 29 29 29 will only operate from 08.30 am to 6.30 pm, Monday to Friday, inclusive. As people have learnt more about the virus and its impact, the average number of calls has dropped to just 127-a-day day. Previously, the line operated daily from 08.00 am to 18.00 pm throughout the whole week and 15 thousand calls have been handled in the region since its creation at the start of the “Coronavirus” crisis.
Also, a total of 146 cases of infection have been detected since the ‘outbreak’ began, back on March the 15th. There have been 128 recoveries and 16 deaths, leaving just 2 ‘active’ cases, both on the island of São Miguel.
Situation Report Sunday 31st May
Introduction
Welcome Portugal to POSITIVE SUNDAY! Each week for some time SCP has nominated Sunday as a day to improve well-being by asking our followers to post positive news! We have had several fantastic weeks of great stories and pictures – so we hope that those who are able can post some positive news and pictures on our Facebook pages today. We will be keeping the stories and pictures as a historical record at SCP.
Now – back to this weekend and our new phase of Covid-19 ….with the announcement of the next phase of ´de-confinement´ by the government and with a new Decree Law with much detail to understand, it has been a very busy weekend – since Friday morning we have published multiple posts on Facebook and on our website that we have translated from official government communiqués. We have answered many questions on Facebook which you may also like to review to get a better understanding of the new measures that come into force tomorrow.
So…. please take some time this Sunday to review our posts and the documentation that we have placed for you on our website – our volunteers have worked tirelessly this weekend to translate information and answer questions from SCP followers. There is much more to know as the economy opens up much more from this week including larger stores and malls, cultural locations.
SCP also published our regular free newsletter which reaches many people who do not use Facebook or other social media – this newsletter contains an overview of the important issues that people need to know about right now – subscription is free – if you have friends or family that you know who would benefit from this free service to the community – please share with them by whatever communications that you have with them.
Yesterday we wrote and published important information in the form of an ´FAQs´ document regarding the extension of the Situation of Calamity until 14 June – you can see the announcement of the FAQs on Facebook with a link to our website or simply visit the website at our Coronavirus Covid-19 area – this document covers a multitude of areas from cinemas, citizen stores, kindergartens, restaurants, bars, trade managing a business, services, religion, football and border controls to mention a few. This is a very useful guide that should answer many of your ´must-know´ questions for the next few weeks.
Not forgetting the upcoming fire season, SCP also published advice from the GNR regarding the burning of cut and heaped debris – please read this on our Facebook post if you need to do this for advice – SCP also have a guide and information about burning on our website for further details.
We are, as always, indebted to our SCP volunteers across continental Portugal and the Islands for their continued reporting of and translation of events and official information that we incorporate into the daily SCP SITREP – our fantastic volunteers work every day to help keep the international community informed of important events and we hope that this is meeting your needs as it is a fast-moving environment with the pandemic as we are all aware so vividly. We must not forget Elise at SCP HQ who manages and organises our information every day and provides so many great ideas – all ´pro-bono´ despite a busy work schedule. Thank you Elise.
Finally…..Louise Birch – as every Sunday – has provided some great positive stories from overseas for today which will make your day so much better – please visit her report that will be posted a little time after the daily SITREP. We will be asking for your positive stories and pictures with a separate Facebook post today – keep an eye out for this!
DGS HEALTH REPORTS
Covid-19 Statistics
Portugal recorded yesterday 1,396 deaths related to Covid-19, 13 more than on Friday, and 32,203 infected, 257 more, according to the epidemiological bulletin released by the Directorate-General for Health.
https://covid19.min-saude.pt/
REPORTING FROM SCP FOR SUNDAY – From our volunteer media analyst Ramiro Martinez
Religious Ceremonies Return Around Portugal
Community religious ceremonies return today after a break of more than two months caused by the covid-19, with exceptional rules, with the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) alerted to the “increased risk” propagation of the new coronavirus. On the side of religious confessions, the resumption of face-to-face celebrations is being viewed with a mixture of joy and caution, namely, the spokespersons for the Catholic Church, the Islamic Community of Lisbon, the Israeli Community and the Portuguese Evangelical Alliance. In addition to the general rules, such as the two-metre spacing between participants and the use of protective materials, common to all religious celebrations, each confession has yet to adapt its specific rituals to the new rules.
The President of the Republic today thanked religious confessions for the sense of State and of “service to life and health” during the last two months of the pandemic. The distance between the faithful, disinfection before, during and at the end of the mass and “some anxiety, but above all a lot of happiness”, marked today the return to religious celebrations in Porto with the parish of Cristo Rei a receive only those who had marked a place. The face-to-face celebrations resumed today at the Fátima Sanctuary, where more than a thousand faithful people circulated around the enclosure, with a mask on their faces and with unwavering faith to accompany them.
Health
Eating Habits Changed During Lockdown
About 45% of respondents in a study by the Directorate-General for Health said they had changed eating habits during the confinement period, with almost 42% admitting it was for the worse, and more than half declined physical activity.
Changes in the frequency or location of food purchases (34.3% and 10.6%, respectively), changes in working hours (17.6%), the fear of the economic situation (10.3%), one third expressing concern about an eventual difficulty in accessing food and 8.3% reporting having economic difficulties are all noted reasons. Other reasons cited by the 45.1% of participants who changed their eating behaviours are associated with stress (18.6%) and changes in appetite (19.3%), the study also concluded – which was carried out between April 9 and May 4, with a sample of 5,874 individuals over 16 years old.
Temporary Hospital to Be Dismantled
The field hospital installed at the Dolce Vita Arena in Ovar still has three patients with Covid-19 hospitalised, but it will be dismantled next Friday, the administration of Francisco Zagalo Hospital announced today, that manages this provisional ward. Available to deal with the pandemic through a concession agreement between Associação Desportiva Ovarense and the municipality of Aveiro, the temporary hospital has been in operation since 13 March. This was the first of its kind to start operating in the country in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19 and treated 23 infected people.
Continual Restrictions for Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Supported
The Bloco de Esquerda yesterday supported the postponement of the lifting of restrictions imposed by the pandemic in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, stressing that it is important to increase vigilance in construction and temporary work companies. “We understand that with the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo region having a peak of cases, that this region cannot continue to reopen because we need to protect the population,” said the Bloc’s coordinator, Catarina Martins, yesterday, speaking to journalists.
Government Will Identify Alternative Places for Confinement
The Government will identify alternative places for home confinement whenever it is proven that homes do not have the habitability to fulfil the isolation, said the Minister of Health today. This is one of the measures of the case containment strategy in the Lisbon region, which has represented, in the last eight days, 85% of the new cases of Covid-19 registered in the country, he explained.
Hospital to Be Aided
The Minister of Health assured yesterday that there are hospitals ready to help Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, in Loures, which has been under strong pressure due to the Covid-19 outbreaks registered in its area of influence. Some of these cases were detected in the area of influence of Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, which on Friday had occupied nine of the 10 beds in Intensive Care Units for Covid-19.
Travel
Portuguese Communities Abroad Looking to Return this Summer
The Portuguese communities in several European countries plan to spend their summer holidays in Portugal but look forward to more information on the safest way to do so, being more inclined to make the trip by car. Alfredo Stoffel who lives in the German city of Sassnitz and is an advisor to the Portuguese communities in this country (where 114,705 citizens born in Portugal live) said that more and more Portuguese are approaching him in an attempt to ascertain how they can travel safely to Portugal in the summer. The big question is the transport and route to be taken, once the European airspace is open, airlines are only now beginning to resume some flights.
Economy
Ministry of Culture Criticised in Handling the Pandemic
The political bloc – Bloco de Esquerda – criticised the Ministry of Culture today for “not responding” to the crisis caused by the sector’s pandemic, in which “unemployment and precariousness” prevail and which got even worse with the closing of the economy. “The answer was not only inexistent due to the insignificance of the amounts of [support] programs announced, but also because they did not aim to respond to the crisis, but to contract future projects”, but the problem is that culture “is stopped now, without any income” the party coordinator told reporters.
“Projects were needed with amounts and impact for now, so that capacity in the cultural sector in Portugal was not lost”, but for the Bloc “there has been no idea on the part of the Government until now”.
Fátima Economy Experiencing “Slow” Recovery
The economy of the hotel, commerce and restaurant sector in Fátima is facing a “very slow” recovery based on the national market, which represents just over 30%, said the president of Aciso-Ourém-Fátima Business Association.
REGIONAL REPORTS
ALGARVE – Selected reports from SCP
Covid 19 cases
The epidemiological bulletin this Saturday, May 30, from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), confirmed another case of Covid-19, in the Algarve. The Algarve region now has 367 infected patients since the beginning of the pandemic. As for Alentejo, it maintains the same 259 cases (in accumulated numbers). The total deaths remain at 15.
Algarve Shopping reopens with additional measures to ensure the safety of customers and employees
“Algarve Shopping reopens next Monday, June 1, whose activity was suspended, in conjunction with the health and government authorities. Our priority is to “guarantee visitors, tenants, service providers and employees a safe and comfortable environment”, said Carla Martins, Director of Algarve Shopping – “We are an open air shopping center, with natural air circulation and we have implemented a set of measures, among which I highlight the installation of disinfectant gel dispensers in all the entrances of the Center and the placement of signs and notices through the sound system of the good practices of social conduct, with special emphasis on the need to comply with the distance of 2 meter”,
“ There will be reinforcement of the cleaning teams, an active surveillance team, ensuring the application of the mandatory mask use rule, as well as access control and compliance with the defined number of visitors ratio.
Covid.19: International flights start returning to the Algarve
The Algarve Tourism Association, confirms in a statement that “there are already several international flights” that, from the end of June, will be returning to the Algarve. Companies like Edelweiss, Luxair Tours, Transavia, Lufthansa, Ryanair or Jet2 are some of the companies that are announcing the resumption of some of their connections to Faro.
“This is very positive news for the Algarve”, says João Fernandes, President of Turismo do Algarve, “The destination is arousing growing interest among airlines and international tour operators and this is a clear sign of the confidence we are achieving transmit to all travellers
The Algarve is being recognized as a safe and well-prepared destination to return to receive tourists, which validates the enormous commitment and joint effort that all agents of the tourism sector in the region implement best practices to ensure the protection and well-being of all those who visit us “, he explains. “We believe that this perception is also the result of the intense communication campaign that Turismo do Algarve has undertaken”.
University of the Algarve – ´Skills 4 post-Covid – Competencies for the Future´
The Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, and the rector of the University of Algarve, Paulo Águas, will promote the session “Skills 4 post-Covid – Competencies for the Future”, which will take place on June 1st, at 2:00 pm, in the Grand Auditorium of the Gambelas Campus. The session will be broadcast live on UAlg’s YouTube channel, through the following link: https://www.youtube.com/user/universidadealgarve
Promoted by the General Directorate of Higher Education in close coordination with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Ualg states in a statement that this initiative has the collaboration of higher education institutions. It also aims to stimulate “a rapid adaptation in teaching, learning, work and research practices and approaches to better prepare the transition to the post-COVID-19 period, as well as to reinforce and enhance the joint response of science and higher education systems”, read in the same document.
Practical difficulties faced by Restaurant owners.
Some restaurants, snack bars and cafes in the Algarve are facing great difficulties in complying with the rules of social isolation, because of the “uncivilized behaviour” of many customers, this week some owners and business owners told Jornel de Algarve.
A restaurant worker in Albufeira that reopened on May 18, Ruben Granadeiro, stated that he is not going through easy days: “Every day we have situations where customers arrive at the restaurant without a mask and when we explain the situation and ask for to put it seems that we have become enforcers; we are simply made fun of”, he told JA.
He noted that these situations occur mainly with Portuguese tourists and local residents and regrets that he has not yet seen anyone inspecting commercial spaces. An employee of a snack bar on the island of Faro, António Ferreira stated that most customers “sit in it” when he asks them for some time to disinfect tables and chairs. “The police will only go there if there is a complaint,” he said.
“Sometimes, when I go to disinfect the tables, they still make fun of me. They say they are already disinfected, as I heard for days” he says, stating that, contrary to what one might suppose, resistance to the rules is majority on the part of his clients. António asserts that he is almost always entitled to an “ugly face” when he asks his clients to put on the mask. “The rules are for wearing a mask off tables, but rare are those who wear them when they go to the bathroom or leave the restaurant”, he said.
https://jornaldoalgarve.pt/clientes-desrespeitam-regras-sanitarias-nos-restaurantes/
MADEIRA
Situation Report Madeira 30 to 31 May – From our colleague reporting on Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 25 days. There are now 17 active cases and 73 recoveries. There are 250 people under active monitoring and 146 in self-monitoring. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative. As for Covid-19 testing, 13,918 samples from 12,683 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 37 calls from Friday to Saturday, bringing the total number of calls to 8,068. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1062 calls, with 122 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/31/madeira-ja-fez-testes-a-12-683-utentes-mais-um-dia-sem-novos-casos-positivos/
Palácio de São Lourenço to reopen on Monday
Palácio de São Lourenço will reopen on Monday. All visits are by appointment, with a limited number of visitors, hand disinfection, the use of face masks and social distancing. Some smaller areas will be temporarily closed, no written information will be distributed to visitors and, at least for the time being, there will not be guided tours or presencial cultural events. A smartphone application will be provided for visits to this museum. The app, which was developed by Realizasom – Produção Audio, Lda., a company with experience in the field of museums and cultural heritage, will offer visitors a guided tour of this museum and will be available in 4 languages (Portuguese, English, French and German).
It can be downloaded on a Wi-Fi hotspot that is signalled at the start of the tour. Its advantage is that visitors can use their own smartphones and headsets, thus avoiding the sharing of equipment. In the future, guided tours and cultural events organised in partnership and with the participation of the community, will be allowed again. Information and educational resources can be provided by telephone or email and in-person services, will be possible, with a maximum capacity of two people, which requires booking but phone (291 205 530) or by email (gabrr.palacio@gmail.com).
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94279/Palacio_de_Sao_Lourenco_reabre_ao_publico_segunda-feira
Track and trace app to be available
A track and trace app, which will allow the Madeira Regional Health Service to monitor tourists in Madeira will be available, on a voluntary basis due to existing data protection legislation. Mandatory Covid-19 test will be carried out on passengers who do not present evidence of a negative Covid-19 performed 72 hours before landing, temperature measuring will be carried out and passengers will have to fill in questionnaires. Miguel Albuquerque, said Madeira is following the Iceland model of reopening tourism to the Region.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94300/APP_voluntaria_para_poder_monitorizar_turistas
AZORES
Situation Report, Azores, 30 to 31 May – From our colleague in the Azores.
All companies involved in the tourism sector in the region can, from Saturday 30th May, register for the ‘Azores’ version of the “Clean & Safe Azores” ‘approved’ seal, based on the “Covid-19” ‘Manual of Good Practices’. People, interested in joining the initiative, have to submit a completed form, available at:
https://clean-safe.azores.gov.pt/adesao.aspx
Later, they will then be contacted via email with detailed information concerning their registration. The company designates a representative to participate in the training who´s then responsible for teaching other employees in the firm.
A total of 146 cases of infection have been detected in the region since March 15th. There, have been 128 recoveries and 16 deaths, leaving just 2 ‘active’ cases, both on the island of São Miguel.
SCP Source Information
All figures quoted in this report come from the Portuguese Department of Health DGS – see https://www.dgs.pt
Any Overseas figures come from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU who are the accepted world leaders in the collation of global figures during this pandemic – see https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Another very useful source of COVID-19 information and analysis can be found at https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ For Portugal only – see https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/portugal/
See also https://www.covidvisualizer.com which also has very good and reliable information based upon the JHU figures.
For WHO information that affects us globally or Portugal specifically see
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen.
Situation Report Saturday 30th May
IntroductionGood Morning Portugal! As we forecast, this weekend was always likely to be one of announcements by the Government and more details about the next phase of our Covid-19 lives. Last night, just before 18:00 hrs, the Prime Minister António Costa announced the extent of the third phase of the ´de-confinement´. This phase will commence after 23:59 hrs on this Sunday and will be in force until 23:59hrs on 14 June.
This announcement followed the Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting which had taken a lot of Friday. We are grateful to our volunteer professional translator Eliana Tavares for her excellent work in simultaneously translating the announcement which we were able to immediately post to our Facebook pages last night. Please take the opportunity to view the Prime Minister´s address via our pages and visit our website to get more details of exactly what he said. The Prime Minister explained that in Portugal, it was considered that the “pandemic is stabilized”, thereby allowing for further ´de-confinement ´measures to be introduced for the third phase.
Eliana also translated the official COM communiqué for us into English and this can also be accessed in full on our website – we were able to also publish on our Facebook pages and website by around 2000 hrs last night ensuring that our communities were well informed at the same time as our fellow Portuguese citizens. This very detailed document contains extremely important information, that we really recommend that you take some time today to read and re-read as necessary to understand the changes that will come into force from Monday. There is too much detail to include int his introduction other than to say that this extensive policy change will affect our next phase of ´de-confinement´ in a significant way addressing most areas of teleworking, larger shopping areas, leisure, gym use and sport to mention just a few – and also explaining the continuing closure of bars and nightclubs for the time being.
SCP also has important reports today (see below) from our specialist volunteers from Health, media and the islands as well as reports from the Algarve and nationally of other initiatives as always which are important for your collective knowledge this weekend. We also recommend that you read our weekly crime report by our crime specialist volunteer Louise Turner which contains some very interesting reporting of crime initiatives by the Judicial Police and arrests by the GNR, the trial of numerous persons on firearms charges as well as a very positive news story about the rescue of a barn owl by the GNR!
Once, again, on behalf of the Core Response Team at SCP and our over 26,000 followers, a very special thank you to Eliana for her selfless and dedicated work on our collective behalves yesterday – there may be more work to come though for her and we also thank our many other volunteers in advance for the demands likely on their reporting of this important weekend in our lives in Portugal!
Tomorrow is likely to be another busy day of news from the Government about the next phase of ´de-confinement´ but it will also be another SCP POSITIVE Sunday – so please give some thought to positive stories and great pictures that we can post and keep for posterity on our website for when we all take a collective look back at this period of time.
Have a safe weekend and ensure that you take appropriate measures against high temperatures.
Covid-19 DGS Situation Report
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced this Friday the existence of 1,383 deaths and 31,946 cases to date, of Covid-19 in Portugal.
The number of deaths rose, from Thursday to Friday by 14 while the number of infected people increased by 350 an increase of 1.1%. This is the highest daily increase in confirmed cases since May 8th. The number of recovered cases rose to 18,911 plus 274.
There are 529 hospitalized patients, 17 more compared to Thursday. 66 are in Intensive Care Units, plus one compared to Thursday. The number of test cases stands at 778,698
The number of suspected cases stands at 318,810 to date
Mortality rate of 16.9% over 70 years
The national mortality rate is 4.3% and rises to 16.9% for those over 70, announced the Secretary of State for Health, António Lacerda Sales, at Friday’s press conference on the state of the pandemic in Portugal.
Of the infected patients, 34.8% are recovering at home and 1.7% are hospitalised, of which 0.2% are in intensive care units and 1.5% in the ward.
Vaccination and hospital visits should not be delayed
The Secretary of State for Health, António Lacerda Sales, again called for people to “not be afraid” of going to hospitals if they need to. “Individual protection equipment exists and the conditions are met for all assistance acts to be carried out safely”, he guaranteed.
The Director-General for Health reinforced the call for children’s vaccinations not to be delayed. “I appeal to all caregivers to take children to health centers and not to postpone vaccination,” said Graça Freitas at this Friday’s press conference.
SNS Workforce Boosted
The National Health Service (SNS) has been reinforced with about 3,000 professionals, including 125 doctors and more than 900 nurses, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Secretary of State revealed today.
Situation Must Change in Lisbon
The Director-General of Health said today that the concentration of people in public spaces has been higher than what is desirable in Lisbon, calling for a change in behaviour, especially among the youngest.
According to the latest data, in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo there are about 4,400 active patients among the 10,643 confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with most patients (about 5,700) having recovered.
Following this, later today the Government decided to postpone the transition to the third phase of deflation in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and created special rules, especially in activities involving “large crowds of people”, announced today the Prime Minister.
Decrease in Smoking during Pandemic
One third of respondents in a study by the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP) on smoking habits during the confinement period reduced or ceased tobacco consumption during isolation due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Use of Hydroxychloroquine
This has been suspended for Covid-19 patients, in line with WHO recommendations, as previously 90,000 people were being treated with this drug.
It is important to note that suspension is only for the treatment of this disease, as this drug is used for the treatment of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and malaria, and for these conditions it use can continue in line with permission from patient’s doctors.
DGH warns young people: covid-19 “is not a cold”
The general director of Health, Graça Freitas, defined the situation of the pandemic in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo as “complex” because it has “several causes”. There are currently 4400 active cases in the region.
“We have small or large outbreaks that have been concentrated in various circumstances. We have six major works that concentrated around 130 patients. We also have 340 cases identified in companies”, she enumerated in the press conference this Friday. The Director-General of Health also referred to the cases of some homes, neighbourhoods and also the community circulation of the virus and transmission in a residential environment.
However, “the standard in Lisbon is for young adults, not all situations have to do with companies or works,” said Graça Freitas. “Young people tend to have a mild illness, but this is not a cold. Do not forget that, even with a slight illness, they can transmit to risk groups and family members”, warned the Director-General of Health.
More than 796 thousand tests carried out in Portugal
Since March 1, “more than 796 thousand diagnostic tests” have been carried out and there are one million tests in stock, announced the Secretary of State for Health, António Lacerda Sales, at this Friday’s press conference.
The Secretary of State reported that on Thursday “more than 10,200 clinical surveillance were carried out through the Trace Covid platform”, which has 450 thousand users followed by “more than 73 thousand health professionals”.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, around 3,000 health professionals have been hired: 125 doctors, more than 900 nurses, 205 senior diagnostic and therapeutic technicians, 1350 professional assistants, among other professionals, said Lacerda Sales.
Compliance of Personal Protective Equipment
A dispatch this Friday from the Assistant Secretary of State and Economy, João Neves, instructed the Portuguese Institute of Quality (IPQ) and the Portuguese Institute of Accreditation (IPAC) to define the criteria that allow the identification of laboratories that can evaluate the ” compliance of personal protective equipment, medical devices and community or social use masks manufactured in Portugal, in the context of the current pandemic “by covid-19.
Portugal occupies a “vanguard position” in the manufacture of community masks, which gives it “unrivalled skills, within the Member States, to proactively collaborate in the development of harmonized European standards”.
“The installed capacity in Portugal far exceeds the needs of the national market and can be partially redirected to export markets, improving the response of other countries to the outbreak of the new coronavirus and helping to mitigate the economic and social effects of the pandemic on the Portuguese industrial fabric”, the order reads.
However, “it is necessary to ensure that national production is internationally recognized and that surplus products can be easily placed on other European markets”.
Other Covid-19 related news
Long distance trains
CP will reinforce its service of long-distance trains – Alfas Pendulares and Intercidades – starting next Sunday. In a statement, the company states that the service “now includes about 75% of that which was in service before the pandemic period”. In other words, there is still a 25% reduction in the supply of long-distance trains compared to what existed until the reduction in operations.
Intercity trains will run as before the pandemic on most axes – such as Lisbon – Faro, Lisbon – Évora, Casa Branca – Beja, Lisbon – Viana do Castelo and Lisbon – Guimarães. “The Lisbon – Guarda and Lisbon – Covilhã connections are provided by two Intercidades, each way.” Alfa Pendulares will make ten daily connections and only two direct between Porto and Faro.
Due to the pandemic, CP was forced to reduce its services, to face the 95% drop in revenues.
Tourism
Tourist activity paralyzed in April, with falls close to 100%
As expected, due to the public health crisis, the tourist accommodation sector practically paralyzed its activity in April. The quick estimate released this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE) reveals that the sector registered 68.0 thousand guests and 193.8 thousand overnight stays, which corresponds to year-on-year changes of -97.1% and -96.7 %.
Clean and Safe Seal
This hygiene protocol is particularly designed to avoid contagion and all tourist enterprises can sign up, to this digital initiative which is valid to April 2021. These enterprises include restaurants, camp sites, hotels, lodgings and tourist offices, so far 8900 organisations have received this seal of approval. Soon the initiative will be rolled out to cultural sites and airports.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques presented this initiative at the committee meeting of the Global Tourism Crisis as an example of a Portuguese initiative which can be rolled out globally.
Courts resume activity with adoption of new measures
The activity of the courts in Portugal will be resumed gradually through the adoption of two “fundamental measures”, says a note from the Minister of Justice.
The measures guarantee the “cessation of the exceptional regime for suspension of time limits for the practice of procedural and procedural acts” and the “holding of hearings for discussion and judgment and other judicial proceedings, even in cases without urgent nature”.
The second measure is explained more rigorously by the Justice area, stating that the discussion and trial hearings, as well as other measures that require witnesses to be interviewed, take place “in person and with the observance of the maximum number of people and other security rules.
Hygiene and sanitation defined by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS); or through remote means of communication, when they cannot be done in person and if this is possible and appropriate, namely if it does not cause damage to the purposes of justice, although the provision of statements by the accused or testimony of witnesses or part of as a rule, it must be done in a court ‘.
Religion
Church Uses “Virtual Parish”
São Sebastião Church, in Setúbal, is confident of reopening on Saturday, because it did everything that was “humanly possible” to implement security rules but will keep the “virtual parish” to reinvent itself.
“The intention was to fully comply with the rules that were given to us in what is humanly and pastorally possible and now we expect the faithful to comply,” said the priest of this church, Casimiro Henriques.
Risk of Infection during Religious Services
The face-to-face religious ceremonies, which are resumed on Saturday, carry an “increased risk” of the spread of covid-19, the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) said today in the document defining prevention and control measures in places of worship.
“Considering the social interaction and proximity between members of the community, it is important to recognize the increased risk of spreading the virus, as well as the impact of the disease on groups that may have a considerable representativeness in the cults, namely people over 65 and people with comorbidities “, stressed the entity led by Graça Freitas.
Bishop Calls for Confidence
The bishop of Leiria-Fátima, António Marto, today challenged the faithful to approach the churches with confidence and without fear, at a time when face-to-face celebrations are resuming, in the face of lack of definition. to the covid-19 pandemic.
Economy
Economy Must Start Up
The President of the Republic today considered that support from the European Union to minimize the effects of covid-19 “helps a lot”, but warned that “the money from Brussels is not enough” and “it is necessary that start up economy “.
The President of the Republic insisted that, “if there are financial means”, there should be an extension of the simplified lay-off mechanism currently in force, to “allow the recovery of companies, which is not overnight”, and contain unemployment.
Teleworking No Longer Mandatory
Teleworking is no longer mandatory as of Monday, with the exception of parents who are accompanying children under 12, immune-compromised, chronically ill and people with disabilities above 60%, António Costa announced today.
“The general rule that the practice code comes back to is that the practice depends on an agreement between the employer and the worker”, he explained.
Travel and Transport
Prevention from Entering Portugal
Fifteen people have been detained and about three thousand have been prevented from entering Portugal since the control of land borders was temporarily restored due to the pandemic, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) said today.
Within the scope of border control, tourist and leisure travel between the two countries is prevented, with only the transport of goods, cross-border workers, seasonal workers, emergency and rescue vehicles and emergency services being allowed.
Lisbon Requesting Increase in Public Transport
The municipalities of the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon want an increase in the offer of the public transport service and the reinforcement of safety and hygiene measures in vehicles, at a time when the epidemiological situation in the region has worsened.
In a note sent today, the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML), which is the metropolitan transport authority, says it is working in collaboration with operators to “inject greater confidence into the public passenger transport system”.
Transavia France Resumes Flights
Transavia France announced today that it will resume flights to Portugal from June 15, from Lyon and Nantes to Faro, Porto and Lisbon, with connections from Paris and Montpellier scheduled for the 26th.
In total, the company plans to carry out 25% of its flight program.
The airline also states that “the progressive and cautious expansion of the flight program is subject to the evolution of the epidemic in each country”.
Leisure
ATL Activities to Recommence
Leisure Activities (ATL) that are not integrated into school establishments will only be able to function again from June 15th, two weeks after what was initially planned.
The decision, said the Prime Minister, stems from a need to prepare the organization of the spaces where these activities are developed.
Security at Beaches to IncreaseThe beaches will be monitored by 742 members of the Institute of Aid to Castaways (ISN), Maritime Police and Navy, announced today the National Maritime Authority (AMN), indicating that, regarding the capacity of users, “it is difficult” to bar entry.
In addition to these 742 elements guarding the beaches, there are 7,610 lifeguards ready to be hired, said the director of the Instituto de Reliefs to Castaways (ISN), Commander Velho Gouveia, considering that “this number is sufficient”.
Restaurants May Use Full Capacity
Restaurants can return to using their maximum capacity, as long as they manage to ensure a distance of 1.5 meters between tables and put acrylics (an impermeable shield) between customers, said the Prime Minister today.
Maximum Capacity Available on Beach
The nearly two dozen beaches in the municipality of Figueira da Foz will have a maximum capacity of 54,000 people during the bathing season, the source of this municipality on the coast of the district of Coimbra.
No Quarantine for Tourists
The Prime Minister assured today that in Portugal there will be no quarantine rules for those coming from outside the country, and said he was calm and “unhurried” about the reopening of the land border with Spain.
Gyms to Reopen
Gyms and fitness clubs will be able to open doors again on Monday, Prime Minister António Costa announced today.
Regional Reports
Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 24 days. Two patients staying in a hotel in Câmara de Lobos have recovered, bringing the overall number of recoveries to 73. There are 17 active cases, 15 from Câmara de Lobos, 1 from Funchal and 1 from Ponta do Sol.. One of patients is at home while the remaining 16 are staying in designated hotels.There are 391 people under active monitoring and 149 in self-monitoring. There were only 2 suspected cases in the current week. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 13,288 samples from 12,084 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab). All care home residents and members of staff in Madeira were tested and all tests came back negative.
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 216 calls this week, 45 of which from Thursday to Friday, bringing the total number of calls to 8,031. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1043 calls, 116 of which were over the course of this week. There are 122 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/29/mais-dois-recuperados-de-covid-19-numero-de-casos-activos-e-agora-de-17/
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94255/15_dos_17_casos_de_covid-19_ativos_na_Madeira_estao_em_Camara_de_Lobos
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94250/Covid-19_Testes_negativos_em_todos_os_lares_da_Regiao
Passengers being tested will not wait for test results
It was announced that, from the 1st of July, passengers who land in Madeira without evidence of a negative Covid-19 test will have to be tested, but will be able to leave the airport without knowing the test result. The test result will be known 12 hours later but there will be no movement restrictions on any passengers visiting or returning to Madeira.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94257/Turistas_que_fizerem_testes_a_chegada_nao_vao_esperar_pelos_resultados_laboratoriais
Power cuts this morning
Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts this morning, due to planned work on the electricity supply network. The following areas will be affected:
Câmara de Lobos – Bairro da Palmeira, blocos 1, 2, 3 and 4 (9h00-12h00)
Tabua – Lugar da Serra, Salão and Candelária (9h00 – 12h00)
However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.
If necessary, customers can contact the free Customer Support Service (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/29/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-35-2020/
Algarve
DGS yesterday released figures yesterday which in terms of deaths and confirmed cases have changed very little over the last month. This is a very positive sign as despite the easing of the lockdown measures and increased travelling within Portugal this has had no resulting increase in the region.
No of confirmed cases to date: 367
No of deaths to date: 15
No in hospital: 5
No in ICU: 1
Number recovered: 285 – Recovery rate: 77%
No under surveillance: 99
Portimão clarifies concessionaires and economic agents about the opening of the bathing season
On 28th May concessionaires and other economic agents from the beaches in Portimão municipality, participated in an awareness-raising action promoted by the Portimão City Council | Municipal Civil Protection Service, in partnership with the local Public Health Unit at the Portimão Arena auditorium.
According to a communiqué from the Portimão municipality, the meeting aimed to provide information support to entrepreneurs who, as of June 6, “will be responsible for ensuring the best security conditions for users of their spaces in the next summer period”.
The session also served for the Municipality of Portimão to provide clarifications on doubts raised about the support for businessmen, specifically at this moment when economic activity is resuming, the same source adds.
Loulé will be the first municipality in the country to raise the Blue Flag
The Blue Flag Association of Europe has announced that presentation sessions for seaside resorts awarded Blue Flags in 2020, will take place from June 15th, starting in Portugal. This will be in the municipality of Loulé, where the first national flag will be raised at Praia do Ancão, the municipality said.
In a bathing season marked by COVID-19, the Câmara de Loulé reports that the Associação Bandeira Azul Europa (ABAE) defends “an exceptional, transient and temporary criterion”, and the entities responsible for the awarded beach are responsible for implementing the extraordinary rules in their space.
The Municipality is already taking “due diligence”, in order to safeguard “in the best possible way” the local economy and the health of residents and visitors of the municipality, in collaboration with the other competent entities.
The hoisting of the Blue Flag and “Accessible Beach” awards will be attended by several entities: national coordination of the Blue Flag Program, Tourism of the Algarve, ARS Algarve, Captaincy of the Port of Faro, Portuguese Environment Agency, Parish Councils, and Municipal Companies, among others directly involved in the beach area.
Four men arrested for robberies with firearms in Olhão
The Judiciary Police reported that they identified a group of individuals suspected of robberies with firearms, carried out on the public road in Olhão, in the months of March and April 2020.
The detention operation was launched yesterday morning, with four men aged between 20 and 25 years being detained, as well as several house searches, in Olhão and São Brás de Alportel, “which allowed the seizure of crime instruments and products “, said a spokesperson from the PJ.
The defendants will be present at the first judicial interrogation to the competent Judicial Authority, in Faro, for the application of pre-trialmeasures.
The direction of the inquiries is in charge of the 2nd section of DIAP in Faro.
Azores
Situation Report Azores 29th May – 30th May 2020 – From our colleague in the Azores
Priority of the Government of the Azores is to receive tourists safely, says Marta Guerreiro
The Regional Secretary for “Energy, Environment and Tourism” believes that ‘post’ the “Coronavirus” crisis, providing a ‘safe’, healthy environment for tourists will be absolutely critical in building ‘confidence’ in the Azores as a tourist destination of ‘choice’.
Marta Guerreiro was speaking at a web conference, “Azores, preparing for the future”, promoted by the newspaper “Publituris” and involving various tourist organisations including the “Azores Tourism Association”, the “Sata” airline group alongside hotel & tour operators.
The Regional Secretary stressed that business owners should be well-prepared for the resumption of tourism, making good use of the newly-produced “Covid-19” ‘Manual of Good Practices’ with a view to being awarded a ‘Clean & Safe Azores’ seal of approval.
In summary, a total of 146 cases of infection have been detected in the region since March 15th. There, have been 128 recoveries and 16 deaths, leaving just 2 ‘active’ cases, both on the island of São Miguel. Since the ‘outbreak’ began, more women (100 or 68.49%) have been affected than men (46, namely 31.51%).
Situation Report Friday 29th May 2020
Introduction
A very good morning. This is the last working day of the second Situation of Calamity which will come to an end at 23:59 on Sunday 31 May. Another and third phase of the Situation of Calamity is expected to be announced over the next 72 hours and it is likely that the Council of Ministers and Prime Minister will announce changes to the measures in force – likely with more opening up of the economy such as shopping malls under similar social distancing and hygiene measures currently in force for other shops, restaurants etc. It will also likely cover the reopening of Citizens´ Bureaux, crèches, pre-school, cinemas concert halls etc.
Some of the likely easing of restrictions have already been well signposted when we entered the second phase some 2 weeks ago – but it was always going to be dependent on continued improvements to the overall Covid-19 situation here. We have, thankfully, witnessed many improvements – with deaths relatively low – although all deaths are highly regrettable – and more or less constant in numbers and recoveries improving almost every day. We unfortunately saw a small increase in infections yesterday with an almost 1% increase and the highest daily rate for nearly 3 weeks.
The government in Madeira announced yesterday such another Situation of Calamity that will come into force on 1 June until 30 June. We carry the report of this announcement in today´s report on Madeira and we will publish more details specific to Madeira over the weekend. As we entered the second phase, government of Madeira was the first to make its announcement prior to the overall government.
At SCP we will be bringing you the news as it is announced and we will be attempting to translate a lot of the detail within the scope of our resources over the weekend – please bear with us as we rely on our volunteers to be able to do this for us. As the current Situation of Calamity ends at nearly midnight on Sunday, if it is like when the current situation was announced under similar circumstances, that information will be released over the weekend and sometimes late in the evening – which brings its own challenges to us! We recommend that you keep your eyes on our Facebook pages for announcements and appropriate links and our website where we will also file reports and links for your easy access.
One things is certain and that is the Bathing Season begins on 6 June – we have produced a useful guide translated into English from official guidance which can be found on our website – if you are a regular or indeed irregular beach user, please take some time to read the new rules, advice and guidance – you can also print the guide off for regular offline reference.
Some Facebook users and visitors to our website may not be aware that we publish regular newsletters as well containing relevant immediate and recent news for safety and security (and mainly Covid-19 related at the moment) Portugal , links to guidance and reports from government that we have translated. You can sign up to receive these or if you know others – particularly those friends and family who do not use Facebook lease let them know where to find this service on our website to obtain our newsletter free of charge click here
Please stay safe – from the pandemic and the continued very warm weather!
Headlines
Council of Ministers Meeting Today
The Council of Ministers will meet today to take stock of the measures of the second phase of deflation and make decisions regarding the third phase, which provides for the reopening of pre-school, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.
This executive meeting, which takes place at the Ajuda National Palace, in Lisbon, will start at 9:30 am and will be chaired by the Prime Minister, António Costa.
According to the Government’s de-confinement plan, starting on June 1st (Children’s Day and the beginning of the third phase of lifting restrictions) the youngest can return to kindergartens.
On the same day, cinemas, theatres and auditoriums should reopen, but with rules. The sessions must have a reduced capacity and the physical distance between the spectators, who will have marked seats, must be taken care of.
Starting in June, companies will also be able to resort to partial teleworking, under certain conditions.
According to the de-confinement plan, in the third phase, the Citizen Shops must be reopened with mandatory use of a mask and attendance by prior appointment.
For this phase, it is also foreseen the reopening to the public of stores with an area greater than 400 square meters, or inserted in shopping centers.
DGS Situation Report
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced this Thursday the existence of 1,369 deaths and 31,596 cases to date, of Covid-19 in Portugal.
The number of deaths rose, from yesterday to today, by 13, while the number of infected people increased by 304, which represents an increase of 0.97%. This is the highest daily increase in confirmed cases since May 8th.
The number of recovered cases rose from 18,349 to 18,637, plus 288.
There are 512 hospitalized patients, two more compared to yesterday. 65 are in Intensive Care Units, minus one compared to Wednesday.
The number of suspected cases stands at 318,810 to date
Confinement saved lives and prevented collapse of intensive care – Government
Confinement saved lives and prevented the collapse of intensive care units in public hospitals, but it is necessary to continue training services for possible new phases of the covid-19, said the Secretary of State for Health today. .
“Today a study was known that notes this: confinement not only saved lives but prevented the collapse of intensive care units in hospitals,” said António Lacerda Sales, during the daily press conference to update information about the pandemic in Portugal.
According to the study by the National School of Public Health (ENSP), the number of critically ill patients with covid-19 admitted to the intensive care units of the National Health Service (SNS) would be triple in the first half of April without the confinement imposed by the Government on March 19.
“Without the ‘lockdown’ decreed by the Government in mid-March 2020, the intensive care units of the SNS [National Health Service] hospitals would have had to attend, between April 1st and 15th, an avalanche of 748 severe patients with covid-19, three times more than the 229 who needed this type of care “, reads in the analysis released today by ENSP, from Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
“However, it is necessary to continue this work of capacity building of services for possible new phases of the pandemic”, he added, referring that “another plane arrived this week with 60 ventilators from China and there are already in Portugal about 160 ventilators of the order of 500 made by the Central Administration of the Health System “.
Sonae de Azambuja Reports Outbreak
Of the 833 workers tested at Sonae’s logistics base in Azambuja, 175 accused positive of covid-19 and are recovering at home, the Director-General of Health announced today at the press conference about the pandemic.
Graça Freitas said that “company-wide tests” were carried out in the Lisbon district, covering 833 workers, of which 175 are infected with the new coronavirus.
Country’s Leaders Meet to Discuss Covid-19
Experts, politicians and social partners met yesterday, for the seventh time, at Infarmed, to analyse the epidemiological situation of covid-19 in Portugal, on the eve of the Council of Ministers deciding on the third phase of deflation.
This was the seventh meeting of this kind, in which the data related to the first two phases of deflation was presented and analysed, the day before the Council of Ministers meets to decide on the third phase of reopening, scheduled for June 1.
At the end of the seventh meeting between politicians, epidemiologists, technicians and state advisers, at Infarmed, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said that the first effects of the first phase of deflation are already felt, with positive aspects and a concern.
The concern is the recent evolution of the situation in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, “where the R is higher than the national average”, stated the President.
Covid-19: Jamaica residents call on neighbours and visitors to “stay home”
Residents of the Jamaican neighbourhood in Seixal, in the district of Setúbal, agreed to close cafes in this location, but appealed to neighbours and visitors to follow the recommendations and “Stay home”.
“Each one must take precautions and stay at home. If you have to go to work, use the methods that health authorities recommend”, Fernando Coxi, 64, told Lusa.
The resident does not know who the 16 people who are infected with covid-19 are, but argued that the outbreak was caused by people from other locations visiting the neighbourhood’s cafes.
“Many speak of Jamaica, but they are not inhabitants of Jamaica. Who brings this are people who come from outside, do not wear a mask and [the cafes] are overcrowded. We have already presented the issue to the authorities, the chamber is aware and is fighting to see if they can end this whole situation”, he said.
By 11:00 yesterday, the neighbourhood of Vale de Chícharos, better known as Jamaica, was practically deserted and most residents avoided talking to the media.
Leisure
Protection at Beach Bars
A bar on the beach of Santa Cruz, in Torres Vedras, installed acrylic glasses between the tables of the outdoor terrace, to reinforce security measures against the pandemic of covid- 19.
“I already had acrylics as it was a bit of a windy area and I removed them from the beach front and put them up to make partitions between the tables so people are more protected”, explains Filomena Francisco, manager of Medusa Lounge Beach Bar.
With other establishments closed, this beach bar anticipated opening for the last weekend, due to the hot weather and the influx of bathers to the beaches.
Low Occupancy at Nazaré BeachesThe Câmara da Nazaré today considered the potential for occupying the beach defined by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), of 17,100 bathers, too low for the usual occupancy rates.
The mayor, Walter Chicharro (PS) recognises that “we are living in exceptional times, which require exceptional measures”, but still disagrees with the defined occupation capacity.
PSD Present Ideas for Portugal’s Future
The PSD party yesterday presented a set of 26 “ideas and suggestions” in the social area, including the extension of the simplified ‘lay-off’ until the end of the year, the reallocation of resources in public administration and a less “sleepy” state.
At a press conference at the PSD’s national headquarters in Lisbon – the first in person since the covid-19 pandemic -, PSD president Rui Rio announced that these are 26 party contributions, which the Government “may or may not take advantage of “for the Economic and Social Stabilization Program you are preparing.
Economy
Reduction of VAT Rate in Restaurants
The Portuguese Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Association (APHORT) defended today a single 6% VAT rate for food as “the most effective measure” to revive an “anemic” market and with “Weak demand” due to the pandemic.
Considering that “VAT in this context must be neutral”, the association argues that the reduction of the rate “should be seen as a natural measure” and “should be applied exclusively to food and should not be applied to drinks”.
Government Must Be Selective with Aid
The parliamentary leader of the PAN today warned the Government that it will have to choose “who gives its hand” in the current crisis caused by the covid-19, whether the installed interests or the most vulnerable sectors of the population.
“It is urgent that the Government has the courage to confront all those that during the previous crises have been protected. The Government will have to choose who it wants to give help to, whether to the people or to the installed interests, which undermine our democracy, such as tax benefits and other environmentally perverse subsidies to polluting industries “, declared the PAN chairman.
Culture
“Drive-In” Mass
The parish of Alcanede, parish of the municipality of Santarém, holds a ‘drive in’ mass next Sunday, a way it found to not deprive the most vulnerable of worship and allow the faithful to greet without taking risks.
Regional Reports
Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 23 days. There are now 71 recoveries and 19 active cases.
There are 304 people under active monitoring and 149 in self-monitoring. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 12,963 samples from 11,791 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 27 calls from Wednesday to Tuesday, bringing the total number of calls to 7,986. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1029 calls, with 120 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/28/nao-ha-novos-casos-de-covid-19-casos-de-infeccao-activos-continuam-a-ser-19/
Situation of calamity declared in Madeira
Yesterday afternoon, the Madeira Regional Government approved a Resolution declaring the situation of calamity in the Madeira Region, starting on the 1st of June and ending on the 30th of June. Below is partial translation of the main Resolution (a full translation will be published soon):
If necessary, a 14-day mandatory quarantine will be imposed on all people and their luggage that land in Funchal Airport and Porto Santo Airport, and do not present evidence of a negative Covid-19 test that had been carried out 72h before the landing, in laboratories that are certified by national or international authorities. This mandatory confinement will be in hotels requisitioned by the Regional Government. The relevant health authorities could also impose compulsory medical exams and the filling of a questionnaire on the health conditions of each person. This is to ensure the confinement period is successful.
This rule does not apply to patients receiving treatment or to people who are considered to be in an analogous situation, upon checks and guidance by the Regional Health Authority.
This rule does not also apply to Madeira or Porto Santo residents who are traveling between both islands.
The mandatory quarantine period will be spent in requisitioned hotels.
Every person has a duty to comply with all guidelines issued by the relevant health authorities and with all measures issued in this Resolution.
Failure to comply with a legitimate order or warrant issued by the health authorities will be a crime of disobedience and will be punished according to existing legislation.
This Resolution will be enforced and monitored by the relevant Health Authorities and Civil Protection authorities, who are authorised to request the cooperation of the security forces and of the human and material resources of the regional civil service.
This is an exceptional Resolution which will be constantly reviewed by the relevant authorities, and could be amended if the circumstances change.
Two plots of land, belonging to different owners, and required for the building of Novo Hospital do Funchal (New Funchal Hospital) will be purchased for the cost of €242,406.86.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94144/Conselho_de_Governo_aprova_situacao_de_calamidade_para_a_Regiao_a_partir_de_1_de_junho
Free wireless internet in Calheta
The Municipality of Calheta has set up free wireless internet in several municipal public spaces. This is a result of a successful application for the project “WIFI4EU – Free wifi for Europeans”, a project financed by the European Commission that allows citizens and visitors in the European Union to have free and secure wireless internet access in the main places of interest.
The following places in the Municipality of Calheta have free wireless internet:
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/94115/Calheta_disponibiliza_internet_gratis_em_varios_espacos_publicos
Algarve
Beach capacityThe President of the Intermunicipal Community of Algarve (AMAL) expressed his satisfaction today with the indicative numbers for the capacity on the beaches of the region, in the context of the pandemic of covid-19, considering that they will allow to manage the sands, making them safe.
“The figures provided by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) are only indicative, although there is a beach or another, in one or another municipality, in which there may be an adjustment,” said the president of AMAL, António Pina, to Lusa.
APA published on Wednesday the potential occupancy capacity of beaches in the Algarve and Tejo / Oeste regions, taking into account that June 6th marks the beginning of the bathing season, as determined by the Government in the context of the pandemic of 19, and APA is responsible for determining the capacity of the beaches.
In the opinion of the president of the association that aggregates the 16 municipalities in the Algarve, the ratios that were created are an important aid for the management of the Algarve sands, “so that one can create information for those who have to decide and choose a beach in safety”.
“In order to understand if the beach is more or less full, we have to have an indicative number, so the document helps in managing and avoiding conflict. We are evaluating and, if we have to change anything, we are always available, because the important thing is to manage well and carefully, in order to create a safe beach”, he stressed.
Portimão considers that the planned capacity allows safe beaches
The Mayor of Portimão, a municipality with the most watched beach in the western Algarve, considered that the capacity planned for the municipality’s sands allows for “safe beaches”, stressing that the capacity can be changed.
According to the plan that estimates the potential occupancy capacity of the beaches, released by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), Praia da Rocha, in Portimão, has a capacity for 8,800 people, although it is indicated as a beach susceptible to eventual problems of capacity.
Asked by the Lusa agency about the possible stocking problems mentioned in the document, Isilda Gomes said that this indicator only warns of the possibility that the capacity of the beach will be exceeded at certain times, “since it is an urban beach, where it is easier let that happen ”.
“I am not worried, because if we reach a certain point in which we find that the surplus space is too much and that allows us to have more people, APA is available to change, as long as it demonstrates that there is a capacity to receive more people”, he pointed out .
Isilda Gomes (PS) stressed that “the planned capacity is indicative and allows safe beaches”, noting that this capacity of users on the beaches “was estimated according to the area of the sands” and that there is no “opposition” in Portimão what was found”. (Source Lusa)
Alcoutim Municipality reopens services and face-to-face service from June 1
Municipality of Alcoutim informs that, following the de-confinement guidelines, from 1 June, the face-to-face service to the public by the municipal services will resume, within the normal opening hours (from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm).
The same source stated that, the resumption of public attendance to the public by municipal services “will imply conditioned access to municipal buildings”, according to their area and type of services, in order to guarantee “the recommended distance between citizens”, as well as the mandatory disinfection of hands at the entrance to buildings and the mandatory use of a mask.
Those places re-opening include: the Casa dos Condes (Municipal Library), Castle, Museums, Espaço Gerações, Espaço Guadiana and Espaços do Cidadão, he added.
According to the same publication, some sports and leisure activities (physical activity outdoors, in small groups and the guidelines of the Directorate-General for Health) will be restarted. Meanwhile, the “Senior University” and the Municipal Swimming Pools, Pavilions and Soccer Field remain closed; and the water consumption reading service and the cancellation of payment for the service in person, the collection service for places, and the operation of fairs and non-food markets were suspended, he concluded.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/autarquia-de-alcoutim-reabre-servicos-e-atendimento-presencial-a-partir-de-1-de-junho/32443-1
Azores
Situation Report, Azores, 28th May to 29th May – From our colleague in the Azores
Some ‘fresh’ changes to the rules, concerning ‘arrivals’ in the region from outside, that were announced by the Regional President two days ago, ‘came into force’, today.
Up until today, ‘arriving’ passengers could choose one of four options if they wanted to enter the ‘Archipelago’.
One of those, to agree to a ‘14-day quarantine’ in a ‘designated and supervised’ hotel on a voluntary basis at the cost of the regional government, is now ‘off’ the table so the remaining options are:
1) ‘Paper-based’ proof, issued by an accredited laboratory that attests to a ‘negative’ result in the 72 hours prior to flight departure from their airport of origin. Depending on the length of stay, the passenger will have to have further tests on the 5th and 13th days after their initial test. They must contact the local health authority to carry out a new screening test, the result of which will be given within 24 hours.
2) Be ‘tested’ on arrival in the region by the local health authority and remain in isolation in a hotel until the test result is made available, within 48 hours. Again, depending on the length of stay, the passenger will have to have further tests on the 5th and 13th days after their initial test.
3) Return to the destination of origin or any other destination outside the region.
SATA inter-island flights have also been re-started, today as well as ‘maritime’ connections within the central group of islands.
Restaurants and bars on São Miguel are re-opening, too, today.
Meanwhile there have been four more recoveries in the region in the last 24 hours; a 3-year-old child on Pico and 2 men, aged 27 and 35, plus an 88-year-old woman on São Miguel.
With these ‘recovery’ cases, the island of Pico becomes the eighth island in the ‘Archipelago’ without any ‘active’ cases.
As of today, only 2 people, both on the island of São Miguel, are still testing ‘positive’. So, it looks like the Azores could soon be “Covid-19” ‘virus-free’, for a little while, at least!
In summary, there have been 146 ‘positive’ cases with 128 recoveries and 16 deaths since the ‘outbreak’ began. None of the remaining 2 cases are ‘hospitalised’:
Situation Report Thursday 28th May 2020
Introduction
A very good morning to our Safe Communities Portugal readers and colleagues. It is going to be another very hot day across the country and it is really important for everyone to take appropriate measures in terms of managing the heat personally and with our land.
The fire risk in the Algarve, particularly, is VERY HIGH in seven its municipalities. one more than yesterday. Also in the centre of Portugal around Castelo Branco, an area that suffered a great deal in the 2017 fires, is VERY HIGH today. You can monitor the fire risk in your area by visiting our Facebook pages where we posted a link yesterday from the IPMA – we also have a useful SCP guide that we have produced and is available on our website.It is only a few days now until the second Situation of Calamity will come to an end at 23:59 on Sunday 31 May. We will then enter another phase of our lives at a lower state of risk and regulation it is thought and hoped. We are awaiting any announcements by the government, President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers that will emerge so please be assured that SCP will be poised to have any important news, guidance, advice, laws and reports translated into English for our communities as soon as is practicably possible. We recommend that you keep your eyes on our Facebook pages for announcements and appropriate links and our website where we will also file reports and links for your easy access.
Some official announcements about the state of the future are beginning to be made and one such one was the one from the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday in relation to festivals and shows of a similar nature. It was announced that these events will now be able to take place within the guidelines for hygiene and social distancing issued by the DGS. We are awaiting further details when the Decree Law is published that will include specifics on this issue. Keep an eye on our Facebook pages and website for government announcements and measures as they are released.
We are sadly becoming used to stories about fake PPE products being sold and misleading adverts on disinfectants and masks – scammers and fraudsters will also use any situation of concern to the general public anywhere to carry out crimes against individuals. The DGC (Directorate-General for Consumers) and Advertising Self-Regulation body (ARP) released a very useful guide yesterday to inform consumers and asking them to pay special attention to the advertising of these products. SCP has produced an English version of this guide that we have placed on our website for your information and guidance. We have also given a link to a useful WHO video about misinformation about the pandemic.
Again, today at SCP we say…….. please stay safe – from the pandemic and the very warm weather!
DGS Covid – 19 Situation Report
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced this Wednesday 1,356 deaths and 31,292 cases of Covid-19 to date in Portugal.
The number of deaths rose, from Tuesday to Wednesday, by 14, while the number of infected people increased by plus 285, which represents an increase of 0.9%.
Both in terms of deaths and confirmed cases, this is broadly in line with the daily average over last 2 – 3 weeks. The number of recovered cases rose from 18,096 to 18,349. There are 510 inpatients, three less than Tuesday. 66 are in Intensive Care Units, minus five compared to Tuesday. The number of suspected cases to date stands at 316,364.
The North region has the highest number of cases (16,703 – plus 6) and dead (755 – plus 3). In the Center there are 3,690 cases and 235 deaths (plus 1), while in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo there are 10,055 cases (plus 277) and 335 fatalities (plus 10). This is followed by the Algarve (363 cases and 15 deaths), the Azores (135 cases and 15 deaths), Alentejo (256 cases – plus 2 – and 1 dead) and Madeira, with 90 cases.
Lisbon and Tejo Valley
The Director-General of Health, Graça Freitas, said today that the current situation in the region of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, where the trend of increasing new cases of covid-19 continues, “ has already happened ”in other areas of the country.
“What is happening in Lisbon has already happened in other areas of the country. There is a circulation of a virus and this circulation is different according to the localities”and the answer differs because “the populations are not all homogeneous”, said Graça Freitas, at the daily press conference to update information regarding covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Asked about the increase in cases of covid-19 in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, the director-general of Health explained that “the situation is multivariate”, in this area there are “small outbreaks in neighbourhoods, outbreaks in factories and sporadic cases disseminated. among the population”.
Graça Freitas underlined that “there are multiple different situations”, ranging from small outbreaks in “family context”, to the big outbreak of a factory in Azambuja, and “small outbreaks” in Seixal neighbourhoods.
“In Seixal there is good news, in one of the neighbourhoods where there were 16 infected cases, four have already been cured and no new cases appear,” he said, also reporting on another outbreak in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo area, in a home of elderly people in the Santarém district, where 18 users and six professionals have been infected with covid-19 to date.
Experts and politicians meet today to analyse the epidemiological situation of covid-19
Experts, politicians and social partners meet today, for the seventh time, at Infarmed, in Portugal, on the eve of the Council of Ministers deciding on the third phase of deflation.
The presentation session on the “epidemiological situation of covid-19 in Portugal” is an initiative of the Prime Minister, António Costa, to which is joined by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, as well as leaders of political parties with parliamentary seats, employers’ confederations and union structures, as well as State councillors – the latter by videoconference – to hear the experts.
This is the seventh meeting of this kind, in which the data related to the first two phases of deflation will be presented and analysed, the day before the Council of Ministers meets to decide on the third phase of reopening, scheduled for June 1.
At the end of the sixth meeting, on May 14, the President of the Republic stated that Portugal has registered a “very contained deflation”, which does not yet allow “firm conclusions” about the gradual reopening of activities and establishments closed due to the covid-19.
French tests show even mild coronavirus illness leads to antibodies
A medical study in France suggests even mild cases of coronavirus infection, not requiring hospital treatment, produce antibodies in almost all patients, with the body’s defences against the virus increasing during the weeks of recovery.
The research, led by a team from the Pasteur Institute, raises hopes that everyone who has had the disease could acquire some degree of immunity, although it is not clear for how long or to what degree.
The question of immunity has become one of the most vexed issues concerning coronavirus, in terms of governments’ public health policies – including the controversial herd immunity route – and in the understanding of the mechanics of the disease, which divides scientists. Early reports had suggested an absence or limited presence of antibodies in some individuals with mild symptoms.
Other Covid-19 news
Festivals and similar events
The Prime Minister’s office said yesterday that festivals and shows of a similar nature are allowed in indoor or outdoor venues as long as they ensure marked places and respect the rules defined by the Directorate-General for Health.
“(…) may exceptionally take place, either indoors or outdoors, with a designated place, after communication under the terms of the previous number and in compliance with the capacity specifically defined by the Directorate-General for Health according to the rules of physical distance that are adequate in view of the evolution of the COVID-19 disease pandemic “, reads in the decree of law that establishes measures to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic in the cultural and artistic sphere.
In a statement sent to the newsrooms, António Costa’s office also mentions that full payment is guaranteed to the artists in case of cancellation or rescheduling of shows due to Covid-19. This payment covers only artists hired by public entities, namely, municipalities.
On May 7, a statement from the Council of Ministers clearly imposed a ban on the holding of music festivals until September 30.
António Costa’s office tells SIC that the prime minister wanted, with this communiqué, “to underline the importance of the topic”.
The law of the Assembly of the Republic was approved this Wednesday, the document also advances
BeachesThe 216 beaches in three parts of the country are already known: Barlavento and Sotavento (Algarve) and Tejo e Oeste. Those with the greatest capacity to receive vacationers, as of 6th June, are located mainly in the Algarve, as is the case of Faro and Monte Gordo (Vila Real de Santo António), both with 12, 600 places of potential occupation capacity, but also marked as having capacity problems.
But it is Nazaré beach that can receive more bathers: 17 100. In Almada, at Fonte da Telha (divided into three zones), the capacity can reach 14 500 and in Carcavelos (Oeiras), 12 100. The list was revealed on Wednesday by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).
Of the known beaches, it is also in the south of the country that the beaches are found with the least number of bathers. The smallest is the Praia da Marinha, in the municipality of Lagoa, which can receive between 15 to 20 people, depending on the tide. In Albufeira, Arrifes beach can range from 30 to 40 occupants, and Camilo beach, in Lagos, between 40 and 60.
The APA explains that the data refer to the beaches that will open on June 6 and that are still under “informal consultation”. “The rest will be published soon, considering the respective opening dates”.
The capacity of each beach was calculated based on criteria such as the size of the beach, the influence of tides, the distance rules (8.5 square meters per person) and other specific facts associated with coastal risk, such as the existence of cliffs, whose prohibited area is marked with safeguard strips.
Opening of Theatres and cinemas
The Minister of Culture has laid out the rules for the reopening of entertainment venues from 1stf June. Indoor venues will require masks, while outdoor venues will operate with designated spaces which will maintain social distancing.
Indoor spaces must be cleaned between performances, leave a 2 metre gap between the stage and the first occupied row, and adhere to strict hygiene practices in dressing rooms. Intervals must be avoided or kept to a minimum.
Rural Fires GNR surveillance
The Republican National Guard, in view of the worsening risk of rural fires expected to occur in the coming days, will reinforce land patrolling and surveillance throughout the National Territory, in coordination with the other entities, in order to prevent the occurrence of ignitions.
The vast majority of fires recorded in the last year originated from extensive burnings and burning of exploitation leftovers, so it is necessary to raise awareness among citizens about the proper care to be taken in this type of actions.
GNR warns that it is prohibited to carry out extensive fires, without authorization and without the assistance of a certified technician in controlled fire, burning operations or teams of firefighters, a situation that is considered “intentional use of fire” and is subject to fines. Also, to proceed with the burning of cut and hedged bushes and any type of forest and agricultural exploitation leftovers, prior notification to the city council or the parish council is required.
Prime Minister concerning TAP
The Prime Minister affirms that the Executive Committee of TAP has the legal duty of “prudent management” and “has no credibility” a route plan without prior information on the strategy of reopening Portugal’s borders.
These positions were transmitted by António Costa to the agency Lusa, in reaction to the announcement made by the Executive Committee of TAP about the plan to resume routes starting in June.
António Costa began by emphasizing that “border management is the sovereign responsibility of the Portuguese State” and that the current covid-19 pandemic “demanded and requires for an indefinite time the imposition of restrictions on circulation at land, sea and air borders”.
“There is no credibility in any route plan defined by TAP, without prior information on the strategy for reopening borders defined by the Portuguese Republic”, stressed the Prime Minister.
António Costa said he was “obliged to remind the Executive Committee of TAP of the legal duties of prudent and responsible management of the company”.
In response TAP’s Board of Directors announced later in the day that it will “adjust” the announced route resumption plan, ensuring that it will be “subordinated to legal constraints” to mobility, due to the covid- 19.
In a statement, the agency, which is part of the State, which holds 50% of the airline’s capital, indicated that “the company is committed and will immediately collaborate with all economic agents, namely business associations and regional tourism entities”.
Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 22 days. Four people have recovered. There are now 71 recoveries and 19 active cases.
There are 304 people under active monitoring and 149 in self-monitoring. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 12,081 samples from 10,954 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 35 calls from Tuesday to Wednesday, bringing the total number of calls to 7,960. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 1012 calls, with 119 people being monitored.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93995/Madeira_soma_22_dias_seguidos_sem_casos_novos_
Testing for passengers arriving in Madeira
Pedro Ramos, assured that Madeira will be able to process all tests that are carried out on all passengers arriving in Madeira, especially considering that Madeira’s airports are reopening in July.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93949/Covid-19_Mais_de_3000_colaboradores_de_creches_e_infantarios_da_Madeira_testados_ate_sexta-feira
More than 3,000 kindergarten and nursery school staff to be tested
About 3,300 kindergarten and nursery school staff will be tested for Covid-19. Testing is scheduled to be completed by today. This is to ensure a safe reopening of kindergartens and nursery schools on Monday.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93949/Covid-19_Mais_de_3000_colaboradores_de_creches_e_infantarios_da_Madeira_testados_ate_sexta-feira
Flights between Madeira and Porto Santo to resume
Flights between Madeira and Porto Santo, operated by Binter, will resume on Monday (1st of June). This was made possible after intense and permanent negotiations between Binter, the Madeira Regional Government and the Portuguese Government. A small adjustment was made to the flight timetable. The first flight will depart from Funchal Airport at 7h30 and the return flight from Porto Santo will be at 8h30. The afternoon flight will depart from Funchal Airport at 16h55 and the return flight from Porto Santo will be at 17h50. Bookings can now be made online (www.binter.pt), by phone (291 290 129) and through travel agencies.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93981/Binter_retoma_operacoes_entre_a_Madeira_e_Porto_Santo_na_segunda-feira
Porto Santo beach among the safest beaches in EuropeEuropean Best Destinations (EBD), an organisation that promotes tourism and culture at European level, selected Porto Santo beach as amongst the 10 safest (Covid-19) beaches in Europe. This beach was selected on the basis of the large offer of private villas, tourist apartments, small or medium-sized hotels with specific health charter and commitments to travellers, such as cleaning and room disinfection service after each stay and respect for social distancing. Porto Santo is also located near hospitals that have never been overcrowded during the crisis, with an average of hospital beds per inhabitant above the European average.
It is also thought the size of Porto Santo Beach also helps to promote adequate social distancing between beachgoers. Indeed, according to Idalino Vasconcelos, the Mayor of Porto Santo, even if there are thousands and thousands of beachgoers at this beach at the same, the beach will still look empty and there will be plenty of empty space.
EBD also included Comporta Beach (in Alentejo) and Meia Praia Beach (in Lagos) in this list.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93941/Covid-19_Porto_Santo_entre_as_dez_praias_mais_seguras_da_Europa_
https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/best-of-europe/coronavirus-safest-beaches-in-europe/
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/92549/Covid-19_Praia_do_Porto_Santo_sem_problemas_porque_ha_espaco_para_todos
Water supply disruption in Porto Santo
There will be a water supply disruption tomorrow, due to planned work on the water supply chain in order to reduce water leaks. The disruption will take place from 9h00 until 12h00 and will affect Rampa da Fontainha.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93993/Interrupcao_de_abastecimento_de_agua_no_Porto_Santo_
Algarve
State ordered to pay more than 1ME to families of victims of the Maria Luísa beach accidentThe Loulé Tax and Administrative Court (TAF) ordered the State to pay more than one million euros to the families of the five killed for the collapse of a cliff at Maria Luísa beach, in Albufeira, in August 2009.
According to the ruling, with today’s date and which the Lusa agency had access to, Judge Patrícia Martins ordered the State to pay around one million and six thousand euros to two families and a survivor, the boyfriend of one of the fatal victims.
“From the evidence produced, it is concluded that over the years prior to the collapse and between 2008 and 2009, the State, through the entities that are in charge of monitoring the beaches, according to the criterion of the zealous and diligent official, was not demonstrated that he has fulfilled the care duties that he was obliged to monitor the state of deterioration of the leixão”, says the sentence. Source Lousa
President Turismo do Algarve and AMAL challenge TAP flight plan to Algarve
The president of Turismo do Algarve, João Fernandes, and the President of the Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve (AMAL), António Miguel Pina, contest the air route plan for the next two months made public by TAP, as it does not serve the main national tourist destination.
In a statement, João Fernandes and António Miguel Pina, defend that “Before the pandemic, the supposed airline with the country’s flag provided only 3 daily flights from Lisbon to Faro, on a timid air bridge with the national hub. When the pandemic broke out in Europe, TAP was dispatched to supply the already reduced connections to Faro International Airport and, according to the plan now presented, the resumption of activity to the Algarve will be very slow, with only two daily connections in July”.
For the presidents of Turismo do Algarve and AMAL, the plan to retake part of the operation announced Monday by the airline TAP “does not serve the Algarve, nor does it follow the example of the world airline counterparts, who announced a more robust resumption of the operation for the region”, they maintain, citing as an example the companies Edelweiss (with first commercial flight Zurich-Faro on May 28), Luxair Tours (flight Luxembourg-Faro on May 31) or Transavia Netherlands (with operation Amsterdam-Faro from June 4th).
Covid-19: Silves approves exemption from municipal fees for merchants
The Silves Municipal Assembly approved the exemption from paying public space occupation or advertising fees for merchants or service providers who had their activity suspended during the state of emergency, was announced today.
In a statement, the municipality said that local businesspeople and traders can, from now on, “request from the municipal services the reimbursement of fees from March 2020 onwards”, being exempt from any fees until December.
“Through this tax exemption, the municipality of Silves will have to give up its revenue, estimated at around 93 thousand euros, to immediately relieve the negative impact of the economic paralysis resulting from the closure or the forced suspension of the activity of commercial establishments and provision of services ”, the note reads.
COVID-19: Albufeira tests 200 nursery professionals
Municipality wants to guarantee safe return to activity in kindergartens.
The municipality of Albufeira started a test period on COVID-19 yesterday, Tuesday, May 26, covering around 200 day care professionals who handle a total of 1007 children, from educators, technicians, animators, auxiliaries, cooks and others, in order to “guarantee a safe return”.
The tests are supported by the municipality and end at the beginning of next week, being carried out using the RT-PCR methodology, performed by the reference laboratory, determined by the Regional Health Administration in the municipality of Albufeira – Aqualab.
The testing covers the 11 public kindergartens of the public network, which comprise a total of 43 classrooms distributed by the various school groups. The kindergartens of Olhos de Água, Vale Carro, Vale Serves, Ferreiras, Paderne, Guia, Vale Parra, Albufeira – Av. Ténis, Albufeira – Caliços, Vale Pedras and Albufeira – Correeira are included. It also includes the Infantário da Cooperativa “Os Piratas” and APEXA.
https://www.barlavento.pt/algarve/covid-19-albufeira-faz-testes-a-200-profissionais-de-infantarios
Azores
Situation Report, Azores, 27th May to 28th May – From our colleague in the Azores
The regional government has come up with a plan, concerning ‘Alojamento Local’, that it thinks will help both the owners as well as families who are looking for properties to ‘rent’. This relatively ‘new’ and growing tourism sector has been ‘badly-hit’ this year because tourists who’d normally be staying in them, haven’t been able to visit the ‘Archipelago’ as a result of the “Coronavirus” crisis with related ‘flight cancellations’ and ‘quarantines’. The idea is that the government will lease the properties directly from the owners and then ‘sub-let’ them to the ‘families-in-need’. The cost will depend on location, size, and decorative order but prospective tenants are being promised a big ‘discount’ on the previous, normal rates. A ‘selection’ process will take place and successful applicants will be expected to sign a ‘contract’ for a minimum of either 2 or 3 years, still to be decided.
Meanwhile, the Regional Health Authority has reported ‘no change’ to the covid-19 situation in the Azores.
So, in summary, there have been 146 ‘positive’ cases with 124 recoveries and 16 deaths since the outbreak began. None of the remaining 6 cases are ‘hospitalised’:
Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 27th May
Introduction
Good Morning to a very warm Wednesday in Portugal! The weather will be extremely hot in many areas and the UV levels high, so we reiterate our daily message this week to remind our communities to take seriously precautions against the sun – lots of sun lotions, hats and clothing. Please also remember to carry PPE and also some extras to give to our fellow citizens who may have forgotten to carry them and need to enter a premise.
SCP has over the weeks of the pandemic translated many important instructions, guidance and advice issued by the government and governmental agencies – yesterday we consolidated these guides and tables on our website so that you can access all of these in one place – please take some time today to look at these regulations and read or download those that are relevant to you and your family. The subjects covered include the use of beaches, food handling, sports facilities, public transport rentals and the use of face masks as well as others.
Yesterday, we also translated and published the new measures issued by SEF (the Border organization) for foreign citizens for the application of and renewals of residence permits. There are 250,000 of us who are foreign residents according to official figures – around 1 in 40 of the population. The new service allows for residents to make applications via the SEF Portal rather than have to attend in person at a service desk – this is a very good and welcome initiative.
It was another day of ´flat-lining´ in relation to Covid-19 within Portugal – very sad news that another 12 of our fellow citizens lost their lives to the virus, but in terms of the figures, all the signs were positive with deaths with very little difference day-by-day for many days, as well as recoveries increasing from the virus and a low number of people in ICUs across the country.
Today we have some interesting events and reports to update you with. We hope that you find the reports from our volunteers and specialists across Portugal and the islands useful. We passed the 26,000 figure for followers over the last few days for which we hope signifies that we are providing a service that is seen as important to the expatriate communities in Portugal and other communities who visit our fantastic country regularly as tourists or have homes here.
We are just entering the major fire risk season – so we recommend that if you have land that needs clearance that this occurs as soon as is possible and if you live close to or next to land owned by others that pose a risk to your house and those of other homeowners, that this is reported to the GNR if it has not been cleared by the end of this month.
Please stay safe – from the pandemic and warm weather!
Covid-19 Statistics
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced this Tuesday 1,342 deaths and 31,007 cases of Covid-19 to date in Portugal.
The number of deaths rose, from Monday to Tuesday, by 12, while the number of infected people increased by plus 219, which represents an increase of 0.7%.
Both in terms of deaths and confirmed cases, this is broadly in line with the daily average over last 2 – 3 weeks. The number of recovered cases rose from 17,822 to 18,096.
There are 513 inpatients, 28 less than Monday. 71 are in Intensive Care Units, minus one compared to Monday. The number of suspected cases to date is 313,886
The North region is the one with the highest number of deaths (752), followed by the region of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley (325), the Center (234), the Algarve (15), the Azores (15) and the Alentejo, which registers a death, and the Autonomous Region of Madeira without a death record.
Lisbon and the Vale of Tejo
The DGH explained that there are several community outbreaks in this region and the Authorities have 11,359 people under surveillance, this includes those infected and their close contacts. There has been 209 new infections recorded in the last 24 hours, most of those infected are young and healthy and are being followed up at home. Local Authorities have acted swiftly and directly in those area where there are community transmissions.
Prison Visits
Visits to Prisons and Guardianship Educational Establishments must be controlled in order to meet the new guidelines. Visits must be scheduled and last no more than 30 minutes. Methods to avoids crowds at entrances and exits must be implemented, facilities for hand washing and toilets need to be in place.
If it necessary to place physical barriers to maintain the 2 metre distance, visual and auditory contact can be maintained. Video conferencing can be used if physical distancing is not possible.
Super Contagious Individuals
A Spanish study has found that between a third and a half of infected cases are especially contagious, but as yet no such study has been carried out in Portugal.
The DGH believes that 2 separate factors contribute to this, the virus itself and the pattern of an individual ‘s social interaction.
Infections in Nursing homes
The Secretary of State for Health was pleased to report that the numbers of infections in this area are falling .“ We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable while responding to the pandemic. “There are now 285 infections.
Diagnostic tests and total infected
Portugal has now passed the barrier of 750,000 tests, 430,000 people have been counted as registered on the Covid- 19 platform, and currently 14,700 are under clinical surveillance.
Of the total infected 58% are now cured. There are 14 children hospitalised in Lisbon, 2 in Intensive Care, all suffering from other serious illnesses.
Investigation of Saliva and Virus Transmission
The potential of saliva in the study of covid-19, especially in the diagnosis of the new coronavirus is being approached by researchers at the University of Évora. According to the study “saliva may be a good help in responding to the need to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection”, mainly to “test the population for the presence of antibodies to the virus, clarify the mechanisms involved in the development of this disease and find targeted and effective treatment solutions”.
Portugal and Spain Work towards a Solution
Portugal and Spain want to join efforts in the global response to the covid-19 pandemic and one of the answers could be to use nanotechnology to detect infections by the new coronavirus more quickly, said the Iberian science ministers today. The two countries are “ready and able to contribute with solutions” both in terms of diagnosis, therapies and vaccines.
“We still lack the technology to have a quick method of detecting whether someone has the virus or not. The tests we currently have still depend on very complex solutions, “he said, reiterating that Portugal and Spain have already learned that” they are better together “and that scientific collaboration between the two countries should expand further in the area of medicine.
Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (SPMI) and hospital occupancy
The Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (SPMI) carried out a survey of 85 directors of Internal Medicine services at “Covid hospitals” to assess the involvement of internists in the treatment of those infected with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the activity carried out with patients not infected.
Until April 29, 63 responses were obtained from “Covid hospitals”, which corresponds to 74% of the total, SPMI said in a statement.
The conclusions point out that “in hospitals the capacity of available covid infirmary beds was 1,963, with an occupancy rate of 48.8%».
“There were also 620 intensive care beds for Covid patients, with an occupancy rate of 31.6%», says the study, according to which specialists and interns with specific training in Internal Medicine integrated all Covid Inpatient Units of hospitals in the country .
In 65% of the wards dedicated to these patients, Internal Medicine specialists and many other specialists worked together, while in 35% the management was fully ensured by internists, the SPMI said.
Other Covid 19 news
President of the Republic promulgates diploma on banning festivals until September 30
The President of the Republic promulgated the parliamentary diploma on the prohibition of festivals and shows of a similar nature until September 30 due to Covid-19, but with comments on “the guarantee of the principle of equality”.
“In view of this legal framework, the guarantee of the principle of equality between citizens, the transparency of qualifications, their application and supervision, and the clarity and timely knowledge of the health rules applicable in specific cases are of particular importance”, considers Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in a note published on the Presidency of the Republic’s website.
The diploma in question establishes that “it is prohibited, until September 30, 2020, to perform live in indoor or outdoor venues of festivals and shows of a similar nature declared as such in the communication act made under the terms of decree-law no 90/2019, of June 5 “.
Economy
Agricultural Sector
The Minister of Agriculture, Maria do Céu Albuquerque, affirmed that the priority of the area of governance she supervises is to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and “continue to guarantee economic growth”. The Minister also underlined the importance of “creating added value and the necessary support to strengthen national production, streamlining the conditions for the recovery of the positive evolution of the trade balance verified in recent years”.
“We started a close monitoring of prices and marketing conditions for products, raw materials and food products, simplified administrative regulation rules and streamlined payments,” she said.
Movement of EU Citizens
Five European countries, including Portugal, defended today that tracking applications can “play an important role” for the exit of the crisis, being the “current challenge” to develop effective technical solutions beyond the borders of the states’ members. The free movement of goods and the free movement of people will be made possible using digital applications to allow citizens to be constantly interconnected in Europe, despite the physical distance.
Taxes Supporting Charity Organisations
Consignment of the Personal Income Tax (IRS) is even more important at a time marked by the covid-19 pandemic, an issue pointed out yesterday the executive director of Operation Red Nose, stressing that there are no costs for taxpayers.
“The IRS consignment has for many years been fundamental to the activities developed by the third sector [associations and non-profit entities] and, for us, it is the first source of financing” – Operation Nariz Vermelho
According to the official, 61% of Portuguese do not pay 0.5% of the IRS, “wasting the opportunity to support the causes in which they believe”.
Leisure
Restaurant Capacity
Despite the restrictions imposed by the authorities, the bifanas houses in Vendas Novas, in the Évora district, “gained” space, after the municipality had closed streets for the installation of terraces. With a total capacity for 120 people, the space, which was formerly used for circulation and parking for cars, allows each of the five steak houses in the vicinity to place six tables and 24 terrace chairs.
Education
RTP Television Classes
RTP Memória’s audience stabilized after the success of the #EstudoEmCasa (I Study at Home) class debut, but parents and principals say students continue to attend and point out the public’s initial curiosity as a possible explanation.
On the day the distance learning project started, “RTP Memória was the most viewed channel with the ‘target’ 04-14 years old, registering 42.3 thousand viewers and a share of 14.3%”, he announced at the time the station in a statement.
However, the daily evolution of broadcasts, made available to Lusa by RTP, points to a downward trend over the first week and to a later stabilization of audiences.
Sports
Citizens Exercising Less Often
Two out of three Portuguese reduced the intensity and frequency of training during the quarantine, according to a study that analyzed the impact of covid-19 on outdoor sports and concluded that 26% started training in closed space. More than one in four (26.2%) of the Portuguese who participated in the study had to buy equipment to maintain training.
Travel
Ryanair Resumes Flights
Ryanair resumes flying to the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada and Lajes on July 1, aiming to resume “approximately 90%” of the routes planned for the summer in Portugal before the beginning of the health crisis. The new flight schedule is now available on Ryanair’s website, and customers can now book their trips.
Environment
Wasting of Masks and Gloves
The environmental association Zero warned today of the unhealthy effects that the masks and gloves left on the street can cause and asks the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) to raise awareness.
The association is requesting that the DGS sensitize the citizens “in the sense of not putting the discarded gloves in the ecopoints, but in containers for undifferentiated waste”.
Enforcement
Maritime Police promise special attention to unsupervised beaches
The commander-in-chief of the Maritime Police (PM) revealed today that special attention will be paid to unsupervised beaches during the bathing season, reinforcing vigilance when there are more bathers in these areas.
At a hearing in the National Defense parliamentary commission, Vice Admiral Luís Carlos de Sousa Pereira said that, in an “atypical” bathing season, due to the covid-19 pandemic, with special rules on physical distance, it would be normal for people to go to beaches not monitored.
“What we want is that the beaches are not crowded and people are distributed on the beaches with the greatest capacity”, said Sousa Pereira, explaining, next, the operation of the “SeaWatch” program, which has existed for ten years and pays special attention to these areas, which uses surveillance with an off-road vehicle through the sands.
Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 21 days. There are still 23 active cases and 67 recoveries.
There are 303 people under active monitoring and 150 in self-monitoring. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 11,583 samples from 10,493 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 29 calls from Monday to Tuesday, bringing the total number of calls to 7,8925. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 997 calls, with 116 people being monitored.
A pregnant woman who had already recovered from Covid-19 was hospitalised yesterday, at the dedicated Covid-19 ward at Hospital Central do Funchal.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/26/ram-continua-com-23-casos-de-infeccao-activos-por-covid-19-e-o-mesmo-numero-de-recuperados-que-ontem/
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93888/Covid-19_Gravida_recuperada_da_doenca_foi_hospitalizada
Salesians to donate 650 masks to care home
Today, at 16h30, the Salesians Foundation (Fundação Salesianos) and the group of friends called G12 (Grupo de Amigos) will donate 650 face masks at Lar da Bela Vista (care home). The group will be represented by Padre José Jorge (the Headteacher of the Colégio Salesianos Funchal), Padre António Marcelino (the Administrator) and everyone who contributed to this campaign. A representative from the Madeira Social Security Institute (Instituto de Segurança Social da Madeira), which is responsible for Estabelecimento Bela Vista, will also attend the delivery ceremony. All relevant safety and distancing rules will be complied with, particularly because visits to the care home are still banned.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93894/_Salesianos_entregam_650_mascaras_ao_Lar_da_Bela_Vista
Checkout staff to volunteer for food bank
On the 22nd and 23rd of May, the leadership and a team from Banco Alimentar da Madeira (Madeira branch of one of the most famous food banks in Portugal) visited all Pingo Doce and Continente stores in the Madeira Region, to explain the importance of checkout staff in spreading awareness of the campaign to raise food vouchers. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is impossible for the usual Banco Alimentar volunteers to receive food donations. As such, and until the 31st of May, the checkout staff will be enthusiastic Banco Alimentar volunteers. The campaign “Ajuda Vale” entails seven basic goods (oil, sausages, tuna, milk, rice, beans and olive oil), with prices ranging from €0,48 to €1,99 at Continente and €0,48 to €1,29 at Pingo Doce, where it is also possible to donate a CABAZ worth €4,11. Banco Alimentar reinforced the appeal with the following slogan: “Be a volunteer too! Request your voucher at the checkout and help to ensure that no plate remains empty.”
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93881/Operadores_de_caixa_do_Pingo_Doce_e_Continente_tornam-se__voluntarios_do_Banco_Alimentar
Water supply disruptions
There will water supply disruptions tomorrow, due to planned work on the water supply chain in order to reduce water leaks. The following areas will be affected:
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93854/Interrupcao_no_abastecimento_de_agua_na_Ribeira_Brava_e_Tabua
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93883/Interrupcao_de_abastecimento_de_agua_no_Arco_de_Sao_Jorge_esta_quinta-feira
Algarve
Project “COVIDAlgarve” yesterday promoted a new awareness campaign in the municipality of Lagos
The students of the Integrated Master in Medicine at the University of Algarve were again in Lagos yesterday to promote another awareness raising action to help the population in combating the pandemic by COVID-19.
According to a statement from the Lagos City Hall, a group of eight students from the 5th year of Medicine undertook this, with the support of the municipality and parishes in the municipality, security forces (GNR and PSP), Civil Protection, Voluntary Firefighters from Lagos and Intermarché, to various housing areas in the city of Lagos (Bairro dos Moinhos, Bairro 28 de Setembro and Bairro 25 de Abril) and to the villages of Chinicato and Espiche.
In this initiative, students promote the action “Disinfect the Algarve”, which consists of creating awareness and explanations about the correct hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette measures and compliance with social distance, in accordance with the rules of the World Health Organization and Girector General of Health.
The information is accompanied by the delivery of an alcohol gel and community masks, the latter provided by the Municipality of Lagos, read in the same statement.
Fire to the north of AlteA fire that broke out yesterday at 15.27 hrs in a bush area, in Águas Frias de Baixo, in the parish of Alte, in the municipality of Loulé was brought under resolution at 17.56 hrs.
At its height a total of 106 operatives supported by 26 vehicles and 3 aerial means were deployed.
This was the first fire this year where over 100 operatives had been deployed.
According to the District Command for Relief Operations (CDOS) the fire consumed “scrub and scattered forest stands”. According to the same source “there are no homes at risk”. A JCB machine was also used to help fight the flames.
Public petition “For the Construction of the new Lagos Hospital to be considered
The Assembly of the Republic will consider on Wednesday a petition promoted by the Municipal Assembly of Lagos that recommends to the Government the “urgent construction of a new hospital” in that Algarve city to increase the efficiency of the National Health Service.
The public petition “For the Construction of the new Lagos Hospital”, in the district of Faro, entered the parliament in March 2019, having gathered 4,580 signatures since it was launched by the municipal council in December 2017.
In the document, the Lagos Municipal Assembly justifies the construction of a new hospital unit due to the fact that “the current hospital has “been impaired in its capacity to provide services to the population” of the three municipalities it serves: Lagos, Vila do Bishop and Aljezur, which form the Terras do Infante.
“Valences, services and human and material resources, namely diagnostic services, were removed and maternity and the operating room were closed, the latter had played a very significant role in reducing waiting lists, since populations of other municipalities in the Algarve and Alentejo ”, reads the petition.
Azores
Situation Report, Azores, 26th May to 27th May – From our colleague in the Azores
With just over a handful of ‘positive’ “Covid-19” cases left on 2 islands in the region, Pico and São Miguel, the President of the Government of the Azores, Vasco Cordeiro, says that “trust and security” are the ‘keywords’ for the resumption of tourism in the region. This was echoed by representatives from a wide range of tourist organisations with whom he’d met alongside the Regional department for “Energy, Environment and Tourism”. However, the local representative of the “Hotel Association of Portugal” (AHP) Fernando Neves expressed concern about the expected ‘lack of business’ this year and said that the government will need to continue supporting the industry, financially, during these difficult and uncertain times.
Meanwhile, the Regional Health Authority has reported two ‘fresh’ recoveries in the 24 hours up until 16.00 hrs. on Tuesday 26/05/2020. Both of them, a 23-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, were workers at the “Covid-19” ‘troubled’ “Santa Casa da Misericórdia” residential care home for the elderly in Nordeste from where, sadly, 12 people have died.
In summary, there have been 146 ‘positive’ cases with 124 recoveries and 16 deaths. None of the remaining 6 cases are ‘hospitalised’:
Portugal Situation Report Tuesday 26th May
Introduction
Just a very short introduction today as we await details that will emerge this week concerning the further opening of our economy in Portugal – in fact not just the economy, but also other essential areas of our collective lives. Yesterday, the government issued a Decree Law concerning the regulation to the access and occupation of beaches which begins on SATURDAY 6 JUNE, please remember this date.
Please take some time to review the special rules for car parking, new colour signaling system, disposal of waste and swimming pools for which SCP has provided a translation on our Facebook Pages and on our website – this is very important information if you have not already viewed it and we recommend that you download this information for regular reference as the season opens. This is a very user-friendly matrix covering all areas of beach use.
SCP posted the latest DGS figures announced yesterday which continued to show a sad, but low number of daily deaths across Portugal – another figure less than 15 across the country. The number of recovered cases increased again and the number of people in ´in-patient´ care and ICU also decreased meaning that the figures are all still going in the right direction thankfully.
We hope that you took the time to see our special post on Facebook about the work of our fantastic pro-bono volunteers on a daily basis, 7 days a week, for several months which has been a truly amazing effort by them all. We thank you our volunteers so much (if you are reading) from the SCP Core Response Team, and I am sure on behalf of the communities that we serve. Our ´Day in the life of SCP´ shows the extent to which our volunteers provide information for our collective well-being and knowledge at this difficult time. As we posted – it is ´a daily team effort´.
We also, again, take this opportunity to remind you again that we are in a period of sustained high temperatures and UV and today will be no different. Please take appropriate measures to protect you and your family during this week. Please also carry a few spare masks to give to our fellow citizens that you may come across during your day who either have no masks because they cannot afford them or because they have forgotten to carry them.
DGS Report Covid 19 Update
According to the epidemiological bulletin released by the Directorate-General for Health on Monday, compared with Sunday, there were 14 more deaths and 165 new cases of Covid-19 in Portugal, increasing the numbers to date to 1,330 deaths and 30,788 cases respectively.
There was an increase of 1.1% in deaths.
The number of recovered cases rose from 17,549 to 17,822. There were 531 inpatients, five less than Sunday. Some 72 are in Intensive Care Units, minus six compared to Sunday.
The number of suspected cases to date stands at 311,223.
Covid-19 Update
Survey to estimate the incidence rate of Covid-19
The National Serological Survey to Covid-19 that aims to estimate the incidence rate of infection by the new coronavirus in the population residing in Portugal, started yesterday across the country, announced the National Institute Ricardo Jorge (INSA)
This population-based survey, which includes five cross-sectional epidemiological studies, aims to assess the presence of antibodies against the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for Covid-19 and to monitor its evolution over time.
For its implementation, 1,720 people aged 10 or over and 352 children up to the age of nine will be selected, who use one of the approximately 100 laboratories or hospitals of the National Health Service partners to carry out routine laboratory analyses.
Over 30% of consultations and postponed surgeries were rescheduled.
“By the end of last week, more than 30% of consultation and surgeries, which had been suspended, were already rescheduled, without the use of additional mechanisms said the Minister of Health, Marta Temido yesterday.
This is a work that will continue in the coming days and weeks, and we are confident that the SNS will continue to respond in times of non-Covid-19 or lower incidence of Covid-19 with the same performance and same capacity that responded during the pandemic,”said the Minister of Health.
The minister responded about the recovery plan of clinical activity suspended due to the pandemic, at the daily press conference on the situation of Covid-19 in Portugal.
The recovery plan for the suspended activity “is being designed” and based on “the surveys made by the institutions themselves”, said Marta Temido.
DGS – “Tests are like a photograph”
Test is like a photograph, it is a snapshot of a given situation at a point in time, but there is no guarantee that a negative test today will not present as a positive test tomorrow. Tests are performed with regard to a strategic risk assessment. From the available data, 45 % of infections arise from within the household, 19% from the workplace, 11% from nursing homes, and 10% are transmitted in a community setting. Likewise 50% are symptomatic, 33% are asymptomatic.
Coimbra
In Coimbra, the emergency service of Hospital dos Covões (General Hospital), remodelled in 2006, was the epicentre of the fight against the pandemic of the covid-19, in a process with some initial difficulties, but which those responsible consider it successful.
On Friday, the urgency and the intermediate care ward were relatively quiet, confirming the reduction in demand that has been occurring in recent weeks, after a peak in April, which did not reach the designed capacity.
Lisbon – Distribution of masks
The Lisbon City Council will distribute masks to people with socio-economic needs and isolated elderly people, according to a proposal approved today at the executive’s meeting.
According to the document, which was presented by the CDS-PP, a location will be created on the premises of each Parish Council for “free masks to be lifted by people with socioeconomic needs”.
Masks will also be delivered to the homes of the people signaled by the Radar Project, in collaboration with the boards and the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.
Mental Health
The National Institute of Health Ricardo Jorge (INSA) is developing a study to assess the impact of covid-19 on the mental health and well-being of professionals who are at the forefront of combating pandemic.
Chronically ill
The Saúde em Diálogo Platform, which represents various patient associations, wrote to the Presidency of the Republic and the Government to ask for help in creating an additional protection regime for chronically ill patients, entity.
WHO Response to Covid – 19
The 73rd World Health Assembly was convened by teleconference yesterday. The following items were agreed by member states.
Covid-19 related topics
European study concludes that wine consumption increased during confinement
A European study released today concluded that the frequency of wine consumption “increased markedly” in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal with the confinement and that the main sources of supply were supermarkets and personal wine cellars.
Promoted by the European Association of Wine Economists (EUAWE) and the Wine and Spirits Chair at the University of Bordeaux, the survey aimed to understand how confinement, during the covid-19 pandemic, affected the behaviour of European wine consumers.
Portugal participated in this work through João Rebelo, Researcher at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), in Vila Real, and vice-president of EUAWE.
In this first study, the survey took place between 17 April and 10 May, based on 6,600 responses obtained until April 30 in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.
The academy from Trás-os-Montes explained “that the sample does not intend to be representative of the population of the countries studied, but corresponds, above all, to the population of consumers of wine and other alcoholic beverages”.
In the conclusions revealed today by UTAD it appears that, in the four countries, the frequency of wine consumption “increased sharply” with confinement, having “decreased” in beer and spirits.
Rent repayments
The President of the Republic enacted this Monday a law that extends until September the regime that allows struggling housing tenants to use a loan to pay rent and non-housing to defer their payment.
“The President of the Republic enacted the law passed by the Assembly of the Republic that changes the exceptional regime for situations of delay in the payment of rent due under the terms of urban housing and non-housing contracts, within the scope of the Covid- 19 “, indicates a note published on the website of the Presidency of the Republic.
At issue is the diploma that extends the terms provided for in the law approved in April, with regard to the use of loans from the Housing and Urban Rehabilitation Institute (IHRU) by housing tenants with declining incomes and deferred payment income from non-housing tenants.
In the case of non-residential rents, the extension of the tenant protection is intended for commercial spaces that remain closed or with suspended activity, determining the diploma that “until September 1, 2020”.
Education
The Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, said that Higher Education must play an active role in promoting the return of students to face-to-face education.
“If there was a sign of great modernity when adopting distance learning, now it is also wanted in giving great confidence to the population in the resumption of face-to-face activities”, he said, after his visit to the Higher School of Health Technology of Coimbra.
Manuel Heitor stressed that “many of the theoretical and practical activities, including assessment, must have a face-to-face component”. “Without learning and without further education, there is no return to social and economic life,” he added.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education today considered that teaching “lives on the interaction between people”, ruling out the possibility of distance work replacing the face-to-face model in the post-covid period.
Almost 90% of teachers are using videoconferencing platforms to teach distance classes in the 3rd period, and most admit working more hours with the new teaching model.
According to the preliminary results of a survey by Universidade Nova de Lisboa on distance learning, the 2,647 teachers surveyed say they worked, on average, an additional 11 hours a week and 88% say they teach by videoconference.
Politics and Economy
The Prime Minister, António Costa, begins today to receive parties with parliamentary representation at the official residence in São Bento, to present them with the proposal for an economic and social stabilization program resulting from the pandemic of Covid-19.
ENP deputy José Luís Ferreira said today that the Government has shown openness to suspend payment this year on account of the IRC and to create a treasury fund for small and micro companies.
Camping
AHRESP today considered that the limitation to two thirds in the occupation of camping and caravanning areas, imposed in the reopening of the sector, can be fatal for many companies, with the prospect of a “very sharp drop in business”
Religion
The Sanctuary of Fátima will resume the celebrations with the presence of pilgrims starting on Saturday, guaranteeing safety conditions for the largest number of people.
The Sanctuary of Fátima, in the municipality of Ourém, district of Santarém, announced today that “to guarantee the participation of the largest number of people in safety, in strict compliance with the rules defined by the health authorities”. It will concentrate in the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity most masses.
The bishop of Vila Real, António Augusto Azevedo, recommends the postponement of weddings and baptisms and maintains the suspension of processions, parties and pilgrimages, measures that aim to help overcome the pandemic.
The return of community religious ceremonies is scheduled for Saturday.
Flights
TAP flight plan for 247 weekly flights in July
The airline’s operation for the end of this month will count on 18 flights a week. The number rises to 27 weekly calls until the end of June and 247 in July.
This Monday TAP published its flight plan for the next two months, which involves 27 weekly calls in June and 247 in July, the majority being from Lisbon, according to data released by the airline.
Throughout this month and as some of the restrictions imposed on airlines were lifted, TAP added flights, namely to London and Paris, between Porto and Lisbon, two flights a week to São Paulo and a weekly flight to Rio de Janeiro. January, with the result that TAP’s operation at the end of May will be 18 flights per week.
In June, according to the same plan, the airline plans to re-start more intercontinental flights, including two a week to New York (Newark), one to Luanda, on the 15th, and the other to Maputo. In Portugal, connections between Lisbon and Madeira will become daily, and at the end of June TAP will have 27 weekly flights.
In July, the carrier expects to significantly increase its connections, albeit at levels that are far from the three thousand a week it recorded before the pandemic.
Madeira Situation report – prepared by Daniel Fernandes
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 20 days. There are still 23 active cases and 67 recoveries.
There are 362 people under active monitoring and 146 in self-monitoring. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 10,877 samples from 9,830 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 26 calls from Sunday to Monday, bringing the total number of calls to 7,896. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 973 calls, with 116 people being monitored.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93796/Madeira_soma_20_dias_seguidos_sem_casos_novos_
Lifeguards to receive training on Covid-19
The Funchal Harbourmaster (Capitania do Funchal) will provide training for Professional Lifeguards, to prepare them for the bathing season and for the new rescue procedures. The aim is to prepare lifeguards for acting in Covid-19 related scenarios when providing rescue and assistance to beachgoers.
It is still unclear if lifeguards will also have the duty of checking if beach capacity limits are being complied with, in additional to their usual surveillance and rescue duties.
At national level, lifeguards will have to wear safety goggles, safety suits and face masks when providing assistance and rescue. It is also unclear if this will also be the case in the Madeira Region.
It is already known that Autoridade Nacional Marítima (National Maritime Authority) has automatically extended the certification of lifeguards who had not lost it this year or who would have lost it until the 15th of October, without having to undertake the usual and specific recertification tests and exams, which did not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93757/Nadadores_Salvadores_com_formacao_sobre_a_Covid-19_promovida_pela_Capitania_do_Funchal
Care home visits to resume
Visits to the aged in Madeira care homes will resume on the 1st June. All residents, staff and visitors must comply with strict safety and hygiene rules.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/25/visitas-aos-lares-retomadas-a-1-de-junho-na-regiao/
TAP to resume flights to Madeira
TAP announced it will resume daily flights, connecting Lisbon/Porto and Funchal, in June. A full list of all TAP flights gradually resuming is available on the following link:
https://www.flytap.com/en-pt/promo/ready-to-go?accordionid=deeb1b68-b897-4829-beea-87b3f684b398-content
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/25/tap-retoma-em-junho-ligacoes-diarias-com-a-madeira/
More passengers landed in Madeira
Thirty passengers, mostly students, landed in Funchal yesterday. Twelve of the passengers did not head for quarantine at Hotel Vila Galé, because they had presented evidence certifying a negative Covid-19 test or a sanitary declaration.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93747/Doze_dos_30_que_chegaram_hoje_a_Madeira_apresentaram_teste_e-ou_declaracao_sanitaria
Hotel Quinta do Estreito to reopen
Hotel Quinta do Estreito will reopen on the 29th of May, with a themed weekend devoted to children (in Portugal it will be Children’s Day on the 1st of June). Bookings and information requests can be made by email (quintaestreito@charminghotelsmadeira.com) or telephone (965593421).
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93711/Hotel_Quinta_do_Estreito_abre_a_29_de_maio
Algarve Situation report
The Lagos Chamber will distribute 100,000 community masks to the population. 
The distribution of the masks began on Friday, May 22, with the local Private Institutions of Social Solidarity, schools in the municipality, Civil Protection and security forces.
As of 25 May, this was conducted through local door-to-door contact, with local commerce and in some residential neighborhoods, namely in conjunction with other initiatives, such as the case of the COVID-Algarve project (awareness raising actions promoted students of the last year of Medicine at the University of Algarve).
The masks will also be made available to residents, for collection between the 1st and the 26th of June, in various service locations (in the City Hall, in the Parish Councils and in the municipal markets), upon presentation of an identification document.
Each citizen will receive a kit with three reusable masks made of washable material, to allow greater durability.
The municipality reinforces, however, the information that the use of a mask, although constituting an additional protection measure, does not replace the rules of social distance, respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene and the use of physical barriers, and must be used properly.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/05/lagos-distribui-100-mil-mascaras-pela-populacao/
Municipalities deliver ventilators to the University Hospital Center of the Algarve
The Intermunicipal Community of Algarve (AMAL) delivered on Tuesday, the 26th of May, 20 invasive ventilators to the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA).
Delivery took place at 3 pm at the Hospital de Faro, and was attended by local councilors from the Algarve.
These ventilators S1 100 Superstar, correspond to the first 20 of the 30 that were purchased. The remaining 10 are expected to arrive in our country on the next flight from China.
The 16 Municipal Councils of the Algarve transferred to the Academic Center for Research and Biomedical Training in the Algarve (ABC) about two million euros for the acquisition of equipment and materials needed by hospital units in the region to combat Covid-19.
AMAL’s contribution resulted from a meeting with the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve and the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/05/municipios-entregam-ventiladores-ao-centro-hospitalar-universitario-do-algarve/
Covid.19: More than 4,000 visors have already been produced at the Loulé production center
In an initiative by Arlindo Martins, a professor at the Loulé Secondary School, which had the support of the Municipality of Loulé, more than 4000 visors produced at the Gama Lobos Palace in Loulé have already been distributed by several institutions from the western to the eastern Algarve.
The information is advanced by the municipality, which also says that at the end of March, a period in which the COVID-19 pandemic had its most critical phase in the country, “the professor decided to start printing 3D visors, aimed mainly at professionals that were (and continue to be) at the forefront of combating the new coronavirus “.
The Municipality immediately joined the initiative, in terms of the provision of space, having transformed part of the Gama Lobo Palace into the headquarters for the production of visors in the city. Municipal technicians helped in the production and a large part of the equipment and material was made available and purchased by the Chamber (3D printers, transparencies, rubber bands and PLA filament).
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/covid19mais-de-4-mil-viseiras-ja-foram-produzidas-no-centro-de-producao-de-loule/32377-1
Azores
Situation Report, Azores, 25th May to 26th May – From our colleague in the Azores
The President of the Regional Government, Vasco Cordeiro has announced that air connections between the islands of the ‘Archipelago’ will resume later this week. Until now, there have been tight restrictions with ‘special authorisation’ required for ‘travel’ but that won’t be required from this Friday.
Connections to the continent and beyond by SATA “Azores Airlines” will probably start in late June after consultations between several government departments including ‘Health’ and ‘Tourism’.
A new ‘positive’ case arriving in the region wouldn’t necessarily lead to a policy ‘U-turn’, said the president. He continued that having the ability to identify a chain of contagion; isolating anyone who’s ‘infected’ with effective ‘contact tracing’ and ‘testing’ would, in the end, ‘keep the situation under control’.
Meanwhile, there’s been another small fall in the number of people, suffering from “Covid-19” virus infection in the ‘Archipelago’. The Regional Health Authority has reported another recovery in the 24 hours up until 16.00 hrs. On Monday 25/05/2020, a woman aged 43 on São Miguel. This leaves just 8 ‘positive’ cases throughout the entire region.
In total, 20.000 tests have been carried out for “Covid-19” since the start of the outbreak. This represents 8% of the population although of course, some people, suspected of having the disease, will have been tested more than once.
So far, there have been 146 ‘positive’ cases with 122 recoveries and 16 deaths. None of the remaining 8 cases, on just 2 islands, are hospitalised:
Monday 25th May
Introduction
Welcome to the second week of the Situation of Calamity – this time next week we will be reviewing for you the decisions of the government as they end this period at 23:59 on Sunday 31 May. At SCP, we are preparing for the expected many announcements and changes to regulations if they occur so that you will be informed immediately about any new ways of living. Our core team and translators will be reviewing any announcements in Portuguese, translating, posting and commenting as appropriate.
Some things remain a little strange to witness at the moment and will remain with us over the years but provide a reminder of how we may all help our fellow citizens. Chris’s wife yesterday handed out several new masks from a sealed bag in her handbag to ensure hygiene measures to some of our fellow citizens who had forgotten to carry masks and then found themselves needing to enter the premises that we were also in – but would not have been able to do this without an acceptable mask. Perhaps those reading this SITREP can also carry a few extra masks in a sealed bag, and maintaining the hygiene in the handling of them, so that if they witness their fellow citizens struggling they can ´offer a mask to a ´friend´´.
Yesterday´s DGS figures showed a continuation of the so-called ´flat-lining´ of the figures of deaths with 14 announced by DGS – a maintenance of this type of number over the last week to 10 days. Figures concerning the number of recoveries and affected are also continuing to stay on the right direction.
Our Facebook pages are extremely busy with comments at the moment, especially about restaurants and communal areas. We do our best to answer our communities´ questions, but bear with us as demand normally outstrips supply of moderators! We would also ask that those posting on our Facebook please concentrate on the positive aspects of our national recovery and do not use our site as a sounding board for negative posts about the increased number of people in establishments and areas as a result of the changes to regulations by the government. We spend a lot of our time asking people if they are not happy about an establishment´s social distancing operations to report this locally and not to SCP We cannot and do not pass these comments to the local authorities right across Portugal, so please do not ask us to do so. This is something for individual citizens to do as their responsibility. It is also in the interest of the establishment to comply or be closed , so a word to them first may also resolve the issue.
Finally……..Today remains a day of high temperatures and high UV – so please take appropriate measures to protect you and your family. Also – please carry basic PPE at all times – masks, gloves and gels – and have a supply of them in your cars as well!
DGS Situation Report 
According to the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, in the last 24 hours 14 people died due to covid-19 in Portugal, bringing the total to 1316. Another 152 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total to date to 30,623.
Of the 152 new cases registered, 131 (86%) were registered in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Region. In the North Region, which concentrates more than half of the positive cases detected nationally since the beginning of the pandemic, 14 confirmed cases were recorded.
There are now 536 people hospitalized, 14 fewer than Saturday, 78 of whom are in intensive care.
Number of suspected cases is 309,966 to date.
“The situation report has a total of 9652 more recovered, which correspond to users who were already recovered according to “clinical criteria”, and who are not those included in earlier bulletins. With an additional 192 recovered over the last 24 hrs, this bring the total recovered to 17,549 cases.
More than 1,500 beds in SNS hospitals occupied with social cases
More than 1,500 beds in public hospitals are occupied by people who have already been technically discharged, but who remain hospitalized due to lack of a post-hospitalisation response, corresponding to 8.7% of hospitalizations, according to data from the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH).
Of a total of 17,826 hospitalizations registered on February 18, 1,551 were “inappropriate hospitalizations”, plus 722 (87% more) compared to the previous report of the Barómetro de Internamentos Sociais.
The total number of days of social hospitalization was 119,971, with 77.4 days being the national average, 21% less than in the previous report.
Lisbon and Vale do Tejo are the regions with the highest number of social admissions, representing 81% of the total, says the study, according to which 80% of these patients are over 65 years old.
Nursing home
A nursing home was evacuated yesterday in the parish of Carvalhal, municipality of Abrantes, after confirming a total of 15 cases of infection by covid-19, among users, employees and owners, according to Civil Protection of Santarém.
Santarém District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) said, “seven elderly users of that space were evacuated today by the Abrantes firefighters” to a ward created in the city’s hospital to respond to these types of situations and to welcome elderly people who positive and come from homes.
The operation “started at 14:57 and involved four vehicles and six operational personnel”. This was after the transport of two people on Saturday, also to the hospital of Abrantes.
The Public Health delegate of the Grouping of Health Centers (ACES) of central Tejo, Maria dos Anjos Esperança, told Lusa that this situation “derives from socialization and a breach of good practices”, carried out in a “home without licensing”.
Of the various people who live in the same room, he added, were ” a son, parents, grandparents and other people”; they are all positive, awaiting the result of an employee test.
The first two positive cases in this space were known in the last 48 hours, and today the results of 13 more tests, all positive for the new coronavirus, have been revealed.
The home was evacuated this Sunday and the elderly were transferred to isolation and quarantine at the Abrantes hospital.
Covid-19 Situation in Setubal
The district of Setúbal is now the second with most new cases of covid-19, passing Porto to third place, indicates a report that reveals that 36% of the infected people were between 20 and 39 years old.
The data from the epidemiology and statistics division of the DGS for the period between 13 and 21 May and revealed this Sunday by the Minister of Health show that, using a sample of 1504 cases, corresponding to 80% of all new cases of covid -19 infected in the same period, 48% were women and 36% occurred in the age group between 20 and 39 years old .
The statistical analysis also concludes that more than half of the new cases (55%) occurred in the district of Lisbon and that “the district of Setúbal became the second with more new cases of contagion, with 13% of the total, with Porto becoming be the third, with 11% “, revealed Marta Temido at the daily press conference on the situation of covid-19 in Portugal.
VentilatorsThe Minister of Health revealed today that 60 more ventilators have arrived from abroad, which are now going to be tested, and that the Government does not intend to buy more, with the expectation that Portugal will be self-sufficient with national production.
Hospital equipment “will now be subjected to verification and testing processes”, stressed Marta Temido, at the usual press conference on the state of play of covid-19 in the country, adding that other ventilators, of another model, “revealed characteristics that had to be technically reviewed “.
GymsGyms will reopen. An agreement has been made with the Directorate-General for Health – this is what will change:
The details have yet to be finalised, but the President of the Association of Gymnasiums and Academies of Portugal has revealed that these are in line with the measures that were initially proposed by the Association. Now, it is left to for the authorities to announce that Gyms will re-open on June 1st.
There is already a consensus on the rules that will allow gyms to reopen whilst coronavirus remains in the community. The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) has completed their review of the proposed guidelines and have requested the views of the Association of Gyms and Academies of Portugal (AGAP), which will be in “total agreement”, as revealed by its President, José Carlos Reis.
“The suggested measures met our expectations and we are very happy with the report that was presented by the DGS. We agree with the extent of the measures presented and we will scrupulously comply with what the DGS decreed”, explained the President.
Migrants infected with covid-19 return to Lisbon
MADEIRA
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 19 days. There are now 23 active cases and 67 recoveries.
There are 314 people under active monitoring and 117 in self-monitoring. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 10,470 samples from 9,451 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 24 calls from Saturday to Sunday, bringing the total number of calls to 7,870. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 965 calls, with 116 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/24/nao-ha-novos-casos-de-covid-19-mantem-se-23-casos-de-infeccao-activos/
More passengers arrived in Madeira
Yesterday morning, more than 60 passengers landed in Funchal. About half of them will be in mandatory quarantine at Hotel Vila Galé, in Santa Cruz. The remaining passengers will be spending quarantine at home, after presenting evidence of a negative Covid-19 test.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93648/Mais_seis_dezenas_de_passageiros_aterraram_esta_manha_na_Madeira
Restaurants allowed to have usual opening hours
The Regional Government confirmed that restaurants, bars and other similar businesses are allowed to have the opening hours specified on the licence that was issued by the relevant entities. In other words, their opening hours can be the same that they used to have before the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93679/Estabelecimentos_de_restauracao_vao_funcionar_no_horario_normal_
Power cuts
Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts in the following days, due to planned work on the electricity supply network. The following areas will be affected:
26th May – 9h00 to 10h30:
Funchal: Estrada Dr. João Abel de Freitas (numbers 2, 36, 36A, 36C, 38C and 38E & Rua Arcebispo Dom Aires (numbers 1 to 38)
26th May – 9h00 to 11h30:
Rua Dr. Pita number 46 & Azinhagas da Nazaré (numbers 3 and 20) e (and) das Virtudes
27th May – 9h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00
– Estradas da Bica (numbers 4 to 10) and Cónego Camacho number 49
– Caminho da Achada (numbers 2 and 15)
– Veredas da Achada (numbers 4 to 32) e (and) dos Lavadouros number 7
– 1ª Impasse da Vereda da Achada
– Impasse Caminho da Achada numbers 4
28th May – 00h00 to 7h00
– Rua do Aljube (numbers 1 to 37)
– Rua João Tavira (numbers 4 to 6)
– Rua da Queimada de Baixo number 12
29th May – 9h00 to 11h30 & 14h00 to 16h00
– Caminho de São Martinho (numbers 40 to 77)
– Caminho da Igreja Nova
– Rua de São Martinho number 4
– Beco do Cemitério number 41
– Travessa do Pico da Igreja
However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.
If necessary, customers can contact the Customer Support Service (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/23/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-34-2020/
ALGARVE
Emergency landing at Faro airport
An Airbus A330 from the company Air Tanker, which came from Accra, the capital of Ghana, bound for London, landed in an emergency this Saturday afternoon, at Faro Airport, after an 87-year-old passenger suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest.
The Algarve First knows from a source linked to Faro Airport that the victim’s death was declared at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve in Faro.
“The flight diverged to Faro due to the need for medical assistance to a passenger”, explained the communication department of ANA Aeroportos Portugal to our newspaper. In the rescue of the victim was an INEM pre-hospital emergency team that transported the victim in resuscitation maneuvers to the hospital. At 8:20 pm the Airbus A330 resumed its journey to London.
Beaches
Despite the fact that the real “flood” after the confinement of COVID-19, is only expected from June, many bathers this Saturday sought the sun and the sea at Faro Beach, and the bathing season only starts 6 of June.
The high temperatures observed in the region, associated with the good state of the sea (little wind) proved to be irresistible for thousands of bathers, who did not miss the opportunity to take a dip and sunbathe, always with the rules implemented by the General Directorate of Health (DGS).
Rocha Pacheco Captain of the Port of Faro of the Maritime Authority stated that the beaches are still without lifeguards, being watched by the Maritime Police, appealing for social distance and for people to comply with what is implemented”. It should be noted that the Maritime Authority is exerting increased efforts of inspection, surveillance and awareness on the beaches so that the measures are being followed.
The demand for the beach was not limited to Faro, having been found a little throughout the south of the country.
Test kits
The Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC) has “total confidence” in the kits, produced in partnership with three other entities for testing Covid-19, and whose distribution was suspended, this Saturday, May 23, by Infarmed.
Infarmed “has doubts about the safety” of the kits, prohibiting their distribution “until they have answers”.
Contacted by Sul Informação , Nuno Marques, president of ABC, guaranteed that these kits, which have already been used to carry out tests in day care centers and homes in the Algarve and Alentejo, as well as in other parts of the country, “give us security and efficiency”.
“Infarmed said what it did was a request for information that we received yesterday afternoon, Saturday. With that, we suspended the distribution, but we will give details later”
The kits are produced by the Algarve Biomedical Center, in partnership with the Instituto Superior Técnico and the companies Logoplaste and Hidrofer.
Azores
Situation Report, Azores, 24th May to 25th May – From our colleague in the Azores
There’s been a dramatic fall in the number of ‘active’ cases of people, suffering from “Covid-19” virus infection in the ‘Archipelago’. The Regional Health Authority has reported a reduction of nearly 45% in the 24 hours, up until 16.00 hrs on Saturday 24/05/2020, leaving just 9 ‘positive’ cases throughout the entire region.
This comes after seven more recoveries, a man and six women, all on the island of São Miguel. It includes 3 users, aged between 95 and 97 years old, from the ‘virus-troubled’ “Santa Casa da Misericórdia” residential care home in Nordeste. 875 new tests didn’t reveal any fresh cases of the virus.
So far, there have been 146 cases of infection since the start of the ‘outbreak’ with 121 recoveries and 16 deaths. None of the remaining 9 cases are hospitalised and all but 1 are on São Miguel, leaving seven of the nine islands completely ‘virus-free’:
8 on São Miguel
1 on Pico
0 on Corvo, Faial, Flores, Graciosa, Santa Maria, São Jorge & Terceira
Regional elections
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said today that he will mark the date of the regional elections in the Azores, which should take place in October, due to the evolution of the covid-29 pandemic “in June and July”.
“I did not want to anticipate, because I will receive the parties next month, in June, in the transition from June to July, to hear them about the call for elections to the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores,” he said.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa spoke to journalists at the end of a visit to the premises of Banco Alimentar Contra da Fome, in Lisbon, where he made a contribution via the ‘internet’. Due to the pandemic, this campaign did not follow the usual patterns, in which volunteers collected donations from commercial areas.
“We are now going to monitor the health situation and, depending on what happens in June and July, this will be the call,” said the head of state.
Sunday 24 May 2020
Introduction
It is, as is custom now at SCP, POSITIVE SUNDAY! This is to keep up our collective well-being whilst mindful of the significant sacrifices that so many of our fellow residents have suffered and not forgetting the continued valiant and dedicated efforts of all of our key workers from medical staffs to all of those providing us with key logistical needs – keeping us fed and in good health – and a big thank you to our various police organisations in Portugal for their fantastic service during this time.
We ask you to post some or any positive messages and perhaps news of events or other positive news from Portugal or elsewhere on our Facebook pages. As we have said many times, we will be keeping these messages in a special area of our website as a testament to this period of time. History is important, so it is incumbent on us to record our feelings and great stories for the future.
David Thomas, our President, will be with Owen Gee on Kiss FM this morning and we hope to have this interview posted on our website in due course if you are not able to listen around 0920hrs this morning. He will be covering a lot of important announcements that have been made by the Portuguese government and other issues concerning the current Situation of Calamity that will be raised by Owen.
Please take some time to read the Overseas report by Louise Birch today as well – as ever, she has provided some great positive stories from overseas for today which will make your day so much better as we still deal with this pandemic!!
We also invite you to take a look at some of the posts that we placed on our Facebook pages and website over the past few days – as we reflect over the last week, there has been much detail announced by the authorities and policing services that we should make sure that we are aware of in this second phase of the Situation of Calamity. We remain so indebted to our volunteer official translators who often work for nothing other than to support us and are often working late into the night. Our own Key workers for the expatriate community.
DGS HEALTH REPORTS
Headline Reports for Portugal announced on Saturday 23 May
The Minister of Health said today that the situations that led to several nurses suffering cuts in their salary have already been institutionally corrected.
Portugal registers today 1,302 deaths related to covid-19, 13 more than on Friday, and 30,471 infected, 271 more, according to the epidemiological bulletin released by the Directorate-General for Health.
In comparison with the data from Friday, which recorded 1,289 deaths, today there was an increase of deaths of 1%.
The outbreaks of covid-19 in the region of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley are “a priority focus of attention” by health authorities and are likely to originate in individual behaviours of greater relaxation at a time of pause in the job.
https://covid19.min-saude.pt/
Additional health reports – from our Health Specialists
Recovered Cases
To the current 7,705 recovered cases, a further 9,652 cases of people whose tests were negative for Covid-19 after being infected with the coronavirus will be added tomorrow. Health Minister Marta Temido explained yesterday that this increase corresponds to a change in methodology in recording data on trace-covid, the clinical surveillance system designed to support health teams in monitoring and tracking patients.
So far, the daily bulletin that the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) publishes to report on the evolution of the pandemic includes only the direct notification that is being made by hospitals and regional health authorities. But as of 17 April, practitioners accompanying patients are also able to register recovered cases on trace-covid. These figures, however, were not being included in the daily bulletin. Therefore, and because from now on they will be included in the daily statistics, the bulletin to be released tomorrow will give an accumulated total of 9,652 new recovered cases.
“To ensure that none of these 9,652 users were already ‘extracted’, i.e. one of the 7,705 recovered cases in the daily bulletin, and to prevent any duplication, a cross-check of the number of users was made, ensuring that the information is reliable,” said the Minister of Health, at the usual DGS press conference, ensuring that these were cases with at least one negative laboratory result.
DGS SITREP ALGARVE
As at 1300 hrs on Saturday 23rd May, So far in the Algarve there are 361 infected – 3 more compared to yesterday and 15 deaths. According to a detailed national report published on 18th May, of the 356 positive cases in the Algarve(accumulated numbers), 236 have recovered, nine are hospitalized and 15 died at home, 96 patients were being treated and followed up, in addition to the 170 who are under active surveillance by health authorities, according to the data released and updated at 00:00 on 18 May.
Since the beginning of May until 18th May, the number of confirmed daily in the Algarve does not exceed seven infections, a number that in the last days has remained between one and three, according to the charts provided by the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve (ARS). The day with the most cases was April 4, with 50 new infections in the region.
There are 66 Population Support Zones installed throughout the Algarve, but only three of them are activated at the moment, in the municipalities of Albufeira, Portimão and Tavira “for quarantine / prophylactic isolation”, according to the document of the District Civil Protection Commission. Compared to other regions of mainland Portugal, the Algarve is only ahead of the Alentejo in the weekly evolution of the number of cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, behind the North, Center and Lisbon and the Tagus Valley.
Recovery rate
According to the Regional Health Authority, the Algarve has a recovery rate of 66.3% and, since March until this week, 21,710 tests have already been carried out, with a negative result. In the Algarve hospitals, in addition to the three people in intensive care, six more people infected with the virus are hospitalized and 15 died. The number of recovered people in the Algarve began to exceed the number of infected people on May 7, a positive trend that has been maintained and reinforced until this week and which is a good sign in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.
Mayor of Loulé thanks generosity of the Association of the People’s General Union of China in PortugalThe Mayor of Loulé, stated yesterday, that over the past few weeks, the municipality “has witnessed several initiatives and gestures of solidarity coming from many public and private organizations, as well as from anonymous volunteers who made themselves available to support the population and local entities in the prevention of COVID-19”. For Vítor Aleixo, the participation and commitment of all “has been fundamental” to prevent the spread of the disease and to combat the social and economic problems resulting from it.
At this time when the use of a mask “seems essential” for the continuation of people’s daily activities, namely with regard to resuming the face-to-face work of the services, the mayor on behalf of the Municipality of Loulé, thanks the Associação União Geral People from China in Portugal donated 8,000 disposable masks (surgical type).
Municipality of Portimão announces new social support
In a press release, the Municipality of Portimão presented the new social support response to vulnerable families in the municipality. According to the same source, on average 600 daily meals are prepared in social canteens and 630 baskets are delivered monthly to needy families.
Within the scope of the measures of the Social Emergency Fund, approved by the Municipality of 
Portimão, the Solidarity Card is launched to provide extraordinary support to vulnerable families in the municipality that suffered an abrupt and sharp drop in the value of their monthly income due to the epidemiological situation of Covid-19, to ensure the acquisition of foodstuffs by issuing solidarity vouchers for purchases at the Municipal Market of Portimão. The municipality advances that the Solidarity Card is intended exclusively for residents of the Municipality of Portimão, aged 18 years or over, “who suffered an abrupt and sharp drop in the value of their monthly income as a result of the pandemic situation of Covid-19, and whose maximum per capita value does not exceed the national minimum wage, which is 635 euros”.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/cartao-solidario-e-nova-resposta-de-apoio-social-dirigido-a-familias-vulneraveis-de-portimao/32345-1
SOME REPORTS FROM SCP
Covid-19 Update
The covid-19 pandemic forced the oncology service of the Santarém District Hospital to change some procedures, but no treatment was cancelled and, says its director, the monitoring of all patients is ensured.
With a mask on her face, like all professionals and all users who arrive at the hospital on the day of the service to receive chemotherapy, immunotherapy or hormone treatments, Sandra Bento told Lusa that cancellations and postponed consultations were “minimal”.
The Union of Nurses (SE) will deliver on Monday a complaint against the Portuguese State to the International Labor Organization (ILO) for violation of rules regarding the performance in the pandemic caused by the covid-19, was announced today.
BeachesThe uncertainty generated by the covid-19 pandemic is leading vacationers to make reservations for beach awnings in the Algarve and to seek out dealers, who assume they do not have much information about the opening of the season bathing. “There have always been reservations, but it is noted that there is a concern of the Portuguese in reserving the awning in advance, for fear of running out of space in the summer, something that is also happening with my colleagues,” the owner of a concession on the beach told Lusa da Rocha Baixinha Nascente, in the municipality of Albufeira. Neither at sea nor on the beach: the recommended distance for swimmers on the beaches of the Cascais Line is far from being met at times of high tide, as the space to extend the towel and keeping the distances is even more difficult.
Economy
The Minister of Health said today that she is studying financial incentives to recover consultations, diagnostic tests and surgeries cancelled due to the pandemic, and defended changes in the functioning of the Family Health Units. “We have been working on a plan to identify all suspended activity and we are preparing a plan that allows the financial incentive to recover the activity,” said Marta Temido at the daily press conference to take stock of covid-19, held at the Ministry of Health in Lisbon.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, defended today the extension of the simplified
lay-off for “more months”, pointing out that, if there are means, “the longer” the measure is better to avoid dismissals.
“If you really want to give yourself time and allow greater breathing space to prevent those who are in ‘lay-off’ from going, in significant numbers, to unemployment, if the Government is able to obtain means, and has means available to prolong the ‘lay- off ‘for some time, the longer the better, because these resumes are always very difficult, “the head of state told reporters.
University of Coimbra campaign to win back tourists
The University of Coimbra announced on 23rd May the launch of the campaign “The Secret of the UC”, which aims to encourage the Portuguese to visit the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world. “In this post-confinement phase, when breaks in tourism are expected, namely with regard to the number of foreign visitors, the University of Coimbra, which receives around 500 thousand visitors annually, wants to make this historic institution known to the public national, through a unique experience “, informed the UC today.
“If the name of the University of Coimbra is recognized anywhere in the world, with this campaign we want more and more people to also know the heritage that is part of its essence”, says Luís Simões da Silva, vice-rector of the University of Coimbra.
The campaign will last until July 17, providing “an experience full of mystery” to visitors, “who will have the unique opportunity to discover a 730-year-old secret kept in the oldest Portuguese-speaking university, following strict hygiene and safety measures” promises the University. The Joanina Library, the São Miguel Chapel, the Royal Palace, the Sala dos Capelos, the Casa das Caldeiras and the Botanical Gardens are the main points of the campaign.
Covid -19 ASAE seize on average around two thousand counterfeit face masks per day
Personal protective equipment does not give any guarantee unless certified. Majority of the 100,000 masks seized since April were with false seals of conformity. The new measures imposed by the covid-19 pandemic gave rise to a massive demand for masks of all types. But many, either surgical, or with particulate filters such as FFP, or so-called fabric social masks, do not offer any guarantee of protection against the spread of the disease.
For this reason, ASAE has been reinforcing inspections of factories, storekeepers, stores, pharmacies and also on internet sellers. On average, since the beginning of April, inspectors have seized about two thousand masks a day. Most have fake security certificates. The verification of compliance with the technical specifications of personal protective equipment (PPE) available on the market has led ASAE’s special teams of inspectors to fine-tune about 1,000 economic operators from north to south of the country.
One of the biggest seizures took place in an operation in the Cantanhede area, where only one storekeeper had around 70,000 masks with particulate filters. Apparently, they all met safety requirements and were even sold with a certificate of conformity. But a rigorous inspection of the equipment’s characteristics revealed that the certificate was forged and the entire cargo was seized.
Arrival of protection equipment from China
On 24th May in the morning, a TAP plane is expected in Porto with 25 tons of medical supplies from China. This is the first flight of the Airbus, which was transformed into a freighter. The Airbus A330neo CS-TUQ took off from Chinese territory at 4 pm local time, carrying 25 tonnes of medical supplies. It is expected to land in the morning, more specifically at 6 am, at Sá Carneiro Airport, in Porto.
“This was the first time that the Airbus A330neo CS-TUQ flew with the colours of the Company after being transformed into a freighter. Note that this was the first commercial aircraft of TAP to be transformed into a freighter, allowing the cabin to have capacity to take 11 tons of medical equipment, an additional aid to all countries that need this type of material “, according to a source of the company. TAP also revealed that, on Friday, it managed to reach another “historic milestone”, with “two Airbus A330neo, CS-TUQ and CS-TUJ”, flying over “Chinese territory simultaneously.” The two planes took off from Lisbon, at 12 o’clock, bound for China – Xiamen and Beijing, respectively – to ensure the transport of medical supplies and personal protective equipment, essential to fighting the pandemic in Portugal “, explains the company.
TAP also highlighted that it is “ensuring, on average, a flight to China, every three days”. In addition to the A330neo, “with cargo at the gate and cabin TAP also highlighted that it is “ensuring, on average, a flight to China, every three days”.
ALGARVE
From our volunteers reporting in the Algarve
As at 1300 hrs on Saturday 23rd May, So far in the Algarve there are 361 infected – 3 more compared to yesterday and 15 deaths. According to a detailed national report published on 18th May, of the 356 positive cases in the Algarve(accumulated numbers), 236 have recovered, nine are hospitalized and 15 died at home, 96 patients were being treated and followed up, in addition to the 170 who are under active surveillance by health authorities, according to the data released and updated at 00:00 on 18 May.
Since the beginning of May until 18th May, the number of confirmed daily in the Algarve does not exceed seven infections, a number that in the last days has remained between one and three, according to the charts provided by the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve (ARS). The day with the most cases was April 4, with 50 new infections in the region.
There are 66 Population Support Zones installed throughout the Algarve, but only three of them are activated at the moment, in the municipalities of Albufeira, Portimão and Tavira “for quarantine / prophylactic isolation”, according to the document of the District Civil Protection Commission. Compared to other regions of mainland Portugal, the Algarve is only ahead of the Alentejo in the weekly evolution of the number of cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, behind the North, Center and Lisbon and the Tagus Valley.
Recovery rate
According to the Regional Health Authority, the Algarve has a recovery rate of 66.3% and, since March until this week, 21,710 tests have already been carried out, with a negative result. In the Algarve hospitals, in addition to the three people in intensive care, six more people infected with the virus are hospitalized and 15 died.
The number of recovered people in the Algarve began to exceed the number of infected people on May 7, a positive trend that has been maintained and reinforced until this week and which is a good sign in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.
Mayor of Loulé thanks generosity of the Association of the People’s General Union of China in PortugalThe Mayor of Loulé, stated yesterday, that over the past few weeks, the municipality “has witnessed several initiatives and gestures of solidarity coming from many public and private organizations, as well as from anonymous volunteers who made themselves available to support the population and local entities in the prevention of COVID-19”.
For Vítor Aleixo, the participation and commitment of all “has been fundamental” to prevent the spread of the disease and to combat the social and economic problems resulting from it.
At this time when the use of a mask “seems essential” for the continuation of people’s daily activities, namely with regard to resuming the face-to-face work of the services, the mayor on behalf of the Municipality of Loulé, thanks the Associação União Geral People from China in Portugal donated 8,000 disposable masks (surgical type).
Municipality of Portimão announces new social support
In a press release, the Municipality of Portimão presented the new social support response to vulnerable families in the municipality. According to the same source, on average 600 daily meals are prepared in social canteens and 630 baskets are delivered monthly to needy families.
Within the scope of the measures of the Social Emergency Fund, approved by the Municipality of Portimão, the Solidarity Card is launched to provide extraordinary support to vulnerable families in the municipality that suffered an abrupt and sharp drop in the value of their monthly income due to the epidemiological situation of Covid-19, to ensure the acquisition of foodstuffs by issuing solidarity vouchers for purchases at the Municipal Market of Portimão.
The municipality advances that the Solidarity Card is intended exclusively for residents of the Municipality of Portimão, aged 18 years or over, “who suffered an abrupt and sharp drop in the value of their monthly income as a result of the pandemic situation of Covid-19, and whose maximum per capita value does not exceed the national minimum wage, which is 635 euros”.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/cartao-solidario-e-nova-resposta-de-apoio-social-dirigido-a-familias-vulneraveis-de-portimao/32345-1
MADEIRA
Situation Report Madeira 23 to 24 May – From our colleague reporting on Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new cases yesterday. There have been no new cases for 18 days. There are now 23 active cases and 67 recoveries. There are 249 people under active monitoring and 104 in self-monitoring. So far, there have been 1,543 suspected cases, 1,453 of which came back negative. As for Covid-19 testing, 10,276 samples from 9,075 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 31 calls from Friday to Saturday, bringing the total number of calls to 7,846. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 951 calls, with 116 people being monitored.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/23/regiao-continua-sem-novos-casos-de-covid-19-ha-67-recuperados-e-23-com-infecao-ativa/
Community face masks not accepted at HPA hospitals
Group HPA Saúde Madeira – Hospital Particular da Madeira and Madeira Medical Center do not allow people wearing comment face masks, such as those delivered by the Regional Government (resusable masks with TNT filters), to enter their premises. Only people wearing surgical masks will be allowed in their premises. This follows the DGS (Direção Geral da Saúde – Directorate-General of Health) guidelines (Norma 007/2020 & Orientação 019/2020), which recommends surgical masks are worn by all healthcare staff, all people who enter and move inside healthcare premises.
When booking an appointment, all customers are informed of the mandatory use of surgical masks. And the day before an appointment/exam, a text message will be sent reminding that the use of surgical face mask is mandatory and telling customers to arrive 15 minutes before the appointment/exam. If customers arrive without wearing a surgical face mask, they can buy one in the pre-triage area for €1. All this information can also be found on Grupo HPA Saúde’s website, Facebook and on the information campaign that is broadcast daily on RTP Madeira.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/23/grupo-hpa-confirma-que-exige-mascaras-cirurgicas-nas-suas-instalacoes-em-vez-de-mascaras-comunitarias-por-indicacao-da-dgs/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/23/mascaras-oferecidas-pelo-governo-nao-entram-no-hospital-particular-ou-no-medical-center/
More than 60 passengers landed in Madeira
A TAP aircraft, carrying more than 60 passengers, landed in Funchal yesterday afternoon. They were met by healthcare teams who explained to them the isolation guidelines and the protocol to follow if they start developing Covid-19 symptoms. Passengers, mostly young people, were taken by coach to Hotel Vila Galé where they will be staying during the 14 days of mandatory quarantine. The Police (PSP) escorted the coach carrying them and set up a security cordon. A few passengers went home after showing evidence of a Covid-19 test that had come back negative. They will still have to stay in isolation for a period of 14 days. A reminder that more than 120 landed in Madeira in the last 3 days (66 on Thursday and more than 60 yesterday afternoon).
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93616/Mais_60_passageiros_aterraram_hoje_na_Madeira
Calheta Beach to reopen 
Calheta Beach hotel will reopen on the 9th of June, with accommodation and breakfast being provided. Due to the Covid-19 safety measures and restrictions, the usual all-inclusive service will not be available. It will be the start of the gradual reopening of Savoy Signature’s hotel. Preventive measures will be reinforced under the motto “Stay Safe Stay Savoy”, which will be applicable to the entire Savoy Signature group and result in the rigorous enforcement of safety, hygiene and control procedures, in accordance with national and international guidelines. The hotel has a “Clean & Safe” seal, awarded by Turismo de Portugal, certifying compliance with the DGS (Direção Geral da Saúde – Directorate-General of Health) guidelines.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93613/Calheta_Beach_reabre_a_9_de_junho
High temperatures warning
The Regional Service of the Madeira Civil Protection issued a warning about high temperatures that Madeira will face in the next days. A mass of hot and dry air coming from the African continent will cause hot and dry weather in the entire Region until the next weekend. Maximum temperatures in coastal areas are expected to reach between 25ºC and 30ºC. Today and tomorrow, maximum temperatures on the south coast of Madeira Island will reach between 30ºC and 35ºC. Humidity will be low or very low (below 40%) in mountain areas. Today and tomorrow there will be moderate to strong winds (30 km/h to 45 km/h), with 80 km/h winds in mountain areas and the far east and far east of Madeira Island.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93617/Protecao_Civil_da_Madeira__alerta_para_temperaturas_elevadas_que_poderao_chegar_aos_35_C
Police acted against crowding at Praia Formosa
Police (PSP) had to act at Praia Formosa, after big crowds gathered at Praia Formosa. Several drivers were given parking fines.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93608/Enchente_leva_PSP_a_Praia_Formosa_Veja_as_imagens_
AZORES
Situation Report, Azores, 23 to 24 May – From our colleague in the Azores.
Last week there was a big ‘constitutional’ row between the ‘Judiciary’ and the Regional Government of the Azores about people, arriving from outside the region, having to stay 14 days in ‘quarantine’ in an approved, monitored hotel. Well, it’s now been announced that this week, most ‘arriving’ passengers opted to do just that when given the choice of four different options including tests! It follows a case of ‘Habeas Corpus’ when someone who didn’t want to be in that hotel ‘quarantine’, successfully got a court ruling that he could leave and ‘self-quarantine’ elsewhere. That went against the government’s health department which had argued that such hotel ‘quarantine’ was a good way to stop “Covid-19” coming into the region from outside.
Meanwhile, the Regional Health Authority reports that 808 “Covid-19” tests were carried out in the 24 hours, up until 16.00 hrs. on Saturday 23/05/2020, revealing no new ‘positive’ cases of the virus. There has however been one more recovery, a 21-year-old woman from Graciosa, making it the 7th island in the ‘Archipelago’ to be “Covid-19”, ‘virus-free’.
So far, there have been 146 cases of infection since the start of the ‘outbreak’ with 114 recoveries and 16 deaths, leaving just 16 ‘active’ cases:
SCP Source Information
All figures quoted in this report come from the Portuguese Department of Health DGS – see https://www.dgs.pt
Any Overseas figures come from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU who are the accepted world leaders in the collation of global figures during this pandemic – see https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Another very useful source of COVID-19 information and analysis can be found at https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ For Portugal only – see https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/portugal/
See also https://www.covidvisualizer.com which also has very good and reliable information based upon the JHU figures.
For WHO information that affects us globally or Portugal specifically see
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen.
Situation Report Saturday 23rd May 2020
Introduction
This is a very short introduction to the SCP report today – there was little new guidance and advice issued by the government – but we have had a of excellent detail issued this week anyway – all of the main issues of which has been translated into Engish by SCP for you, your family and friends. The focus for us at SCP yesterday was the very hot temperatures and the need for us all to take measures to ensure our collective safety during temperature extremes – we have very good guide on our website of the measures to take for you and your family during periods of high temperature and UV.
Yesterday, SCP published a new weekly crime prevention and enforcement report by our crime reporting specialist Leane Turner. Whist, at SCP, we are naturally focusing at this time on the Covid-19 and supporting our communities with the pandemic, it is important too that we continue to report on one of the areas of our core work – crime prevention and the measures being taken by policing agencies in Portugal. Please take the time to visit the report if you have not yet been able to do – it contains information about a really excellent program by the GNR in collaboration with Altice to support the elderly living alone and tyo help them fight their isolation issues. It involves the use of technology delivered by the use of tablets allowing them to keep in contact with their friends and relatives.
Tomorrow we will run our SCP Positive Sunday initiative again in this and other reports during the day – so please take some time to think about positive stories, events, reports and thoughts as we start to emerge from the pandemic in Portugal – Louise Birch in her Overseas Report will undoubtedly be outlining some interesting positive stories from around the World to help lighten the mood – it is so important to our collective well-being and our feelings of safety and security that we remain positive. At SCP, we are collecting the positive stories on our website and we will continue to keep these for posterity – so that in the future we can look back at the positives as well as correctly mourn the losses and sacrifices made by Portugal. You can post any positive stories for our 26,000 followers on our Facebook pages and we will transfer them to our website in due course.
Please stay safe and make sure that you and your family use plenty of high sun factor lotion and remain in the shade with water to stay hydrated.
DGS Report
Portugal registered to date 1,289 deaths related to covid-19 yesterday, 12 more than on Thursday, and 30,200 infected, another 288, according to the epidemiological bulletin released today by the Directorate-General for Health.
In comparison with Thursday’s data, there was a 0.9% increase in deaths. The number of suspected cases to date is 306,171.
Those recovered is 7580, an increase of 1138 since the previous day.
There have been decreases both in those hospitalised and in intensive care, less 32 and 8 patients respectively.
Covid Confirmed cases rate by population
The National Statistics Institute published a report on Wednesday 22nd May that the covid-19 cases in Portugal was 29.1 per 10,000 inhabitants, an increase of 12% since May 6, according to INE data released this Friday.
In the North region, 36 municipalities registered figures above the national level.
Of these the most prominent with more than 50 confirmed cases per 10,000 inhabitants, were the municipality of Ovar (120.0); in Aveiro District, the municipality of Condeixa-a-Nova (87.0) in Coimbra District, the municipalities of Valongo (77.4), Vale de Cambra (72.0), Matosinhos (71.4), Maia (66.9), Gondomar (64.1), Porto (62.6), Santo Tirso (56.9) and Vila Nova de Gaia (50.8).
Some municipalities in the Centro (12), Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Lisbon, Loures and Amadora), Alentejo (Moura) and Autonomous Region of the Azores (the municipality of Nordeste) regions also had values above the national average.
INE also points out that 179 of the country’s 308 municipalities had a confirmed number of cases per 10,000 inhabitants and population density below the national average.
Covid-19: Study suggests antimalarial may increase risk of death
A study released today suggests that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine antimalarial may increase the risk of death and arrhythmias in hospitalized patients with covid-19, arguing that their use as antivirals should be properly tested before treating patients.
The study, released by the British medical journal The Lancet, was based on observation of data from 14,888 hospitalized patients with covid-19 (viral respiratory infection) who were treated with one or both malaria drugs, whether or not combined with administration of the antibiotics azithromycin and clarithromycin, used in the treatment of bacterial lung infections.
The data were compared with those of 81,144 patients with covid-19 who were also hospitalized, but without receiving treatment with these drugs.
In Portugal, the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, drugs approved for malaria, is authorized for the treatment of patients with covid-19 admitted to hospitals that manifest, for example, respiratory failure and pneumonia.
Patients who were the target of the study published in The Lancet – in total 96,032 – were admitted to 671 hospitals between December 20, 2019 and April 14, 2020.
The Prime Minister pointed out today that “the virus [of covid-19] does not walk by itself, it walks in each one of us”, being necessary “to keep our distance from each other” to “not let the virus run or be a recipient of it”.
Genera Health statistics
Portugal recorded between March 1 and May 10 more 1,964 deaths than in the same period of 2019 and 878 more compared to 2018, according to data released today by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The Ordem dos Enfermeiros (OE) denounced today that nurses who were infected at work with covid-19 are being faced with “significant cuts” or even lack of salary, demanding “urgent measures” to Government.
The Government will invest more than 13.6 million euros in the purchase of two million flu vaccines for the next flu season, which will be critical because it will take place simultaneously with the covid-19, was released today.
The president of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH) considered today that the assistance activity lost in the last months is irrecoverable and called for the creation of a “bold plan” to relaunch the National Health Service (SNS).
Politics and Economy
The secretary general of the PS warned today that, however strong his party may be, the dimension of the economic and social challenge facing the country, because of the covid-19, requires dialogue and political and social consensus.
The secretary general of the PS warned today that the next two years will be very tough for the country, in the face of an economic and social crisis caused by the covid-19, which is why your party will have to focus essential.
Each Portuguese family has lost, on average, 944 euros since the beginning of the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic, amounting to a total loss of 3.9 billion euros, according to a study by Deco today released.
FoodSeveral entities, including the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Google, today announced support of 800 thousand euros for the Food Emergency Network, with the aim of providing “basic foods to thousands of Portuguese families affected by the pandemic”.
According to a statement, the donation is a response to the appeal made by the president of the Portuguese Federation of Food Banks against Gome, Isabel Jonet, and aims to create a food emergency network to provide “basic food to thousands of Portuguese families” that were affected by the pandemic crisis.
INEM Performance
From the 1 st of March until the 17th of May, the emergency services transported 12.643 users. Any situation, in response to a symptom of shortness of breath was classified by the Urgent Patient Screening Service as potentially a Covid – 19 response.
Ambulances were then fully disinfected with the assistance of the GNR and the army.
This service has also created teams to collect samples from homes or institutions, rather than have individuals travel to hospitals, a huge benefit.
They also have a dedicated team at the airport, and have tested 1598 passengers, of whom 10 were positive, they have also checked passengers on cruise ships.
They have worked with individual hospitals and have helped in the creation of the field hospital.
18 INEM workers have tested positive for the disease, none of whom required hospital care. These achievements are especially significant, as they are in addition to the performance of their normal emergency response.
Schools and Universities
Universidade Nova will start conducting serological tests on teachers, researchers, employees and students attending classroom and in their university residences, next week, it was announced today.
When returning from pre-school, children should learn and talk about the new reality, in a pandemic context, advise the guardianship guidelines released today, which provide for safety standards similar to those applied in day-care centers .
Pre-school establishments reopen on June 1 with new rules, similar to day care centers and secondary schools, which reopened on Monday after being closed on March 16 due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Nine out of ten secondary school students returned to schools this week to take face-to-face classes as well as “almost all” of the expected teachers, according to data from the Ministry of Education.
On Monday, students in the 11th and 12th years of schooling as well as those in the 2nd and 3rd years of dual certification courses in secondary education, returned to face-to-face classes, after two months of high school teaching by distance learning decreed by the Government as a way to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
AviationTAP’s board of directors decided to extend the layoff period for workers until the end of June, justifying it with the restrictions on mobility and the reduced operation planned for next month.
“Taking into account the evolution of restrictions on mobility of people defined, at every moment by the government authorities of the countries where TAP operates, and the faint signs of demand, the operation planned for June remains very low. Thus, it appears that the conditions that determined the use of the simplified layoff program […] have not changed significantly, so we inform you of the extension of the layoff period for an additional period of 30 days ”, read in the information sent by the airline to workers, to which Lusa had access.
The information was also conveyed to the market in a statement from the airline.
Travel and Transport
The Minister of Internal Affairs admitted today that the borders of Montalegre (Vila Real) and Barrancos (Beja) may reopen, before June 15, for “a few hours”, to pass between Portugal and Spain.
Railway stations now have new signage and information materials on measures to combat covid-19, including mandatory use of a mask, Infrastructuras de Portugal (IP) announced today, highlighting the intervention on the Azambuja line.
Fuel prices will rise most since January
Next week, diesel and gasoline prices will rise by around 3 cents, after several weeks of smaller declines or rises. To be confirmed, it will be the biggest increase since January this year.
According to the calculations of the Business, the price of simple gasoline 95 is expected to increase by 3 cents to 1.291 euros per litre. In the case of simple diesel, the increase will be slightly higher (+3.7 cents) to 1.176 euros per litre. If confirmed, these will be the biggest weekly increases since the week started on January 6th this year.
Since the beginning of this year, the price of simple gasoline 95 has devalued 17%, while that of diesel has lost 19%. They are the lowest since January 2018.
Coronavirus: Quarantine plans for UK arrivals unveiled
People arriving in the UK must self-isolate for 14 days from 8 June to help slow the spread of coronavirus, the government has said.
Travellers will need to tell the government where they will quarantine, with enforcement through random spot checks and £1,000 fines in England.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the measure would “reduce the risk of cases crossing our border”.
Lorry drivers, seasonal farm workers, and coronavirus medics will be exempt. The requirement will also not apply to those travelling from the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
According to the Home Office, the new policy will be in place across the UK, although how it is enforced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be determined by the devolved administrations.
If a person does not have suitable accommodation to go to, they will be required to stay in “facilities arranged by the government” at the person’s own expense, according to Border Force chief Paul Lincoln.
Read More at GOV>UK
:https://www.gov.uk/…/home-secretary-announces-new-public-he…
Madeira
Covid-19 update
There are now 23 active cases and 57 recoveries. One of the infected is in isolation at home while the remaining infected are in isolation in designated hotels. All active cases are in the Funchal (1), Câmara de Lobos (21) and Ponta do Sol (1) Municipalities. All infected from five Municipalities (Porto Santo, Machico, Calheta, Ribeira Brava and Santa Cruz) have recovered. Three Municipalities (Porto Moniz, Santana and São Vicente) did not have any cases.
There are 301 people under active monitoring and 115 in self-monitoring. This week, there were 23 suspected cases but none came back positive. So far, there have been 1,541 suspected cases, 1,451 of which came back negative.
As for Covid-19 testing, 2,347 samples from 2,144 people were collected and analysed in the last 7 days. Overall, 9,390 samples from 8,414 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 237 calls in the last 7 days, 24 of which were from Thursday to Friday. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 927 calls, 114 of which were in the last 7 days. The number of people being monitored is 114.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/22/madeira-ja-ultrapassou-um-ciclo-de-incubacao-sem-novos-casos-de-covid-19/
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93526/Casos_ativos_de_covid-19_na_Madeira_limitados_apenas_a_tres_concelhos
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93529/Covid-19_23_casos_positivos_ainda_sem_negativar
Ventilators donated to SESARAM
SESARAM (Madeira Health Service) received a donation of 10 ventilators and equipment for the Laboratório de Patologia Clínica (Clinical Pathology Lab). This equipment was donated by the International Cultural Club of Portugal, represented by Emily Kuo Vong. Vodafone also donated cameras for use at the Covid-19 unit set up on the third floor of Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital. SESARAM publicly thanked both organisations for their donations.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93496/SESARAM_recebe_dez_ventiladores_da_International_Cultural_Club_of_PortugalMadeira spent €440,000 on masks
The Madeira Regional Government spent €440,000 on 360,000 face masks. On Thursday, 25,000 masks were taken to the postal service (CTT) for subsequent delivery to the homes that were yet to receive them. It was also announced that the Regional Government will soon provide 120,000 face masks to the different Community Houses (Casas do Povo), who will then distribute them to the population.
Community Houses are non-profitable private entities, whose field of action embraces many diverse areas such the preservation and promotion of the Region’s cultural heritage and ethnography as well as professional training.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93528/Madeira_adquiriu_360_mil_mascaras_por_440_mil_euros
http://cultura.madeira-edu.pt/entidades/Entities/CommunityHousesofMadeira/tabid/415/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Portuguese Air Force airlifted more equipment
Yesterday afternoon, a Portuguese Air Force C-295 aircraft, carrying about 700 Kg of personal protective and civil protection equipment landed in Madeira. The equipment will be delivered to the Municipal Service of the Câmara de Lobos Civil Protection (Serviço Municipal de Proteção Civil de Câmara de Lobos) and to the Funchal Prison Service (Serviços Prisionais do Funchal). The aircraft also airlifted operational equipment for several civilian and military entities in Madeira and Porto Santo.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93523/Forca_Aerea_Portuguesa_trouxe_700_quilos_de_material_para_Camara_de_Lobos
Hotel workers praised for their courage
Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Madeira Regional Government, visited Vila Galé Hotel in Santa Cruz, to express his gratefulness for the dedication and commitment of its staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was one of the hotels the Regional Government selected for the purpose of providing mandatory quarantine accommodation for travellers landing at the airport and for people who were infected with Covid-19. A total of 487 people, including 118 who remain there, were housed at this hotel.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93498/Albuquerque_elogia_coragem_dos_colaboradores_do_Vila_Gale
Power cuts TODAY
Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts this morning, from 9h30 to 10h30, due to planned work on the electricity supply network. The following areas will be affected:
Calheta:
– Sítios das Eiras, Chope, Pomar, Malhadinha (including Britadeira), Cova Grande and Cancela – Vacaria.
– Levada do Poiso (including Britadeira AFA), Parque Empresarial and Ovo Girão
Arco da Calheta – Sítio do Pinheiro
However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.
If necessary, customers can contact the Customer Support Service (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/22/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-33-2020/
Algarve
São Brás de AlportelSapers carrying out cleaning and maintenance work
The Municipal Team of Forest Sapers of São Brás de Alportel is carrying out cleaning and maintenance work on shrubs in rural and forest areas.
The objective, explains the Chamber of São Brás, is to reduce «the fuel load near homes and on the forest road network».
These are works integrated in the Municipal Operational Plan, approved on April 16, which never ceased, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These essential civil protection services have always been maintained uninterruptedly and are being carried out with all the conditions of safety and protection by the Municipal Forest Sappers”, says Vitor Guerreiro, president of the City Council.
Fuel maintenance and management is further reinforced with awareness-raising actions among the general population, who are alerted to the importance of clearing forests and reducing risk behaviors in the forest, essential factors in order to avoid problems with fires forestry during the critical period.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/05/sapadores-florestais-de-sao-bras-estao-em-trabalhos-de-prevencao-de-incendios-rurais/
Loulé Market Re-opens today
The weekly clothing market, which takes place on Saturday mornings in Loulé, next to the Santo António Convent, reopens to the public tomorrow, May 23, as part of the gradual resumption of economic activities in the municipality.
The market will reopen doors with several health security measures. Following the indications of the Directorate-General for Health, “all operators and visitors must wear a mask or visor and maintain social distance in this area”.
Vendors must also “be provided with disinfectant products, such as alcohol gel, to proceed with hand hygiene during their activity”.
After the reopening, last week, of the weekly market of food producers in Loulé and Quarteira, this is another step in the resumption of the activities of street vendors.
Covid.19: Teaching and non-teaching staff from Lagos schools tested negative
The Lagos Council reported that the results of the tests carried out this Wednesday in school groups in Lagos are already known.
ABC – Algarve Biomedical Center was called to carry out COVID-19 tests to all professionals of educational establishments (including teaching and non-teaching staff) who resumed their functions in schools this week, ensuring the classroom activity to students of the 11th and 12th years of schooling in the subjects that have a final exam.
The result of this diagnostic action was today communicated to school groups, accusing 100% of negative tests. For the municipality, this information “allows to reassure the school community and confirm, once again, the favourable situation in the municipality of Lagos in terms of the pandemic, with the absence of active cases”.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/covid19pessoal-docente-e-nao-docente-das-escolas-de-lagos-testou-negativo/32329-1
AZORES
Situation Report, Azores, 22nd May to 23rd May – From our colleague in the Azores
A new campaign, called “Seguramente Açoriano”, has been launched by the regional government. https://youtu.be/owtrB70BRPc
It’s designed to encourage people to use more ‘Azorean’ services and products, helping both employment and the economy. Choosing to support local businesses by consuming regional products and enjoying the flavours of the archipelago’s food and drinks industry, will help to revive some of the sectors that have been damaged by the “Covid-19” pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Regional Health Authority reports that 943 “Covid-19” tests were carried out in the 24 hours, up until 16.00 hrs, on Friday 22/05/2020, revealing no new ‘positive’ cases of the virus.
So, in summary, since the start of the outbreak there have been 146 confirmed cases; 113 have recovered and 16 have died, leaving just the 17 ‘active’ infections:
Situation Report Portugal Friday 22nd May 2020
Introduction
Today marks the first full working week of the new Decree Law regulations for the second period of the ´Situation of Calamity´ – and looking back it has been a very busy and unusual week – unusual for the scenes of people sitting in fours at restaurants spaced apart and with widespread mask-wearing – having witnessed this at first hand, I was pleased to note the level of compliance by the restaurants and people using them – we really need to support our restaurants at this difficult financial time for them.
It was busy on policy because the government has published quite a lot of details about a range of subjects and we at SCP have been able to have translations made and posted them on our website and announced them on our Facebook pages as new regulations, advice and guidance has been issued. This has been quite a large undertaking, so we take this opportunity to thank again our unpaid but officially qualified volunteer translators.
There is too much to detail here in the introduction but we recommend that you take the opportunity to review our posts on Facebook over the past week and make a note of some of the important announcements that we have translated and posted for you. One of the most helpful publications, in our opinion, this week concerns the announcement of a free translation service available on Portugal that will help non-Portuguese speaking expatriates in live conversations with government and tax authorities for example – an extremely helpful development.
Yesterday, there were further announcements by the government about the safe use of transport with the GNR detailed to check that travelers abide by the rules and the DGS published further information for those managing and working at restaurants as well as hygiene and social distancing measures. SCP has posted a translation of the new information on our website and an announcement on our Facebook pages. Please take the chance to review these if like many of us you have visited restaurants this week or intend to do so this weekend.
In relation to the opening and policies about using beaches, we have experienced some confusion from our communities about the status of beaches and their opening, as well as the new rules in force – probably because this information was released around the same time as new regulations, guidance and advice regarding restaurants, shops etc with the new Decree Law. SCP has made a simple translation of the government rules for the use of beaches which can be accessed on our website – again, we recommend that if you are a regular beach user that you consult this document – it is in a very user-friendly matrix format so can be downloaded and printed as a useful re3ference document
Temperatures will again be very high today – especially in the south of the country where they are forecast to reach up to 32 degrees. There will be very high UV scales as well so please take appropriate precautions – SCP have a very comprehensive guide on precautions to take for high temperatures on our website for you to consult to understand the types of action that are recommended in high temperatures and UV – please take some time to look at this advice and guidance.
In relation to the Covid-19 risk and the risk from the high temperatures – please stay safe and well!!
DGS reports
Covid-19 Update
Portugal registers 1,277 deaths related to covid-19, 14 more than on Wednesday, and 29,912 infected, 252 more, according to the epidemiological bulletin released today by the Directorate-General for Health.
In comparison with the data from Wednesday, which recorded 1,263 deaths, today there was an increase of deaths of 1.1%.
Of the total of 29,912 confirmed cases of infection in Portugal, 72.1% are recovering at home and 2% are hospitalized (608), of which 0.3% are in intensive care and 1.7% in infirmary, was mentioned at the press conference in which the daily situation of the pandemic in the country is made. Of the total cases, 6,452 are recovered cases, which represents 21.6% of the total confirmed cases.
Testing
The Clinical Pathology Laboratory of the Local Health Unit (ULS) in Guarda has carried out about nine thousand diagnostic tests since the beginning of the pandemic caused by the covid-19, it was announced today.
Serological tests carried out by entities such as hospitals, academic institutions, municipalities or football clubs, will be “taken into account” for “an assessment of the Portuguese population’s immunization” against covid-19, the Secretary of State for Health said today.
Health professionalsThere are 935 operational assistants, 159 technical assistants and 105 infected senior diagnostic and therapeutic technicians, revealed António Lacerda Sales, at the daily press conference to update data on the pandemic in Portugal.
António Lacerda Sales also revealed that the accumulated data point to 1,071 recovered health professionals.
“I note this sign of hope that the number of professionals (recovered) has exceeded 1,000 and are 1,071”, stressed António Lacerda Sales.
More than 398,000 confirmed or suspected cases under clinical surveillance at home by health authority
More than 73,000 health professionals have access to the data platform ‘Trace Covid’, watching over 398,000 confirmed or suspected cases of covid-19 in home care, the Secretary of State said today of health.
António Lacerda Sales, said that there were now 73,520 the number of health professionals with access to the platform and that there are more than 398 thousand confirmed or suspected cases that are at home being monitored by health authorities and, of these, 16 thousand are under “clinical surveillance”.
“Every day, surveillance of confirmed and suspected cases at home increases,” said the official.
According to António Lacerda Sales, “the platform has worked well, but there is room for improvement”, he admitted, adding that the teleconsultation could “reinforce the home care network”.
The general director of Health, Graça Freitas, explained that many of the cases that entered the platform are of “people who called the SNS24 Line to report symptoms” and were validated by family doctors.
Health
Former Secretary of State for Health José Martins Nunes today highlighted the role of António Arnaut in the creation and maintenance of the National Health Service (SNS), which showed his resilience in combating covid-19.
Health professionals and patients fear that the economic difficulties that are already being felt in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic and the stopping of treatments will increase the numbers of obesity in the country.
Other Covid-19 topics
Beaches – Lifeguards
Lifeguards will have “very specific rules” on beaches and the bathing season diploma will include the recommendations of the National Council for Resuscitation of the Institute of Aid to Castaways, the director-general of Health said today.
Graça Freitas, who spoke to journalists at the daily press conference on the state of play about the covid-19 pandemic in Portugal, was asked about the bathing season, namely about the performance of lifeguards who will be prevented from doing procedures such as mouth breathing, having mentioned that the issue is being studied by “an entity specialized in the matter”.
“A bathing season diploma will be published with its own rules. The recommendations of the National Council for Resuscitation of the Institute of Aid to Castaways will be followed. There are very specific norms that are very directed to this situation and these will be those of an entity specialized in the matter”, said Graça Freitas.
Food Bank A new food collection campaign from Banco Alimentar starts today and lasts until the end of the month, taking place without volunteers in supermarkets, due to the covid-19 pandemic, but through vouchers in supermarkets and the internet.
“Because aid cannot stop, even in the impossibility of having volunteers in supermarkets to carry out the already traditional food collection campaign during the month of May, the Food Banks Against Hunger call on the Portuguese, between 21 and 31 May, to contribute by making your donations through Ajuda Vale in supermarket boxes and / or the online donation portal “, the entity said in a statement.
Economy and Politics
The Franco-German proposal for the recovery fund places the European response to the crisis “close to the bazooka”, Augusto Santos Silva said today, stressing that, if approved, it raises the national level beyond a billion euros.
The PCP proposes a level of 438 euros per month of social assistance for extraordinary support for workers who, due to the covid-19 pandemic, lose their income, according to the communist diploma delivered to parliament.
The last parliamentary debate on the state of emergency due to the covid-19 was today marked by accusations against the government of propaganda, criticism of the way the 1st of May was celebrated and even the President of the Republic.
The motto of the debate was the report on the third period of emergency, but the parties and even the Government ended up taking stock of the 45 days that this state was in force in Portugal, between March 19 and May 2, passing since then to the calamity situation.
Parliament today unanimously approved the PS party project that extends the suspension of water, electricity, gas and electronic communications until 30 September and the rules for redemption of the Retirement Savings Plans (PPR).
Beach Guide “Go to the Beach Safely”The beaches must have an information and safety team, to facilitate the assessment of measures related to covid-19 and the articulation with concessionaires and other entities, says the manual on the bathing season, sent to city councils.
“If possible, namely in the bathing areas with greater affluence, the guide promotes the formation of an information and safety team, which may be common to several bathing areas in a municipality, and which can facilitate the evaluation of the implementation of the measures and the articulation with the concessionaire and with the other entities “, indicates the manual” Go to the beach safely “.
The Minister of the Environment guaranteed today that “access to the beach is free” and that the red light is a warning, but does not prevent people from entering, although “repeated non-compliance” may lead to closure.
Events and Organisations
The organization of the motorbike festival in Faro has decided to cancel the 39th edition, which should take place in July, due to restrictions imposed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, the president announced today of the Motoclube de Faro, José Amaro.
Almost a hundred personalities from various sectors of Portuguese society sent an open letter to policy makers, where they stress that the crisis caused by the covid-19 “is tragic”, but “a great opportunity” for a new relationship with the Earth. (See the Algarve section)
Aircraft
The Government announced today that aircraft will no longer have reduced passenger capacity, by two thirds, as of June 1 but that the use of “community mask is mandatory” on aircraft.
The flight ban to and from Italy is extended until 00:00 hours on June 15, 2020.
Other topics
National Program for Spatial Planning
The resolution that regulates the governance model for the execution of the National Program for Spatial Planning Policy (PNPOT) was approved.
It is determined that the governance model is ensured by the Inter-sectorial Forum coordinated by the Directorate-General of the Territory, whose mission, namely, is to prepare the State of Spatial Planning Report.
The PNPOT defines a strategy for organization and territorial development, based on a long-term vision for the future of the country and which assumes itself as a national strategic reference for other instruments of territorial management, for the territorialization of public policies and for the programming of territorial investments to be financed by national and European programs.
– Planning and management guidelines, priority actions and the monitoring system for the Landscape Reordering and Management Program of the Monchique and Silves Mountains.
The elaboration of this Program was determined following the rural fires of August 2018, with a view to promoting initiatives for reconversion of the landscape. It is assumed as an experimental and innovative exercise, aimed at promoting new work processes and new content to be considered in the instruments of territorial management and sectoral policy.
Region Reports
Madeira
Covid-19 update
There were no new Covid-19 cases in Madeira for the 15th consecutive day. The number of cases remains at 90. Another person recovered, bringing the overall number of recoveries to 65. There are now 25 active cases.
There are 265 people under active monitoring and 92 in self-monitoring.
As for Covid-19 testing, 452 samples were collected on the 20th of May, with 386 coming back negative and 66 still being analysed. Overall, 8,768 samples from 7,837 people have been analysed at Laboratório de Patologia Clínica do SESARAM (Madeira Health Service lab).
The SRS 24 helpline (Regional Health Service – 800 24 24 20) received 26 calls from Wednesday to Thursday. The total number of calls made to this helpline is 7,791. So far, the Covid-19 mental health helpline (219 212 399 – available every day from 9h00 to 21h00) that was set up to provide emotional and mental support to Madeira residents has received 903 calls. The number of people being monitored is 114.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93417/Madeira_continua_sem__novos_casos_de_covid-19
Free testing for passengers arriving in Madeira
Eduardo Jesus, the Regional Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, confirmed that all passengers arriving in Madeira from July will not be charged for the mandatory Covid-19 tests they will face. It is hoped this commitment will have strong positive impact not only on tourists and Madeira’s residents, particularly tourist staff, but also on Madeira’s competitiveness as a tourist destination.
https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/93426/Governo_Regional_vai_assumir_custos_dos_testes_a_chegada_Queremos_transmitir_confianca_e_seguranca
Binter hoping to resume flights
Although Binter has cancelled its international flights until the start of the winter season at the end of October, it hopes to resume flights between Funchal and Porto Santo as soon as possible.
Binter is also hoping to set up a “tourist corridor” between Madeira and the Canary Islands. To this end, the airline has been negotiating with the Madeira and Canary Islands governments.
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/21/binter-promete-regressar-a-operacao-do-porto-santo-e-afirma-estar-em-negociacoes-com-os-governos/
https://funchalnoticias.net/2020/05/21/binter-estuda-corredor-seguro-entre-madeira-e-canarias-para-este-verao/
Algarve
Faro Bikers Festival cancelled
José Amaro, President of the Motoclube de Faro, announced minutes ago through a video with his voice that this year’s biker concentration will not take place due to Covid.19.
In the video, emblematic images of previous concentrations appear, with José Amaro pointing out that health comes first.
Speaking to Agência Lusa, the president of the Algarve motoclub, which has organized the rally for 38 consecutive years, regretted that there were no conditions to receive the thousands of motorcyclists who travel from various parts of Europe and the world, acknowledged that “it is difficult to cancel event of 39 years”, but considered that health is first and, for this reason, it was decided not to carry out the concentration in 2020.
José Amaro explained that the decision was made due to the impossibility of holding festivals in Portugal, the need for social distance and the restrictions imposed on the transport and movement of people between countries.
Asked about the impact of the annulment of this year’s merger, José Amaro replied: “It is always bad for the club and for the city of Faro, because it is an important event”.
“It is sad, but it is now necessary to comply with these rules so that next year this can go smoothly,” he added, recalling that the event has been taking place for 38 years “without interruption”.
The same source said that the Motoclube de Faro is thinking of undertaking another initiative so that the 39 years of the concentration can be marked in 2020, but guaranteed that the format has not yet been decided.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/concentracao-de-faro-nao-se-vai-realizar-oficial-/32287-1
Loule Rural Fire Intervention Priorities
At a time when the critical period of forest fires is approaching, the mayor of Loulé, Vítor Aleixo, the councillor responsible for Civil Protection, Carlos Carmo, the District Operational Commander of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, Vítor Vaz Pinto, the Territorial Commander of the Republican National Guard, Daniel Ferreira, and the Commander of the Municipal Firefighters, Irlandino Santos, were in the Municipal Park of Loulé yesterday morning at the welcoming ceremony of the municipal forest intervention teams, who have been working since the past May 15th.
At that moment, which symbolically marks the start of yet another season of mobile surveillance, the 13 elements who, from May 15 to October 31, will do daily, and uninterruptedly, from 9 am to 9 pm, were welcomed. Surveillance in the vast forest area in the municipality of Loulé, namely in Serra do Caldeirão.
The municipal forest intervention teams assume a fundamental role, taking into account their valence and preparation, being equipped with a 4×4 vehicle with first intervention equipment (with around 500 liters of water). Considering that the first intervention and the initial attack on forest fires are fundamental and decisive for the success of their extinction, these teams will be able to develop armed surveillance actions.
In addition to surveillance, detection and first intervention, these teams also collaborate in raising awareness among the population, especially in rural parishes in the interior – Alte, Ameixial, Salir and União de Freguesias Querença, Tôr and Benafim – considered to be first priority in the field of defence of the forest against fires by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests.
Confirmed Cases in Tunes
The Union of Parishes of Algoz and Tunes has just announced that two more cases of Covid-19, in the village of Tunes, have been confirmed today.
This is a couple living in an urbanization in this town in the municipality of Silves, adds the note from União de Freguesias, published on their Facebook page.
These new cases, confirmed this Thursday, are not yet included in the daily epidemiological bulletin released in the early afternoon by the Directorate-General for Health, which only refers to the data until midnight today. This bulletin pointed to just one more case in the Algarve, since yesterday.
The confirmation of these two cases in Tunes appears, stresses the local authority, “after 45 days of the confirmation of the last positive case of Covid-19 in our parish”, “rising to a total of 5 positive cases” since the beginning of the pandemic.
The first three people in the parish sick with Covid-19 have already “recovered and are cured”.
The União de Freguesias adds that “infected people will be in confinement and isolation, making their home recovery”. The man will stay in his house in Tunis, while the woman will move to another room in Silves, both remaining in confinement and isolation.
Azores
Situation Report, Azores, 21st May to 22nd May – From our colleague in the Azores
From today, 22nd May, commercial activities on the island of São Miguel are starting again; this is the last island in the ‘Archipelago’ to open ‘commercial’ activity since the ‘shut-down’ began. However, businesses are required to the follow new, stricter rules about the number of customers being allowed in their spaces, hand sanitizer gel being ‘available’ and masks being worn inside ‘closed’ spaces. The restaurant and bar sector will not open for another week, the 29th May.
The Regional Health Authority reports that 670 “Covid-19” tests were carried out in the 24 hours, up until 16.00 hrs on Thursday 21/05/2020, revealing no new ‘positive’ cases of the virus. There have, however, been three more recoveries in the region; a woman, aged 64 and a man, aged 71 on Pico plus another 90-year-old woman from the “Santa Casa da Misericórdia” residential care home in Nordeste on São Miguel.
So, in summary, since the start of the outbreak there have been 146 confirmed cases; 113 have recovered and 16 have died, leaving just the 17 ‘active’ infections:
Situation Report Portugal Thursday 21st May 2020
Introduction
Yesterday was a relatively quiet day in terms of announcements and new regulations issued by the government in Portugal. However, an important warning was issued by the National Data Protection Commission in relation to the intended taking of temperatures of children returning to school. It stated that schools must comply with legal data protection principles and rules. SCP has an English translation of the legal bulletin on our website – so if you are a parent with children of school age in Portugal, please take time to view this important bulletin posted on our website. In addition, the DGS issued guidance for the use of public transport including taxis. SCP has also had this guidance translated and there is an informative guide on our website for your reference and use.
Much has been reported in various national medias about so-called ´air bridges´ and the resumption of flights between countries with lower Covid-19-related statistics. Portugal as we all now know, is one of the countries in Europe with the ´best´ overall statistics – if this can ever be the right term for those who have tragically lost their lives or been struck down with this virus. The regular providers of flights to and from Portugal started yesterday to issue possible start dates for the introduction of flights to our main airports. All of them have differing potential start times but most agree that fights cannot resume until June at the earliest and mostly until mid-June.
Obviously, there are a few airlines who have already commenced some fights to Portugal – but on a restricted schedule and limited location to location. Most of our regular ´low-cost´ as well as some of the other airline providers to and from Portugal have sadly announced that there will be redundancies in this country and a loss of services when the Covid-19 situation normalises more over the next period of weeks.
On safety issues – the weather forecast over the next few days across Portugal shows that we are experiencing a period of high temperatures with very high UV scales – please take appropriate care in terms of sun protection and clothing especially for children – SCP have a very comprehensive guide on precautions to take for high temperatures on our website – please take some time to look at this advice and guidance.
Please also do not forget to take a look at our daily Overseas Report written by Louise Birch – it is always an interesting, concise and informative report that will keep you and your family up to date with the Covid-19 situation across the Globe – and it is always very positive – especially on the SCP-designated ´Positive Sunday´ reports which we publish every Sunday on our website and Facebook pages and whose content is being collected by us for posterity.
Please think about some positive stories that can be shared with us this Sunday – although we always welcome positivity in any of your communications at any time! We will also be reporting over the next few days about some ´well-being and caring´ in the community initiatives that we will be asking you to contribute, if you are able. Well-being during this crisis where so many have been in lock-down and not able to work is such an important part of the feeling of safety and security for our communities.
In terms of Covid-19 and now the high temperatures – please stay safe – take all appropriate measures.
Covid-19 Health Update
Portugal yesterday recorded 1,263 deaths to date related to covid-19, 16 more than on Tuesday, and 29,660 infected, another 228, according to the epidemiological bulletin released today by the Directorate-General for Health.
In comparison with Tuesday’s data, which recorded 1,247 deaths, yesterday there was an increase of 1.3% in deaths.
The indicator that defines the degree of transmissibility of infection of the new coronavirus is stable, with each patient originating, on average, less than one secondary case, announced today the Secretary of State for health.
Intensive Care beds
The Minister of Health, Marta Temido, stated that the average number of intensive care beds per 100 thousand inhabitants in Portugal is experiencing a continuous increase, with the aim of reaching the European Union average of 11.5.
In the Assembly of the Republic, in the Health Commission, the Minister underlined that “this is a topic for which Portugal has long needed an answer” and added that in 2012 there were only 4.2 beds per 100 thousand inhabitants.
Marta Temido highlighted the increase in the last year, with 5.66 beds per 100 thousand inhabitants in December 2019 and 7.39 in April 2020, reiterating that “the objective is to reach the European Union average”.
“It means that we need more than 400 “level three” intensive care beds. It is in this construction of a coordination plan to respond to the needs of intensive care that we are working”, she said.
Diagnostic tests
The Minister also highlighted the capacity that has been exhibited by Portugal with regard to the capacity of Covid-19 diagnostic tests: “From 11,500 tests per day in April, we moved to 13,800 daily tests between 1 and 15 May. In the last week, the average was 15,400 and May 15 was the day with the most tests, with almost 20 thousand”.
Since the 1st of March 670,000 tests have been performed, on average 13,876 tests per day. 44.6% in Public Labs, 41.3 % in private labs,14.1% in academia.
Now 56% of professionals in continuing care have been tested, and only 62 positive cases have been found. As part of the routine testing in Prisons, 2 prisoners have tested positive.
HealthThe Minister of Health, Marta Temido, more than 3,200 health professionals have been infected with covid-19, a third of whom are nurses, and many of the contagions have happened in a social or home context, the Minister of Health announced today.
About 540 thousand consultations of medical specialties and 51 thousand surgeries were left until April, compared to the same period of 2019, the Minister of Health announced today, considering these data “quite worrying”.
The Prime Minister considered today that the National Health Service (SNS) showed capacity to respond to the greatest health challenge ever and defended that it began to emerge from the crisis with the end of “governance of right “.
Capacity of Health Services to respond
At the beginning of March the SNS had 950 health professionals, now