More good vaccine news // SEF boss admits ‘torture’ of dead Ukrainian // A weekend of 'exemplary' behaviour and protest
Portuguese news in English on November 16, 2020.
By the numbers
Another 4375 old confirmed cases have been added to Portugal’s total after health authorities changed to a new system for tracking case data. But, in terms of the strictly “new” confirmed cases added today there’s some good news: less than 4000 for the first time since November 4. Even on a Monday (when case numbers are almost always lower) that is hopefully good news. Unfortunately, today also marks the most covid-19 deaths to date and the second day in a row with more than 100 extra patients in hospital. That comes after three days in which the number of hospitalisations and people in intensive care didn’t increase significantly.
The totals on today’s chart reflect the real number of cases and the new cases reflect how many new cases have been added, not including the old ones. Source: DGS
Even better news on the vaccine front
It’s been a good seven days for vaccine news. Just days after Pfizer announced preliminary results suggesting its vaccine is 90% effective, today Moderna has shared seemingly even better results, the New York times reports. Researchers said the early results showing 94.5% effectiveness were better than they had dared to hope for. Doctor and João Lobo Antunes Molecular Medicine Institute expert Luís Graça tells Diário de Notícias that once the vaccines are approved by the European Medicines Agency (assuming further study shows similar results) they should arrive on the market here within a few days to a month.
But don’t get too excited just yet. While some of the 50 million doses Pfizer and German partner BioNTech say they can make this year should be headed for Europe, it’s likely to only be enough for the most vulnerable at best. Even the 1.3 billion it expects to make by the end of next year aren't anywhere near enough for the world, especially considering everyone needs two doses. The trickiest thing will be figuring out a way to transport and store the vaccine because it needs to be kept at minus 70°C. The Moderna vaccine, on the other hand, can be stored in a normal fridge for 30 days, with 20 million doses ready for the US this year, the Guardian reports, in English (There’s a lot more detail about the vaccines at that link if you’re interested). The EU was planning to sign a deal for 80 million doses of that vaccine, Reuters reported, in English but I haven’t seen any details since August. And finally, while BioNTech cofounder Professor Ugur Sahin predicts the company’s vaccine can cut transmission in half, life will only return to normal next winter, BBC reports, in English.
Click here for interactive version.
SEF boss admits ‘torture’ of dead Ukrainian
Eight months after three Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) inspectors allegedly murdered Ukrainian man Ihor Homenyuk, the organisation’s national director has admitted he was tortured, Público reports. The 40-year-old father-of-two was allegedly immobilised and beaten over 15 hours in a small room where he was detained by SEF before his death on March 12. Three officers are accused of murder and the Inspectorate General of Home Affairs, a report from which found there had been an attempted cover up, launched disciplinary proceedings against 12 officers. SEF national director Cristina Gatões said from the “heinous” descriptions contained in expert reports, the incident was one of “evident torture”. She pointed to the ongoing legal process to explain why she had not spoken to Mr Homenyuk’s widow, children or the accused murderers.
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.
A weekend of confinement and protest
Prime Minister António Costas has praised us for our “exemplary civic duty” over the first weekend of mandatory curfew for most of the country, Lusa reports. The new restrictions appear to have been effective, going by the figures released today by data science company PSE. The company, through an app installed on 3670 smartphones, found 80% of participants were home at 2pm, with closer to 90% in the big cities, Público reported. That number is expected to rise next weekend after the number of councils in a state of emergency rose from 121 to 191 (and from 70% of the population to 82%) today, Diário de Notícias reports.
One exception to the widespread confinement was the gathering of hundreds in Rossio, in the centre of Lisbon, to protest what they saw as a lack of support from the government. The crowd chanted “they’re killing those who want to work” as chef Ljubomir Stanisic said the hotel, restaurant, nightlife events and culture industries were “sick of the false promises we’ve been getting”, Diário de Notícias reported. Another speaker, Paulo Silver, outlined a series of assistance measures including grants to help compensate eight months worth of losses, help to pay rent and the reimposition of normal trading hours. At the same time, Minister of State for the Economy Pedro Siza Vieira said available and announced assistance measures for the sector already exceeded €1.1 billion.
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In brief
Coimbra hospitals approach covid-19 ward bed limit. Out of 90 covid-dedicated beds, 83 are full, with 17 of 32 ICU beds taken. (Lusa)
Experts study covid-19's possible mental health effects. For the president of the Portuguese Psychologists’ Association, the pressure the crisis puts on society as a whole makes mental health another emergency.
On a lighter note
Next time you’re in Vila Nova de Gaia, you might have to consider going to a tasting of something other than Port wine. Master chocolatier Pedro Araújo’s new range, Vinte Vinte (Twenty Twenty) comes out of The Chocolate Story, a 4000m2 space in the even more massive World of Wine, Público reports . There are several different ranges including a premium bean-to-bar option in which the chocolate maker is fully responsible for the whole process. Mr Araújo draws a comparison to winemaking. The chocolate is only available in Gaia for now but should be sold nationally next year and outside of Portugal the following year.
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