Covid-19 isolation period scrapped // Plan for Lisbon to Porto in 75 minutes by train
Portuguese news in English on Monday, October 3, 2022.
By the numbers
Covid-19 isolation period scrapped
Covid-19 is now being treated just like any other disease in Portugal, bringing an end to mandatory isolation and reporting for those infected, Público reports. The change, which came into effect on Saturday, also means the SNS24 hotline will stop issuing referrals for tests and Covid-19 sick leave, with the associated subsidy also scrapped, along with the state of alert. You’ll need a medical referral from a health centre to access free PCR testing, just like with any other illness. Masks remain mandatory in health establishments. Health authorities urge anyone with respiratory symptoms to try to avoid getting others sick, in particular more vulnerable people, and recommend wearing a mask.
Public health doctors are concerned the move is premature, Lusa reports. National Association of Public Health Doctors president Gustavo Tato Borges described the move as a huge risk as the country enters a new wave amid uncertainty about how well vaccines will be able to slow the spread.
Plan for Lisbon to Porto in 75 minutes by train
High-speed rail will link Lisbon and Porto within an hour and 15 minutes under Portugal’s latest rail modernisation plan, Público reports. If that sounds familiar, it’s worth noting the same goal was announced in 2020 and 1999. Under this iteration of the plan, work will start in 2024 and allow a two-hour trip, or longer with stops, between the two biggest cities in 2028. If everything runs on time, that time will shrink to one hour and 19 minutes by 2030 and to one hour and 15 some time after that. The plan also radically reduces travel time for many other cities between Lisbon and Porto and north to Vigo, in Galicia. The first phase is set to cost €3 billion, including €1 billion from the EU, with another €1.5 billion spent in the second phase and a further €900 million linking Porto with Spain.
In other rail-based news, the Lisbon Metro will have another four stations by 2025, extending the red line from São Sebastião until Alcântara and adding stops in Amoreiras, Campo de Ourique and Infante Santo along the way, Público reports.
Five options for new airport including two in Santarém
There are now five options on the table for the future of Lisbon’s airports, including two involving Santarem about 70 kilometres to the north, Público reports. A new study was announced after Prime Minister António Costa met with the leader of the main opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD). The strategic environmental assessment will look at the three previously considered options: the existing Humberto Delgado Airport remains the main infrastructure with a new one in Montijo; Montijo slowly replaces Humberto Delgado, which continues as a secondary airport; and a new hub in Alcochete, which would replace Humberto Delgado entirely. But it will also consider two new approaches that essentially replace Montijo with Santarem as the site for the new airport.
Still on aviation, Público reports hackers published the data of about 1.5 million TAP clients, Público reports. The airline has reportedly emailed those affected but if you’re a customer, you can also check the site Have I Been Pwned to be more certain.
In brief
Portugal imported more than 300,000 tonnes of gas and petroleum from Russia. At least five ships from Russia, carrying natural gas, have docked in the port of Sines since the invasion of Ukraine began. (Público)
€125 cost of living assistance to be paid from October 20. Valid for people who earned up to €37,800 last year. Visit the website of either Finanças or Segurança Social to update your IBAN. (Público)
Inflation hits 9.3% in Portugal, the highest in 30 years. September’s value was 0.4 percentage points higher than in August. Core inflation, which excludes simple food and energy, rose 6.5% (Lusa)
Spain stops Douro water discharge to Portugal. Hundreds of fish were found dead when water was transferred from the slowly emptying Almendra dam, in Spain. (Público).
On a lighter note
When it comes to pasteís de nata, Manteigaria and Pastéis de Belém dominate most conversations. But as has been the case in the past, the Melhor Pastel de Nata competition has ruled the best custardy treats are to be found away from the biggest sellers. This year, Casa do Padeiro, in Pontinha, was crowned the best in the Lisbon region, Público reports. The bakery’s boss, Bruno Francisco, said creating the treats is “not an exact science”, adding his team needed “some luck” to win.