Good news for beaches, bad news for nightclubs, and what's new in the second stage of reopening
English language coronavirus news in Portugal on May 18, 2020.
By the numbers
Happy reopening (stage 2) day! The biggest change in stats over the weekend was the absolutely skyrocketing number of recoveries. That figure almost doubled from Friday, with more recoveries confirmed than new infections on all three days as a result. Asked about the change today, Director-General of Health Graça Freitas said it was simply down to institutions improving their reporting as the situation calmed down somewhat. On a sadder note, Sunday was the worst day for deaths since April 24, as 28 patients died.
Reopening stage two: what can we do from today?
If you’ve been outside today you’ve probably already felt the difference. The streets are busier (hopefully not too busy), the schools and creches are open (in a very limited way) and most obvious of all, there are people sitting down to eat and drink at cafes and restaurants. It’s a big change, so Público has put together a reminder of what’s new from today.
Yes, restaurants are back. The rules released by the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) earlier this month (Newsletter, May 9) include a two-metre minimum distance between customers who don’t live together and a requirement to wash your hands before eating. Venues will also now be limited to 50% capacity, a restriction Prime Minister António Costa says might be lifted in June if things go well. As far as masks go, the DGS recommendations were a little ambiguous, at one point recommending them only for clients ordering takeaway and at another point suggesting they be worn except during the meal period. Either way, Público, Diário de Notícias and Observador are now all suggesting you wear a mask except while dining.
Shops up to 400 square metres can reopen so long as they’re not in shopping centres and you’ll still have to wear a mask to go inside. Público reports some museums, monuments and palaces - including the Gulbenkian and The National Museum of Contemporary Art - are reopening today, which seems appropriate on International Museum Day. Hand sanitiser and masks are required inside. Cinemas, theatres and concert venues can’t reopen until June 1.
Other changes include the reopening of caravan parks and sporting fields for football, rugby and similar sports. But only professional athletes will be able to use them. The rest of us are limited to individual open-air sports, which (I’ve only recently learned) includes padel and tennis. Recreational boating lessons can also start again.
Students in years 11 and 12 - subject to national exams - are back at school physically and must wear masks or face shields, while young kids returning to creches and day care centres do not. Visits to nursing homes are also back on the table, with very strict restrictions.
It’s hot. When can I go to the beach?
The final details of the government’s summer beach plan weren’t released until after I’d sent Friday’s newsletter so I’ll share them now. The date you’re all looking for is June 6, Público reports. That’s when the beaches will reopen with a traffic-light system (Newsletter, May 15) to indicate how full they are and a corresponding app, called Info Praia, which is already available to download. While there won’t be absolute limits, you must leave 1.5 metres between groups and 3 metres between umbrellas, and the government has warned it will close them again if the system is abused.
Photo: Jorge Branco
Diário de Notícias pointed out that the hot weather brought more people to the beaches on Saturday but the authorities quoted described the situation as “calm” and “normal” at the major beaches such as Carcavelos, Cascais, Costa da Caparica, Figueira da Foz in the north and across the Algarve.
Bars and nightclubs might not reopen this summer
The Prime Minister has admitted nightlife will be among the last parts of the country to reopen, warning it might not return this summer if necessary, Público reports. Costa said bars and nightclubs were still not on the government’s reopening timetable, given the closeness and interaction they naturally encouraged. The remarks frightened the sector, leading António Fonseca, president of the Association of Bars in the Historic Zone of Porto, to say bar owners wanted to “know they were heard” by the government and DGS. The lack of dialog was more worrying than the message itself, he said. “If (the establishments) don’t open this year, what will people do?” Fonseca asked. A similar organisation representing the country’s south couldn’t see how keeping the sector closed during the summer could be viable.
In brief
Measuring workers' temperatures violates European law. The National Data Protection Commission was responding to a question about the new regulation introduced earlier this month to allow the practice. The commission said it counted as handling personal health data and highlighted the lack of any such recommendation from DGS and other health organisations.
Almost half of doctors with symptoms or contact with an infected patient weren't tested. We’ve been hearing about Portugal’s pandemic response and testing success so this is a bit of a shock. According to an Order of Doctors survey, 47% weren’t tested and one-fifth of those who were tested had to wait a week or more.
Prime Minister: "We won't be where we were in 2019 before 2022”. The PM was referring to the accounts of the Finance Minister but left things on a hopeful note, saying he thinks it could be possible with the right decisions.
On a lighter note
I avoided sharing this clip with you earlier as I didn’t want to poke fun at these two Portuguese teachers just trying to do their job, with the added pressure of a national TV audience. But now it’s an international meme so a few more views can’t really hurt. I mean, I’ve been blown away by how popular this newsletter has been but it’s not exactly Ellen (fourth slide GIF). So, if you haven’t seen it already, sit back and enjoy this educational “rap” from an English lesson on Telescola.