Lisbon region with 69% of new cases, and more than 180,000 on Costa da Caparica beaches
English language coronavirus news in Portugal on May 25, 2020.
By the numbers
So I had to triple check this to make sure it wasn’t a typo. The number of people marked as cured more than doubled on Saturday, from 7705 to 17,549. Obviously almost 10,000 people didn’t recover from the coronavirus in one day. It turns out more than 9500 recoveries registered through the Tace Covid app hadn’t been reflected in the results until Sunday, Diário de Notícias reported. Apart from that rather enormous recount, the figures remain pretty steady. Since May 17, daily new confirmed cases have stayed below 300 and deaths below 20 (usually closer to 15),
Lisbon region has seven out of every 10 new cases
The Lisbon region is now well and truly the focus of the outbreak in Portugal. Until early this month, the highest concentration of cases was in the North, particularly in councils such as Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. But in a deeper look at the evolution of the outbreak this weekend, Público reports that the Lisbon and Tejo Valley region (a much bigger area than just Lisbon council) has recorded more new infections daily since May 9. Since that day, 69% of cases have been in the capital and surrounding council areas, a phenomenon being explained by localised outbreaks, some “relaxation” in the workplace and the use of public transport. Looking at the week from May 16 to 23, new cases in the Lisbon region increased 1.96%, verse 0.34% in the North. On Saturday, Health Minister Marta Temido said while new cases in most regions had been tending to decrease, in the Lisbon region they were remaining “relatively constant”.
Blue is north. Red is Lisbon and Tejo Valley. Graph: Público
National antibody study starts today
After weeks of minor updates the national antibody study has begun. Its main aim is to judge the rate of historical COVID-19 infection among the general population, Diário de Notícias reports. Scientists at the Dr Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute will test 1720 people aged 10 and older and 352 younger children in five cross-sectional epidemiological studies. They’re looking for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19) and hope to also discover the number of people who were asymptomatic or had only light symptoms. The results should be known in June, with more studies to follow. It’s still unclear what level of immunity the antibodies might provide, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes here.
More than 180,000 on the beaches of Costa da Caparica
Tens of thousands of people flocked to the beaches of Costa da Caparica as the sun beat down on Sunday, according to a Maritime Police estimate reported by Público. Even Prime Minister António Costa was on the sand, after President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa took his usual dip in the Cascais Bay. People tried to maintain social distancing when sitting down or sunbaking on their towels, but those attempts fell flat when they headed to the water or kicked a football with friends. The Maritime Police officer whose patrol the Público photojournalists joined, said the beaches weren’t this full at the same time last year. He said he didn’t know if it was the high temperatures or or the need to break out of confinement that caused the influx of people. The bathing season opens on June 6, with a traffic-light system and app to warn of full beaches. The government warned beaches could be closed if continually overcrowded.
In brief
Two babies with COVID-19 and chronic illnesses in intensive care in Lisbon hospital. (Público) The babies are among 14 children being treated for the disease in Hospital Dona Estefânia
World Health Organisation says a big second wave is “more and more” unlikely. (Público) The WHO department of public health director urged caution saying the organisation’s models showed it was still a possibility.
Open-air pools will have the same social-distancing rules as beaches. (Público)
Cinemas can reopen from June 1 but they want to wait another month. (Diário de Notícias) The association representing the sector says the problem is there won’t be any new films to show.
Who Stands to Benefit Most From the EU Recovery Fund Plan (Bloomberg, English - Paywall)
Spain to lift quarantine for foreign tourists from July 1. (Diário de Notícias)
TAP to restore more than 200 flights from July 1, including 14 flights per week from Lisbon to Milan and Rome, as well as to Barcelona and Madrid. (Reuters, English)
On a lighter note
As many of you may know, Lisbon has a puppet museum. That museum is currently home to an exhibition of puppets used by claimed director Tim Burton in films such as Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie and Mars Attacks!, Time Out highlights. It looks pretty cool and, like many museums just reopening, is free until the end of the month. You can read about it in English here.
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