Masks made mandatory in public // Travel ban announced for next weekend // Three councils in lockdown lite
Portuguese news in English on October 23, 2020.
By the numbers
Today would be the worst day ever for new confirmed cases, if yesterday hadn’t already been so bad. There were 3270 cases and another 93 people sent to hospital yesterday, pushing the total number of hospitalised covid-19 patients to 1365, more by Público’s count than at the worst point in April. There’s more bad news today with fewer cases but 31 deaths, again the most since April and one of the worst days we’ve seen. Continuing the trend we’ve seen recently, more than half of today’s new cases are in the North, with about a third in the Lisbon and Tejo Valley region and a few hundred in the Centre. The reason for the massive increase in people marked as recovered in recent days is because the Directorate-General of Health changed the criteria. Previously, a negative PCR test was needed but now patients are marked as recovered when clinically discharged.
Source: DGS
Masks made mandatory in public
Wearing a mask in busy public places is mandatory for the next 70 days, Diário de Notícias and Lusa report. The official wording is whenever the “physical distancing recommended by health authorities” isn’t possible. Exceptions exist for those with cognitive problems, a medical declaration saying they can’t wear a mask or who form part of the same household. They’re also not required when “incompatible” with the nature of the activity being undertaken. I’d guess that potentially applies to exercise but it’s not stipulated in the new law. That lack of clarity was criticised by MPs from the Portuguese Communist Party and Iniciativa Liberal (Liberal Initiative), parties to the left and right of the governing Socialist Party. Fines range from €100 to €500 for anyone not following the new rules. The government earlier in the week pulled a similar law from the parliamentary agenda because there was broader support for mandatory mask wearing than the linked proposal to mandate the StayAway Covid app in some settings.
Travel ban announced for next weekend
The government has ordered a minor lockdown in three municipalities in the north and announced a five-day ban on leaving your local council area, due to the continued increase in cases, Público reports. From October 30 to November 3 (0h00 to 24h00), no one can leave their municipality, which I should remind you is generally a reasonably small area. For example, you won’t be able to travel from Lisbon to Oeiras or Almada, or from Porto to Matosinhos or Vila Nova de Gaia. The restriction covers All Saints Day, when Portuguese people commonly travel to cemeteries to mourn the dead. The measure is designed to reduce those exact gatherings given how hard it would be to socially distance when all you want to do is hug your mourning relative. The restrictions are basically the same as we saw over Easter, so workers and people with medical appointments are exempt but you’ll need to show proof.
Source: European Centre for Disease Control weekly surveillance summary.
Three councils placed in lockdown lite
In the councils of Felgueiras, Lousada and Paços de Ferreira — all north-east of Porto — residents have been told to stay at home, unless they have one of several broad excuses, Diário de Notícias reports. The councils recorded 789 cases between them (more than 100 per 100,000 residents) in a week and the mayor of Lousada said various health units were hitting their maximum capacity. Minister of State for the Presidency Mariana Vieira da Silva said the restrictions, in place from today, were similar to those placed on 19 freguesias in greater Lisbon in July. Residents must avoid going out except for a broad list of reasons including buying goods and services, professional activity, health, looking after vulnerable people, exercising and enjoying fresh air.
The young and healthy Portuguese people in ICU because of covid
Bruno Lopes knew about the risks of developing covid-19 but thought all the physical distancing, mask wearing and hand washing was more to protect his parents and in-laws, Diário de Notícias reports. But then the 35-year-old spent 20 days in the covid-dedicated intensive care wing of Porto’s São João Hospital. “I never thought I’d be in a serious condition,” he said. He didn’t know where he was exposed to the coronavirus as he didn’t know anyone who tested positive and basically only saw other people at the supermarket. Mr Lopes is overweight, but doctors don’t believe this explains him developing such a serious illness. After three days with a persistent cough, Ana, a 30-year-old nurse at Aveiro Hospital, walked into Porto’s Santo António Hospital at 10am and was in a coma by the end of the day. She didn’t wake up for 15 days, thinking she wouldn’t recover. Even after testing negative on May 25, it was another month before she was able to return home.
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In brief
High-speed rail to link Porto and Vigo in one hour. The first stage of the project costs €900 million and should connect Braga to the Galician city by 2030, before the link to Porto is completed. (Público)
National Guard opens inquiry into celebratory lunches that infected 31 officers. At one lunch, 70 officers joined to farewell a departing colonel. (Lusa, originally reported by Jornal de Notícias)
US gives full approval for antiviral drug remdesivir to treat covid-19 in hospital. (BBC) Portugal buys 100,000 vials for roughly €35 million. (Diário de Notícias and Lusa)
On a lighter note
Do you all remember “Portugal’s most Italian Nepalese chef” (Yes, that’s Nepalese, not Napolese)? Back in June, Tanka Sapkota was taking his rolling pizza oven from neighbourhood to neighbourhood in Lisbon. Now his flagship restaurant, Forno D’Oro, has been crowned Europe’s 22nd best pizzeria (outside of Italy), Time Out reports. London’s 50 Kalò took out number one spot, followed by Enopizzeria Via Toledo in Viena and Bijou in Paris. I have no idea what (apart from the name, obviously) qualifies 50 Top Pizza to judge Europe’s best pizzas but I’ve heard good things about Forno D’Oro.
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