Lisbon Metropolitan Area weekend travel exceptions // Vaccines for over-34s // More restrictions on the horizon for Lisbon
Portuguese news in English on Sunday, June 20, 2021.
By the numbers
You can probably guess that all the indicators we rely on are still going in the wrong direction. Average case numbers and hospitalisations are back to where they were in early March and ICU capacity to what we saw in April. Deaths, fortunately, are still rising relatively slowly, hovering around two per day on average. The problems are heavily concentrated in the Lisbon and Tejo Valley region, which is home to 60% of the hospitalised patients and more than 60% of new cases, Público reports. Probably not coincidentally, about 60% of the cases of the more transmissible Delta variant, which first emerged in India, are in the region, according to Público.
Lisbon Metropolitan Area weekend travel exceptions
There is a long list of exceptions to the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) weekend entry/exit ban, Público reports. A lot of them relate to specific professions but there are a few that will likely be of interest, including health reasons, school, work and flying out of Lisbon Airport (whether you live in the AML or not). For work, you’re going to need a declaration from your employer or, if you’re a freelancer, from yourself. I’m not sure exactly what will be considered valid by the police but most examples I have seen are in Portuguese and includes your full name, address, job title, company, address of your company, ID number, work hours a signature and some sort of description of why you need to enter/exit (Ekonomista has an example here). I’d definitely check with your work and/or a police officer if it’s going to be critical. If you’re struggling with the difference between Lisbon council and Lisbon Metropolitan Area, don’t feel bad because even locals are finding it hard to know where greater Lisbon ends. Diário de Notícias reports one in four drivers heading through Carregado to the north of Lisbon had to be turned around yesterday, mostly for not knowing where the AML boundary was. If you missed my Thursday update, there’s a map and more details there.
More restrictions on the horizon for Lisbon
Lisbon City Council (just the central part and maybe one or two other councils, not the whole greater Lisbon area this time) risks having further restrictions imposed if case numbers don’t drop soon. On Tuesday, Lisbon council had already passed the barrier of 240 cases per 100,000 people per fortnight, Público reported. If the numbers stay that way for two weeks in a row, the municipality will have to suffer tighter restrictions. That would mean restaurants shutting at 3.30pm on weekends, with four people at a table inside and six outside, no more group gym classes and a few other capacity limitations. This is the situation Sesimbra finds itself in now, Público reports. The councils stuck in the previous phase of reopening along with Lisbon are Albufeira, Arruda dos Vinhos, Braga, Cascais, Loulé, Odemira, Sertã and Sintra. Another 20 run the risk of having their reopening paused next week: Alcochete, Águeda, Almada, Amadora, Barreiro, Grândola, Lagos, Loures, Mafra, Moita, Montijo, Odivelas, Oeiras, Palmela, Sardoal, Seixal, Setúbal, Sines, Sobral de Monte Agraço and Vila Franca de Xira.
Vaccines open for everyone 35 and over tomorrow
That vaccination age limit just keeps dropping, but not quite as fast as promised. The online vaccine booking portal (Portuguese first page but English option after that) currently accepts everyone over 40 and from tomorrow will accept anyone over 35, Público reports. Today was the day originally given for when everyone in their 30s but it’s now unclear when those aged 30-34 will be eligible. The Directorate-General of Health says anyone 55 and over can now get vaccinated without a booking. Simply head down to the vaccination centre closest to the health centre you are signed up with. It’s a bit frustrating now seeing younger people getting vaccinated in other European countries while still having to wait. Expresso reports Portugal has the highest confidence in the vaccine in Europe, with 46% of people fully agreeing the Covid-19 vaccines are safe and 49% mostly agreeing.
Digital Covid Certificate arrives
The much-talked-about EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate — previously sometimes called a Covid passport or digital green certificate —is finally here. Público reports the digital documents are designed to make travel within Europe this summer and that they began rolling out in Portugal on Wednesday. The QR Code-based certificates are basically just a secure digital way to prove that you’ve been vaccinated, received a negative test result or recently recovered from Covid-19. As well as travel it’s expected to be used in Portugal for local events such as weddings, baptisms and concerts. You can get the certificates, which come in English and Portuguese, through the SNS 24 online portal.
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In brief
EU approves Portugal's €16.6 billion recovery plan. Portugal will have to reach hundreds of targets and undergo dozens of reforms to guarantee the funding. (Público)
Lisbon illegally shared data on organisers of 52 protests with embassies. Follows revelation Russian protesters' data was shared with the Russian embassy and Foreign Ministry in Moscow. (Reuters, in English)
Turn hail to water before it falls? Farmers in the Douro are trying to figure out how to combat the potentially damaging weather phenomenon. (Público)
On a lighter note
Beira Baixa doesn’t have quite the name recognition of the Algarve or even the Alentejo Coast but if you’re a nature fan that might be about to change. The large region, which sits east of Coimbra and borders Spain, has 700 kilometres of trails and hikes to explore, Público reports. What is perhaps even more impressive is that the regional development board has plotted them all out on a reasonably full-featured website that also includes restaurants, experiences and itinerary suggestions. It’s available in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.
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