Algarve Situation Report Saturday 7^Th August 2021

Maritime Police interrupt event with about 300 people on Cabeço beach in Castro Marim

The Maritime Police of Vila Real de Santo António interrupted yesterday afternoon an unauthorized musical event, with about 300 people, in an establishment on Cabeço beach, in the municipality of Castro Marim.

In a statement, the National Maritime Authority said that following a complaint received at 17:00, informing that an event was taking place on the beach, the elements of the Maritime Police found “that it was an unauthorized musical event, in which about 300 people without the proper social distance were present. The Maritime Police order those present to disperse, which was promptly complied with”.

Six pharmacies in the municipality of Portimão make free Covid-19 tests

Throughout the month of August, citizens of Portimão will be able to carry out a free weekly screening test to Covid-19, in the six pharmacies in the county covered by the protocol established between the City Council, the ANF – Association National of Pharmacies and Farminveste.

As the municipality explains in a press release, also throughout this month, four advanced testing posts are available, known as ‘walk thru’, located next to the old fish market in the riverside area of ​​Portimão, in the riverside area of ​​Alvor, in the Marina de Portimão and near the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, in Praia da Rocha, whose practiced values ​​are defined and are the responsibility of the private entities that promote the tests in these outposts, the costs of which are borne by the interested parties.

Residents interested in carrying out rapid antigen tests in pharmacies should schedule in advance with the six participating pharmacies, by telephone, and they only take place from Wednesday to Saturday, as well as on the 15th of August holiday.

The following pharmacies joined this campaign: Arade (tests between 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm, from Wednesday to Friday – telephone 282 425 858); Carvalho (10:00 to 18:00, from Wednesday to Saturday – tel. 282 423 516); Central (11:00 am to 3:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, on Saturdays – 282 422 068); Palma Santos (11:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, from Wednesday to Saturday – tel. 282 485 641); Pedra Mourinha (9:30 am to 1:30 pm, from Wednesday to Saturday – tel. 282 422 909); and Rosa Nunes (9:00 am to 1:00 pm, from Wednesday to Friday, and from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm on Saturdays – tel. 282 422 653).

Beneficiaries, who do not need a prescription, must be over 12 years old, not have a complete vaccination schedule or have been previously infected by Covid-19.

Overnight stays from foreigners in the Algarve are down 76 percent in July compared to the same month in 2019.

Overnight stays by foreign tourists in hotels in the Algarve decreased 76 percent in July, compared to the same month in 2019, but the national market increased 40 percent, according to data released today by hoteliers.

According to the Association of Hotels and Touristic Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA), general data indicate an overall average occupancy rate per room of 49.5 percent in July, 40.6 percent below the figure recorded in the same month of 2019.

Despite the global decline, accommodation units in the Algarve registered an increase of 40 percent on the national market, compared to July 2019, offset by a 76 percent drop on the external market, according to AHETA in communicated.

In accumulated values, since the beginning of the year, occupancy per room registered an average decrease of 68.9 percent and sales volume a decrease of 68.6 percent compared to the same period in 2019, he adds.

By geographical areas, compared to July 2019, the decreases varied between minus 53.2 percent in Albufeira and minus 24.3 percent in Tavira.

AHETA makes a comparison with the same period of 2019, and not last year, as it was a period in which the sector had not yet been hit by the impact of the covid-19 pandemic.

In cumulative terms, in 2020, from January to July, the average load factor decreased by 17.4 percent and sales volume decreased by 18.7 percent.

 

Algarve situation Report Wednesday 4^th August 2021

“Algae accumulation in the Algarve is “natural” and does not affect water quality”

– APA

Faro, 03 Aug 2021 (Lusa) – The large accumulations of algae in the sands and surf zones on some beaches in the Algarve are a “natural” and cyclical phenomenon that does not affect the quality of bathing water, explained today the Portuguese Environment Agency.

The appearance of large concentrations of algae on the Algarve coast is an increasingly frequent phenomenon, motivated, in most cases, by invasive species, introduced, namely, through ships that move them in their hulls.

“Constituting, at times, a source of apprehension for users of bathing areas, it is a natural phenomenon that does not jeopardize the quality of bathing water and is monitored by the authorities with competence in the matter”, explained the APA, in communicated about the phenomenon.

The University of Algarve (UAlg) this week launched a digital platform to collect data on algae found on Algarve beaches and understand which invasive species lead to large accumulations in the sands.

According to the APA, “various factors contribute to these occurrences, including meteorological and oceanographic conditions favourable to the development and movement of algae masses” that “build up in the surf zone of the waves and are later spread over the sand”.

In the western Algarve, he adds, the algae, brown and red, are typical of rocky bottoms “and arise as a result of favourable currents or after several days with constant gusts of wind”, which encourages the rise of deep waters, more cold and rich in nutrients, right up to the surface.

According to the APA, it has been verified since the beginning of July that the water temperature at depth “is colder than the average for this time of year”, in the Algarve, which is also a favourable factor for the accelerated growth of algae.

In the leeward (east) region, the algae that accumulate on the beaches are mostly green algae, “species that tend to multiply in the Ria Formosa when the ideal conditions of temperature and light are combined with high concentrations of nutrients”.

InterMEDio Festival marks the return of major events to Loulé

Event aims to recall the spirit of the MED Festival and help local businesses.

The Loulé City Council today presented the interMEDio, a «special and limited edition event», which runs from 23 to 29 August, focused on world music, with the objective of «making the connection between the pre-pandemic period and which is expected to be the MED Festival when the world fully returns to normality».

The resumption of economic and social activity, in particular the new, more permissive measures of de-confinement in force since Sunday, August 1st, «make it possible to carry out this initiative, which will certainly allow the public to satisfy some of the cultural needs felt in the last few years”, explains the municipality, which leaves a guarantee: “for the faithful followers of MED, this event will bring new experiences and unique musical experiences, the result of the constant innovation in terms of the artistic projects that appear here.

The enclosure will be limited, but framed in what is the territory of the MED and its ambience – the historic town of Loulé, with a strong presence of elements from the Mediterranean space.

However, given the restrictions defined in terms of capacity, only Palco Cerca, one of the festival’s usual 10 stages, will receive shows. Seats will be seated and, during the seven nights of programming, two concerts are planned per night.

 

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 28^th July 2021

 

Covid-19: Pharmacies in the Algarve able to meet the demand for rapid tests

Newsroom, July 26, 2021 (Lusa) – Pharmacies in the Algarve have been able to respond to the increased demand for rapid tests to detect covid-19 due to rules on access to tourist accommodation and restaurants in the municipalities with higher risk, said industry officials.

“There is a lot of demand, both from nationals and foreigners, but there have never been any problems with the provision of rapid tests or self-tests of antigen for detection of SARS-CoV-2”, told Lusa the owner of a pharmacy on the beach da Rocha, in Portimão.

According to António Pedro, “the race for self-tests and for antigen tests subsidized by the State”, the latter carried out in pharmacies, it was verified as soon as the restrictions imposed by the Government for access to tourist accommodation, restaurants (for the purposes of of week) and events in the municipalities at high or very high risk.

The responsible for pharmacy Palma Santos, which integrates the network of pharmacies with shared tests, said that, so far, there has been no disruption of ‘stock’, “given that a substantial supply of products was made in a timely manner, with a view to this increase in demand”.

On the other hand, he noted, “there are also many suppliers”, so there is no prospect of “a possible disruption or difficulty in acquiring the tests”.

The rapid antigen tests are 100% subsidized by the State since the 1st of July, there are currently 406 pharmacies in the country offering free tests in their establishments.

The reimbursement is limited to a maximum of four tests per month per person and does not apply to those who already have a vaccination certificate or a recovery certificate. The program also does not cover tests for children under 12 years old. 

A positive case in a kindergarten in Almodôvar requires testing 39 children and nine female employees

The detection of a positive case of Covid-19 in a child at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Almodôvar will lead to testing 39 others and also nine collaborators of the institution.

The announcement was made this Monday, July 26, by António Bota, Mayor, on Facebook.

The mayor explains that at the origin of the outbreak is a child who tested positive, which led the health authorities to opt for the closing of three rooms in that establishment.

The situation involves a total of 39 children and nine collaborators who will be tested today, the 27th.

The mayor clarifies that the City Council will make available the hiring of a specialized team to disinfect the entire space of the nursery, “so that there is greater confidence for those who circulate and work in these spaces”.

António Bota says that the municipal executive is working in coordination with the DGS and the institution’s management, so that the situation is quickly brought under control.

Algarve clubs may have government support to “Reactivate Sport”

Applications must be made by August 16th.

The Algarve Football Association (AFA), together with the regional board of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) and with the participation of the Portuguese Football Federation, recently promoted an online clarification session for the Algarve emblems under the measure «Reactivate Sport», launched by the Government through the IPDJ, with the objective of supporting the economic recovery of its affiliated clubs, affected in recent seasons by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taking into account the difficult situation in which sport finds itself, the Tutela intends to make the amounts in question available in the shortest possible time and that is the reason why the deadline for the submission of applications on the IPDJ website is the next one. August 16th.

“Since the start of the season is a particularly difficult period for all clubs, the time factor is decisive for the success of this initiative. In this way, the clubs have less than a month to guarantee an income that can make a difference in the accounts of the new season», considers the AFA.

The maximum amount to be received by each athlete (in all sports) can be up to 50 euros (non-refundable), and, in total, almost 8 million euros are available for football.

After the incentive measures promoted by the Algarve Football Association for clubs in this start of the sporting season, and the support provided by the Portuguese Football Federation, «this opportunity to help re-establish sport as a true driving force of society deserves attention of all who are involved in it and have kept it alive over the last year and a half, at a time when the practice of sports is increasingly having a decisive impact on the good training of human beings” 

Algarve Resident and Surfer Yolanda Hopkins “Very Happy” with 5^th place in surfing event at Tokyo Olympics

Algarve resident and Surfer Yolanda Hopkins said she was “very happy” today with fifth place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which she hopes can change her life, with support that will allow her to be among the best in the world.

“I’ve already received a diploma in the first Olympic Games with surfing and I’m very happy about it. I’m very competitive and I came with gold in mind, I didn’t come to do anything else. I ended up falling a little behind, but I’m very happy with my performance. I know my surf is enough to get me up there. It wasn’t this one, it will be the next one”, said the young woman from Algarve.

On Tsurigasaki beach, in Chiba, Yolanda, 23, scored 5.46 points (3.93 and 1.53) in the first heat of the quarter-finals, which were insufficient to beat South African Bianca Buitendag, which accounted for 9.5 (6 and 3.5).

“It was a little difficult in there, with the tide running out. The waves formed and broke soon. Bianca caught one that raised a bit of the wall and gave her the opportunity to do more than one manoeuvre, which was what I lacked”, he lamented, after failing to take advantage of a priority of more than 10 minutes.

At the time of farewell, thanks to all those who have supported her, even in her most basic survival needs, and the confidence that after this performance, the necessary support will appear to reach a higher level in surfing.

 

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 21st July 2021

This week we have seen a continued rise in Covid-19 cases across the Algarve. The General Directorate of Health (DGS ) today pointed out the existence of 29,967 cases of  coronaviruses  in the Algarve, 199 more than yesterday, and the region totals 378 (+1) deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.  In the daily update of the epidemiological situation in the municipality of São Brás de Alportel, on Monday, there were 69 (+6) active cases, 469 (+17) recovered, 137 (-3) people under surveillance and 12 deaths.

According to the latest status report released on Sunday by the Castro Marim City Council, the county has 14 active cases, 410 recovered and 2 deaths.  In Tavira there were, on Monday, 61 (+1) cases of coronavirus, 170 (-5) in isolation, 1699 (+5) recovered and 29 deaths, according to the municipality’s Facebook page.  In Alcoutim, the municipality registered on Saturday, 5 active cases.

According to the Facebook page of the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, there were, on Monday, 47 (+2) active cases, 1343 (+5) recovered and 19 deaths. According to the municipality of Loulé, on Saturday, the county had 766 active cases, plus 64 recovered, 66 deaths and 12,130 administered vaccines. In Portimão there were, on Monday, 406 (+44) active cases and another 41 recovered, according to a Facebook publication by the municipality, while Aljezur had on Thursday 4 active cases, 133 recovered and 1 death.

The district capital, Faro, registered, on Monday, 635 (+39) active cases, 3807 (+9) recovered and 56 (+1) deaths, according to the Facebook page of the City Council. According to the Albufeira City Council, the county had, on Monday, 842 (+40) active cases, 2927 (+2) recovered and 45 deaths. Through its Facebook page, the municipality of Silves reveals that on Friday there were 191 active cases, 1435 recovered and 12 deaths, while in Lagos there were 296 (+17) active cases on Monday, 1701 (+19) recovered and 29 (+1) deaths. In Lagoa there were, on Monday, 148 (+10) active cases of coronavirus, 834 (+5) recovered and 15 deaths and Monchique had on Wednesday 7 active cases, 179 recovered and 11 deaths.

The lifting by the United Kingdom of the quarantine imposed on travellers from Portugal is a “step forward” for tourism and the Algarve hotel industry is “expectant” regarding the impact of the measure on reservations, according to the main regional hotel association. “The measure is yet another step towards lifting restrictions, which in practice have impeded and continue to impede travel, and we are somewhat expectant about the impact this could have on increased demand from tourists British,” said today, to the Lusa agency, the President of the Association of Hotels and Touristic Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA), Elidérico Viegas.

The association leader said that it is “still soon” to know how this measure will impact demand, because, he recalled, “some of the previous restrictions continue to be maintained, namely the requirement, two days after returning to the United Kingdom, to do a PCR test”.

“Our country has not yet lifted restrictions on the entry of British tourists with the two doses of the vaccine, which is a pity, and it continues to require a test to enter Portugal”, exemplified Elidérico Viegas, considering that this restriction “also de somehow, it could be lifted”.

“Our perspectives point to having an occupation in the months of July and August that could be around 60%, still far from the usual 100% that occurred before the pandemic”, he estimated.

The President of AHETA stressed that these predicted occupancy rates are “more or less identical” to last year and lamented that the “predictions of having a much better summer than last year” are being “compromised by the restrictions that have been coming to be announced and by the recommendations of countries that are very important in the tourist demand of the region, such as Germany, Netherlands or Ireland”.