Bars and nightclubs can (sort of) reopen // changes for worst-hit Lisbon parishes // two dead in train crash
Portuguese news in English on July 31, 2020.
By the numbers
This is the best Friday result I can remember for some time in terms of new confirmed cases, 63% of which are in greater Lisbon. Unfortunately, eight patients died, the worst result in about two weeks. Active cases are still falling as recoveries outweigh new cases. Of the 156 people to die with COVID-19 this month, 83% were in the Lisbon and Tejo Valley region, Público reported.
Bars and nightclubs can reopen, sort of
The first big change out of yesterday’s Council of Ministers is that the 19 greater Lisbon parishes (freguesias) that were in a state of calamity will move into a state of contingency, Diário de Notícias reports. That means they’ll have the same restrictions as the rest of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, which are unchanged. The second is that bars and nightclubs can open again, but only if they follow the same rules as pastelarias and cafes. In a move reminiscent of the Kevin Bacon film Footloose, any dancefloors will be strictly off limits for grooving. Outside of greater Lisbon, along with restaurants, they’ll be able to open until 1am but the 8pm closing time will remain in force in Lisbon. Some bar and nightclub owners are not happy. Liberto Mealha, owner of Kiss nightclub in Albufeira and president of the Algarve Bars and Nightclubs Association, told Diário de Notícias the “absolutely scandalous” decision didn’t make sense. He said bars and nightclubs were just as safe as restaurants or pastelarias and, if they were allowed to open, there wouldn’t be so many illegal parties needing to be broken up. The Lisbon association questioned whether the state wanted to “annihilate the sector once and for all” while his Porto equivalent said while they couldn’t see any sense in shutting nightclubs at 1am, the change was a “light at the end of the tunnel. The changes apply from tomorrow and will be reevaluated by August 14. You can read more in English from Reuters.
Two dead in train crash
Two people are dead and seven are seriously injured after a train crash near Coimbra, Público reports. The Alfa Pendular train derailed after colliding with a work machine about 3.35pm in the council of Soure. José Bernardes, president of the local volunteer firefighters, said there were about 300 people on board and many were able to leave the train, some with light injuries. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa gave his condolences to the victims and their families and said he would await the results of the investigation, by the aircraft and railway accident prevention and investigation unit.
Portugal is a really long way from herd immunity
Almost half of Portuguese people found in a national study to have coronavirus antibodies never developed symptoms, Público reports. In news that’s bad for any potential shot at herd immunity, but not particularly surprising given the state of the pandemic here and results elsewhere, it indicated only 2.9% of people had antibodies. The Doctor Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute (INSA) study tested 2301 people in an attempt to get a picture of the virus’s spread through the country between March and June. In a press release, INSA noted the percentage was too low to achieve potential herd immunity and the study didn’t find significant differences between regions or age groups. Scientists estimate at least 60-70% of people would need to have antibodies to achieve herd immunity, which translates to a huge number of cases and likely deaths. Even setting aside that enormous problem, there are questions about whether it’s a viable possibility. King’s College London found recovered patients could lose their immunity to the disease within months, the Guardian reported earlier this month in English. “Most importantly, it puts another nail in the coffin of the dangerous concept of herd immunity,” University of Cambridge virologist Professor Jonathan Heeney said. Thankfully, the Sydney Morning Herald (in English) points out that’s not necessarily a major hurdle to making a vaccine.
More flights to Portugal from tomorrow
There will be more flights to and from Portugal and tighter restrictions for passengers starting tomorrow, Diário de Notícias reports. Internal Affairs Minister Eduardo Cabrita said the objective was to have a safe and secure August, with “more normality” from September. Things continue as they were within the European Union, Schengen Zone and the UK but the number of countries outside that zone from which flights are permitted has doubled. The full list is: Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. That’s obviously all subject to any restrictions the country at the other end of the flight may put on Portugal. “Essential” and humanitarian flights from other countries, mostly the US and Portuguese-speaking nations, are still allowed. The government has also cleared up a testing loophole that allowed some citizens and residents coming from non-exempt nations to re-enter the country without taking a test. All passengers (except those in transit) from countries outside the EU, UK and Schengen Zone not mentioned above must have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure. If they don’t, they’ll have to pay for and take one in the airport. Any foreigners and non-residents who refuse will be barred from entering the country, while Portuguese citizens and residents will be charged with the crime of disobedience and propagation of a contagious disease.
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In brief
Pandemic brings new record fall for the Portuguese economy. GDP sunk 14.1% in the April quarter, the worst since at least 1977. (Público)
Health centres are struggling to answer the phones. The order of doctors says the drop in face-to-face consultations is three million. (Público)
Alojamento Local owners resist 'Renda Segura', fearing they'll lose their licence. Two years after the launch of the program aimed at turning some Airbnbs into affordable housing, owners say the five-year contract term is too long and worry they won’t be able to renew their AL licence at the end. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
Not quite all of the summer music festivals have been cancelled. The organisers of Jazz 2020 have even sort of expanded there offering, from one stage to three: in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, Público reports. They thought about cancelling but in the end decided they needed to do something to help bring Portuguese musicians back to the stage, with the help of the Gulbenkian Foundation’s emergency cultural fund. The bulk of the festival is still in Lisbon at the Gulbenkian’s open-air amphitheatre, which will be seating 300 instead of a bit more than 1000. You can find more information here.
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