Major update: Local travel ban returns for early December long weekends // New restrictions split country in four
Portuguese news in English on November 22, 2020.
By the numbers
First, some good news: the average number of new confirmed cases has dropped ever so slightly two days in a row. That’s the first time I’ve been able to say that in a really long time. But of course it’s way too early to say if that’s a sign things are heading in the right direction. Hospital figures are a bit more mixed. The number of covid-19 patients in hospital dropped significantly yesterday before jumping way back up today and there are only 10 more patients in ICU today than there were on Friday. The spread of infections seems to be concentrating more and more in the North, with almost two-thirds of today’s new confirmed cases there.
Last night there was an important Council of Ministers meeting, which decided the new restrictions that kick in from Tuesday. That’s why I’m sending the newsletter today instead of tomorrow. I’ll see you all again on Wednesday.
Local travel ban returns for first two long weekends of December
Travel outside of your local council area will again be banned for the first two public holiday weekends of December, Diário de Notícias reports. The first ban kicks in at 11pm on Friday, November 27, and will last until 5am on Wednesday, December 2, and the second runs from 11pm on Friday, December 4, until 5am on Wednesday, December 9. On November 30 and December 7 — the days before the celebration of the Restoration of Independence and the Immaculate Conception — schools will be closed and businesses have been encouraged to give workers the day off. In councils with “very high” or “extremely high” coronavirus transmission risk, the 1pm weekend curfew will also apply on the public holidays themselves — December 1 and 8 — and businesses must close at 3pm on the day before. You can read a wrap from Reuters in English here. The travel ban exceptions are the same as for the previous prohibition on traveling between councils (October 28 newsletter).
Click here for interactive version.
New restrictions split country in four
From Tuesday, masks will be mandatory in workplaces and the country will be divided into four levels of restrictions, depending on the coronavirus transmission risk level in each council, Público reports. Councils with fewer than 240 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 14 days are considered “moderate” risk, between 240–480 is considered “high” risk, 480–960 is “very high” and more than 960 is considered “extreme”. In moderate risk councils, only the normal state of emergency measures apply such as the option to require body temperature measuring or covid-19 tests to enter certain areas and mandatory masks at work. Wearing a mask in all busy public places and the other measures we’ve been living with for weeks and months also apply. Moderate risk councils (white) include Loulé, Olhão and Beja. You can find the full list of council risk levels here and a map below.
In high risk councils (yellow), the restrictions will actually be loosened slightly. The 11pm-5am curfew is still in place but the weekend curfew does not apply. Businesses must still shut at 10pm (except restaurants etc, which can shut at 10.30pm) and authorities will be ramping up efforts to make sure anyone who can work from home does. High-risk areas include Albufeira, Lagos and Faro.
In very high (organe) and extreme risk (red) councils, the 1pm weekend curfew continues and will be extended to include the public holidays on December 1 and 8. Businesses must shut at 3pm on November 30 and December 7. This is all obviously in addition to the measures applicable in the rest of the country. Lisbon, Cascais and Oeiras are among those considered very high risk, with Porto, Braga and Guimarães among those considered at extreme risk.
It’s also worth noting that the decree regulating state of emergency provision itself encourages limiting contacts and travel outside of the home to the bare minimum, Público reports.
Diário de Notícias has an interactive map here. Source: Estamos On.
Why intensive care bed numbers matter
We hear so much about hospitalisations and the number of covid-19 patients in intensive care that I think it’s useful to highlight this Público article. According to a tool created by the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators to help plan for surges, ICU numbers could swell 45.5% next week in a worst-case scenario. That would take the number of patients very close to the currently allocated limit for covid-19 patients of 704 UCI beds, although Health Minister Marta Temido says that number can be expanded to about 900. Beyond that, there are real concerns about how non-covid patients would be cared for. In the best-case scenario, the number of covid-19 patients in ICU beds would remain relatively stable around 480.
This is the same chart on a logarithmic scale, which better represents the speed of the increase in new cases. Click here for interactive version.
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In brief
The tourists disappeared and time stopped in Downtown Lisbon. A local business association chief says for many, it's cheaper to close than stay open, with 115 commercial spaces already shut. (Lusa)
France to ease Covid rules as Asian countries consider stricter measures (The Guardian)
Foreign Relations Minister not sure 2021 budget will be approved. Augusto Santos Silver can only guarantee that the ruling Socialist Party (PS) will vote in favour. (Público)
On a lighter note
There may not have been fans in the stands to watch but hometown hero Miguel
Oliveira produced a dominant performance to win the Portuguese Grand Prix today. Público reports the MotoGP rider led from start to finish, set a track record and recorded the fastest lap time on the way to victory. The win at the Algarve International Circuit helped the Portuguese rider finish the MotoGP season in ninth overall. “It's surreal, we dream about this type of race. I can't find the words for a moment like this. It was a perfect weekend,” he said.
Please keep sharing on Facebook, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.