70% of the population now under curfew // Rapid tests in supermarkets // Vaccines for 23-year-olds
Portuguese news in English on Friday, July 16.
By the numbers
After weeks of saying “cases are going crazy but not many people are in hospital”, that looks like it might be changing. Cases are still rising rapidly, with every day bringing, on average, about 500 more cases than the week before, but the impact is also being felt in the hospitals and, to a lesser extent still, with deaths. There were 774 people in hospital yesterday, 175 more than the Thursday before, and 174 in ICU, 38 more than the week before. Deaths are rising but still firmly in the single figures. Previously when we’ve had this few deaths (average 6 per day), there were only a few hundred cases a day being discovered. The hospitals are still well within capacity but contact tracers are struggling to keep up, failing to trace one in every four contacts of people who test positive to COVID-19, Público reports.
Curfew spreads to 70% of the population
Almost 70% of the population is now subject to the 11pm curfew as the number of at-risk councils jumps from 60 to 90, Público reports. Coimbra, Guimarães, Tavira and Figueira da Foz join the list of 43 high-risk councils for the first time, while Matosinhos, Setúbal and Aveiro have jumped from high risk to very high risk. You can see the rules in effect at each risk level in my previous newsletter. You can also check out this much more interesting list of restrictions FAQs that my lovely partner (and sub-editor) Daniela Sunde-Brown has written for Telegraph Travel.
The full list of very high-risk councils is:
Albergaria-a-Velha, Albufeira, Alcochete, Almada, Amadora, Arruda dos Vinhos, Aveiro, Avis, Barreiro, Benavente, Cascais, Elvas, Faro, Ílhavo, Lagoa, Lagos, Lisboa, Loulé, Loures, Lourinhã, Mafra, Matosinhos, Mira, Moita, Montijo, Nazaré, Odivelas, Oeiras, Olhão, Oliveira do Bairro, Palmela, Peniche, Portimão, Porto, Santo Tirso, São Brás de Alportel, Seixal, Sesimbra, Setúbal, Silves, Sines, Sintra, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Vagos, Vila Franca de Xira, Vila Nova de Gaia and Viseu.
The full list of high-risk municipalities is:
Alcobaça, Alenquer, Arouca, Arraiolos, Azambuja, Barcelos, Batalha, Bombarral, Braga, Cantanhede, Cartaxo, Castro Marim, Chaves, Coimbra, Constância, Espinho, Figueira da Foz, Gondomar, Guimarães, Leiria, Lousada, Maia, Monchique, Montemor-o-Novo, Óbidos, Paredes, Paredes de Coura, Pedrógão Grande, Porto de Mós, Póvoa de Varzim, Rio Maior, Salvaterra de Magos, Santarém, Santiago do Cacém, Tavira, Torres Vedras, Trancoso, Trofa, Valongo, Viana do Alentejo, Vila do Bispo, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Vila Real de Santo António.
Another 30 councils are on alert for a possible shift to the high-risk category next week.
Two-week wait for any major changes
We’re going to be waiting until almost the end of the month to see if the government tightens pandemic restrictions even further and for an update to any reopening plans. Diário de Notícias reports. The only news out of yesterday’s Council of Ministers meeting, apart from the update to councils of risk above, was that rapid COVID-19 self-tests will go on sale at supermarkets. Minister of State for the Presidency Mariana Vieira da Silva said the country was in a race against time between the quickening vaccination rollout and the spread of the coronavirus. But while the government recognised the pandemic was getting worse, it had at least begun to deteriorate a little bit more slowly. The next Infarmed reunion of experts and politicians is on July 27, after which the government will make any decisions on new restrictions and/or further reopening.
Epidemiologist Carlos Antunes warned Diário de Notícias that we could see yet another peak in August if we relax restrictions now. Pointing out that 100% of the infections in Lisbon and the Algarve were now from the significantly more contagious Delta variant, he said the North was likely to see more cases than the capital soon. Professor Antunes advocated a cautious approach, with quick reactions to any increase in cases and warned that the virus seemed always able to surprise us whenever restrictions were relaxed.
Vaccine round-up
Anyone 23 or older can now use the online portal to book their vaccination. Anyone 40 or older can now show up to their local vaccination centre during a specific time period (generally late in the day) without a booking to receive their first vaccine under the “open house” model (only in Portuguese, sorry. Check the site for availability hours). You’ll need an SNS number for both of these. Portugal yesterday hit 10 million doses administered, Diário de Notícias reports, meaning we’re roughly halfway to having the entire population immunised. In reality, because kids can’t yet be vaccinated, we’re much closer than that, with 55% of the adult population immunised and 74% with their first dose. The Directorate-General of Health says a second dose can be brought forward slightly if you need to travel for reasons that are exceptional and unable to be postponed (read: not holidays), Público reports.
If you find this newsletter helpful, please help out if you can.
In brief
France demands test taken within 24 hours from non-vaccinated arrivals.The tightened requirements apply to travellers from Spain and Portugal from this weekend, and include PCR or antigen tests. (Diário de Noticías)
House price rises slowed in Portugal and fell in Lisbon. The average home in Lisbon is worth €3257 per square metre, a fall of 7.9%. (Público)
Vieira resigns as Benfica president after being placed under house arrest. Vieira, after 18 years running the club, said he was no longer in a position to carry out his duties after his arrest. (The Guardian, in English)
'Polexit' fears amid row over whether EU or Polish law reigns supreme (Euronews, in English)
On a lighter note
If you like your beer with a shot of sweet, sweet vaccination, then this is the deal for you. Inspired by similar promotions overseas, 21 Gallas Brewpub craft beer bar in Lisbon is offering a litre of beer for each jab you receive, Boa Cama Boa Mesa reports. It’s not owner Gustavo Gallas’ first novel pandemic idea. During the winter lockdown he briefly ran an AirBnBeer, which was basically just an Airbnb with a bar on the verandah and beer taps that renters were allowed to drink dry. If you’re already vaccinated/going to get vaccinated and just looking for free beer (I am firmly in this category), then at least make it worth the guy’s while and buy some food when you visit.
Please keep sharing on Facebook, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.