Efforts to create ‘solutions’ for nightlife // Mourners to pay tribute to slain Portuguese actor
Portuguese news in English on July 29, 2020
By the numbers
We had a new record yesterday: fewest new confirmed cases (111) since May 8. We’re back up to 203 today but things have been heading in the right direction. A bit more than a week ago, the fortnightly infection rate (what the UK seems to be using mostly to determine it’s quarantine countries) was about 42 and now it’s down to 31. Deaths are also staying low and active cases are dropping basically every day.
Efforts to create ‘solutions’ for bars and nightclubs to return
The government is still talking with industry about creating “solutions” for a return of Portugal’s nightlife, Diário de Notícias reports. Deputy Health Minister Jamila Madeira said the government had been searching for a way to resume various activities and was constantly reevaluating the situation. It would be looked at again tomorrow by the Council of Ministers, she said. The comments came after a group of operators of bars, nightclubs and other nightlife complained last week they felt “ignored” by the government. The deputy minister guaranteed the situation the sector was in was of the utmost concern.
The Council of Ministers is meeting tomorrow to discuss the special measures for Lisbon. I’m assuming the decision will come pretty late in the day so I’m planning to cover it in the Friday newsletter unless there are some major changes kicking in straight away.
The ‘authorised’ Portuguese ventilator that can’t really be used
The Atena ventilator, developed by the Centre of Engineering and Product Development (CEiiA) in Matosinhos drew donations, visits from members of the government and a televised crowdfunding campaign. Earlier this month, it received a “conditional exceptional authorisation” from drugs and health products body Infarmed, in what the centre hailed as a “historic moment” for Portugal. But Público reports all seven of the experts who evaluated it said it would need to be improved. The conditional authorisation meant it could only be used on COVID-19 patients but was also so strict as to mostly prevent it from being used on anyone who might actually need a ventilator. CEiiA said it didn’t make the product unviable and a second version was being developed with industry.
Mourners to pay tribute to slain Portuguese actor
Police said they didn’t hear anything about racist motives when speaking with witnesses to the alleged murder of black Portuguese actor Bruno Candé, but Público has spoken to several people who heard racist insults and death threats. The insults, delivered earlier in the week, included telling the 39-year-old to go back to his homeland and back to the slave house, the witnesses told Público. On Monday, police (PSP) sought to clarify their earlier comments, noting that they had not come to the conclusion that there had been “any type of racist offence immediately before the shots. Mourners will pay tribute to Mr Candé on Friday afternoon in Largo de São Domingos in Rossio from 6pm, Diário de Notícias reports.
In brief
Sick of the Vizela River running red, residents refuse to give up the fight. Residents of the area, n
ear Guimarães, blame a water treatment plant upstream for the colour. (Público)
EU and drug company Gilead reach deal on supply of antiviral drug Remdesivir. The deal will ensure the treatment of around 30,000 patients with “severe” Covid-19 symptoms. (Bloomberg, in English)
Until May, the pandemic caused 183,000 Portuguese jobs to disappear. (Público)
Novo Banco management under attack from left and right. Público reported the bank sold 13,000 properties to an anonymous fund, gave credit and received state compensation for losses. (Público)
Galicia floats possibility of letting Portuguese enter, depending on where they come from. (Diário de Notícias)
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On a lighter note
The beautiful Portuguese island of Berlenga, just off the coast of Peniche, is swapping diesel for solar energy to go totally carbon free, Público reports. Until now, the UNESCO-classified island has run on three generators fuelled by 15,000 litres of diesel a year. But after a €350,000 investment from EDP Distribution, it will be powered by a solar panel and battery system. It’s not much in the scheme of things, but the island's few residents now get a better service for the same price, with no carbon emissions.
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