Heatwave killed more than 1000 people // Vaccination rates slipping for booster shots
Portuguese news in English on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
By the numbers
Heatwave killed more than 1000 people
Last week’s heatwave was responsible for the death of 1063 people, prompting warnings the country needs to adapt to cope with climate change, health authorities told Reuters in English. “Portugal ... is among one of the areas of the globe that could be (more) affected by extreme heat,” Director-General of Health Graça Freitas said. “We have to be more and more prepared for periods of high temperatures.” Civil protection researcher Duarte Caldeira warns bushfires in the Iberian Peninsula are behaving in a more and more intense way, Diário de Notícias reports. He highlighted the super-accelerated progression of fire fronts and intensity of energy created, particularly in Spain. He said fires were generating their own multidirectional wind currents that caused them to spread in multiple directions and sparking new blazes, “a new situation”. He warned the situation would become a regular occurrence we must learn to live with. Police have arrested a 27-year-old and charged him with lighting 16 fires around Ponte de Lima, in the Viana do Castelo district on the northern border with Spain, Lusa reports. While the fire risk is lower than last week, it’s still high and widespread, with more than 60 districts in Bragança, Braga, Vila Real, Guarda, Viseu, Coimbra, Santarém, Castelo Branco, Portalegre and Faro still at the maximum level, Lusa reports.
Vaccination rates slipping for booster shots
Portugal’s famed high vaccination levels have slipped with the rollout of booster shots, Público reports. One in five eligible adults are still yet to receive their third dose, prompting an appeal from health authorities. Numbers are even lower for the fourth dose, with just 69% of the over-80s eligible for the extra jab having received it. That figure is also affected by how many received their third dose or actually developed COVID-19 in the past four months, making them ineligible for now. Vaccination centres are still operating in “open house” mode with no need for appointments. Flu vaccinations will begin on September 5, in combination with boosters if necessary, for those aged 65 and over, Público reported in June. Portugal still has among the highest rates of booster doses in the world, according to Our World in Data.
Portugal rejects EU plan to cut gas use facing Russia threat
Portugal will oppose European Union plans to cut natural gas consumption by 15%, a bulwark against growing fears Russia will completely cut off gas supplies to the bloc in winter, Público reports. Secretary of State for Environment and Energy João Galamba described the proposed cut as “disproportionate” and “unsustainable”, saying it ignores the fact Portugal didn’t have gas connections with the rest of Europe and that gas is used essentially for industry and energy production. The European Commission called for “cool heads” in discussing the target, highlighting the “not negligible risk” of a full Russian gas shut off, Diário de Notícias reports. Spain, Greece and Poland have also opposed the proposal. In case of emergency measures being activated to confront a severe crisis, Portugal would have to divert gas arriving in the port of Sines to northern countries in need, Público reports. The plan needs a qualified majority — 55% of countries making up 65% of the EU population — to pass. You can read more about the EU proposal from the BBC in English.
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In brief
State of the Nation: PM admits countries problems but avoids responding to them. Opposition parties confronted António Costa with problems such as inflation, drought, bushfires and health. He had little new to say in response but promised new support measures for families and businesses this September. (Público)
Social Security investigating unemployment agency president receiving unemployment benefits. The president received the subsidy for one and a half years taking the job but her resume listed her as still being a consultant at her former company and she was identified as the CEO at one point. She says any work in the period was unpaid. (Público)
Maria de Lourdes, the ‘diva’ of Portuguese cooking, dies at 92. The cooking icon with a cheekily innocent smile wrote Cozinha Tradicional Portuguesa and other titles. Público)
Tourism spend until May surpasses same period in 2019. The bank of Portugal predicts full-year figures above pre-pandemic levels and almost double last year, after about €6 billion was spent in the first five months of 2022, 3.9% up on 2019. (Público)
On a lighter note
Look, long-time readers know I’m a sucker for a mediaeval fair when it’s actually set in a mediaeval castle. The central Portuguese town of Óbidos, dating back to the 12th century, certainly fits that criteria. The Mercado Mediaeval de Óbidos started yesterday and runs until July 31, with what appears to be plenty of costumes, activities and roaming entertainment. You can even rent your own costume for €6 a day if you really want to get in the spirit.