Booster shots approved for some // Hundreds of trains cancelled as workers strike for better pay
Portuguese news in English on Friday, October 8, 2021.
By the numbers
Now even the vaccination numbers have stalled out so this should be quick and easy. We have the lowest death rate since early July, fewest Covid-19 patients in hospital since mid-June and the lowest ICU occupancy since early June. Those numbers are all just a touch higher than what we saw in August/September last year. According to Público, 87.83% of the population has had at least one jab and 85.21% is fully vaccinated.
NOTE: I will be travelling for the next two weeks but will send a short update or two while I’m gone.
Booster shots approved for some
The seemingly inevitable march towards a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine continues with its approval for over-65s, Público reports. The round of booster shots starts on October 11 for people in nursing homes and those over 80 — who got their second shot at least six months ago — and will work slowly downwards but there are no plans to go beyond 65 yet. The decision came after, the Associated Press reports, the European Medicines Association okayed Pfizer booster doses for all adults. That opened the door to EU countries to rollout boosters without forcing them to do so. “Although there is no direct evidence that the ability to produce antibodies in these patients protected against COVID-19, it is expected that the extra dose would increase protection at least in some patients,” the agency said in a statement. Some are calling for the rollout to be broadened to health professionals while others, like United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres are continuing to beg rich countries to give money or vaccines to poorer nations, Público reports. Burundi got its first shipment of vaccines yesterday.
Hundreds of trains cancelled as workers strike for better pay
I hope you didn’t have a train to catch this morning, because there’s a pretty good chance it never arrived. Comboios de Portugal had to scrap 401 of the 561 train connections scheduled until midday today as workers from CP and Infraestruturas de Portugal went on strike demanding better pay and other conditions, Lusa reports. CP warns of “significant disturbances” throughout the day and possibly even into tomorrow. Of the 401 services cancelled this morning, 112 were regional, 23 were long-haul, 72 were Porto urban services and 194 were Lisbon city trains. Meanwhile, nurses are warning medical centres and some hospitals are at breaking point due to a lack of staff, Público reports. They say nursing was already badly under-resourced before the pandemic but they’re now having to manage the triple burden of Covid-19 vaccinations, flu vaccinations and a full return to in-person appointments.
Video surveillance shakeup
Parliament has approved a government proposal that would significantly broaden the use of video surveillance by security forces, Público reports. It includes the use of bodycams, and the recording and processing of biometric data to prevent terrorist attacks. The last part is particularly controversial given the European Commission and European Parliament say this should be prohibited for anything other than a “specific, substantial and imminent threat”. The proposal now goes to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees for assessment. Some of the main bodies dealing with the subject — most notably the Portuguese Data Protection Authority — are yet to provide the Assembly of the Republic with their opinion. That old Avó in the window (who is definitely watching you) might have some competition soon.
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In brief
In Republic Day address, President warns government not to spend multi-billion euro EU recovery fund. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said the coming years would bring a “unique and unrepeatable” opportunity for change that could not and would not be wasted. (Público)
Europe's energy crisis: Five charts to explain why your bills might go up this winter. The Portuguese version of this article warns Spain and Portugal are among the countries where electricity prices have skyrocketed. (Euronews, in English)
Housing costs in Portugal increased above the European average since 2010. Rents jumped 23% and house prices jumped 51% on average. They fell in Spain, Italy and Greece.
Thieves are stealing a car part for its precious metals. In eight months, 3206 people have had the catalytic converter stolen from their car thanks to the high price of platinum, palladium and rhodium, which range from about €27–€50 per gram. That’s up from 839 police complaints in all of 2020. Old cars — 1998 e 2001 — are the most popular targets.
On a lighter note
Confirming what we all already know, Portugal is the best country in the world. That indisputable fact has been confirmed — for this year at least — by the readers of Condé Nast Traveller who voted our adopted home into the number one spot in The Readers' Choice Awards. The editors noted Portugal “is a country that just keeps getting better, with a growing appreciation not only of its beaches but its food and wine”. Porto, fairly bursting out of Lisbon’s shadow and onto the world’s stage, was voted the ninth best city in the world and the second best in Europe. Lisbon came in at number 15 last year but didn’t feature in the top 10 (I can’t find the lower rankings) this year.
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