MAJOR UPDATE: New lockdown starts on Friday // Schools, universities and supermarkets remain open
Portuguese news in English on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
By the numbers
Portugal passes into a new lockdown, we mark the deadliest day in the pandemic so far. Today also marks the third broken record for daily new cases in just eight days and more than 500,000 total infections. There are now almost 900 more people in hospital than during the early December peak and about 20 more in intensive care, even after the first decrease in ICU numbers in 11 days. The Lisbon and Tejo Valley region is now recording significantly more cases than the North (1000 more yesterday and 600 more the day before), while case numbers in the Central region (and to a lesser extent in the less-populated regions) are also soaring. There were 7259 cases confirmed yesterday and 5604 on Monday.
New lockdown starts on Friday
After days of speculation, the government has introduced a lockdown very similar to what we endured in the early stages of the pandemic, Público reports. The month-long lockdown is aimed at bringing the skyrocketing numbers of deaths, hospitalisations and new cases under control. Working from home is mandatory wherever possible and fines have been doubled after Prime Minister António Costa said the rules were not always being followed. Fines to enforce all other pandemic measures, including wearing a mask in public and “disobedience”, have also been doubled. Overall, the Prime Minister urged people to focus on the rules, not the exceptions and stressed that the golden rule was again “stay home” (ficar em casa). Shops, cinemas, theatres and restaurants (except for takeaway and delivery) must all close from Friday. The renewed state of emergency runs from the start of Friday until the end of January 30 and the government says these restrictions will be reevaluated after 15 days, they are expected to last for a month.
Schools, universities and supermarkets remain open
The major difference to the first lockdown is that schools, creches and universities will remain open, Público reports. Otherwise, you can leave your home only for things that are essential, such as buying food, dealing with health issues (including going to the pharmacy or dentist) and caring for family members or your children. Exercise in the open air is still allowed but gyms and sporting precincts (with the exception of professional sport) will be closed. While you can’t eat at restaurants or cafes, even outside, they can continue to sell food for takeaway and delivery. While all but essential shops will close, that means supermarkets, smaller food shops, open-air food markets, car garages and local hardware shops will remain open without restrictions on opening hours. Public services such as the Loja de Cidadão will be open for appointments only. Citizens will also be able to circulate freely to vote in the presidential elections on January 17 and 24.
More on schools
Roughly 2.5 million people will still be leaving the house to attend or teach at school or university, Público reports. While the move has been welcomed by school directors, it has also sparked calls for more safety measures and even for teachers to be prioritised for vaccination. The issue of schools in general has been a vexed one, with some experts, such as the president of the College of Medicine of the Order of Doctors, arguing they should be open only for the children of essential workers.
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In brief
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa tested positive for covid-19. He has since tested negative twice but can’t return to the campaign trail for 14 days. (Diário de Notícias)
Coronavirus variant from UK 'must not get out of hand' warns EU. The EU warns the highly contagious variant first found in Britain is having “a significant impact” in Europe and its spread “must be stopped at all costs”.
Portugal has at least 72 cases of the UK-detected variant. The national health institute has performed genomic sequencing on 2342 samples and says the numbers point to community transmission of the more contagious variant.
Food delivery apps can only charge restaurants a 20% fee during lockdown. Restaurants have been complaining of predatory behaviour by companies such as Uber Eats and Glovo. (Público)
Minister orders hospitals to postpone priority surgeries and move to maximum contingency level (Público)
On a lighter note
I know this sucks. We were all hoping to scrape through winter and into mass vaccination without another lockdown, but unfortunately that’s the way it has to be. We know a lot more about coping now, so hopefully we won’t see so many articles about how Newton worked out the laws of gravity and everything during the plague (spoiler alert: the guy was already a genius so don’t feel like you have to figure out the answer to life the universe and everything just because you don’t have to catch the bus to work). The Guardian has some good tips here that are a little bit Brit-focused but apply just as equally to here if you ignore the stuff about exercise limits and the almost complete lack of sun. Please stay safe, positive and look after yourselves.
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