More Omicron variant cases found in Portugal // New rules spark overwhelming demand for tests
Portuguese news in English on Saturday, December 4, 2021.
By the numbers
Case numbers are still surging and they’re clearly starting to have an effect on hospitals. There were 21 deaths yesterday and 22 today, the most since March this year when we were still coming out of the worst of the winter surge. There are 194 more Covid-19 patients in hospital than last Saturday and 25 more in ICU. But it’s night and day compared to this time last year, when there were 3295 Covid-19 patients in hospital and 526 in ICU. There are 564 active outbreaks across the country, 338 of them in schools, Diário de Notícias reports. More than 2 million Portuguese people have been vaccinated against the flu and 1.4 million given a Covid-19 booster, Diário de Notícias reports.
Concerning new variant Omicron found in Portugal
This time last week it didn’t even have a name but now the new Omicron variant is all anyone seems to be able to talk about. We’re learning more every day — but still don’t know much for certain — so I’m not going to try to sum everything up here. This New York Times explainer, in English, should get you up to date with everything you need to know.
The new variant has already made its presence felt here in Portugal, through an outbreak at the Belenenses SAD professional football club, Público reports. One player had recently been to South Africa, one of the countries where the new variant was first detected. The infection of a team doctor also working at the Hospital Garcia de Orta caused the two-week closure of pediatric emergency and outpatient services, Público reports. As far as any wider spread of the new variant, Director-General of Health Graça Freitas on Monday night told Público cases were still confined to a localised outbreak. It couldn’t be said that there was community transmission in Portugal. As of yesterday, there were 34 known cases of the new variant in Portugal, all still asymptomatic or with light symptoms, Diário de Notícias reports.
New rules spark overwhelming demand for tests
New rules requiring a negative test to enter nightclubs, major events and sporting matches are causing a bunch of problems. Most obviously, pharmacies are getting slammed, leaving many people unable to make bookings — you can use this site or call/email/visit your local one — for rapid tests, Público reports. Lisbon City Council has opened four walk-through testing sites in Restauradores, Martim Moniz, Cais do Sodré and Campo Pequeno from 9am–1pm and 2pm–6pm. There should also be late-night testing posts in Cais do Sodré, Largo de Camões, Príncipe Real and Santos from 8pm-2am on Fridays, Saturdays and days before public holidays. Unfortunately, the council initially said they’d be open Thursdays as well, leaving a huge line of people waiting out in the cold in Cais do Sodré for nothing. Fortunately, The Directorate-General of Health has clarified that self-tests are valid for entry, so long as they’re supervised by a health professional or a designated person at the venue or event, Público reports. But authorities stress this is just a fall back option, and of course there’s no guarantee someone will be available at the bar etc in question to supervise. The demand for tests was even higher than usual in the capital this week because of the local derby between Sporting and Benfica last night. But Alfacinhas should count themselves lucky, Jornal de Notícias (paywall) reports 35%t of councils in Portugal don’t have any pharmacies offering free rapid tests.
Many New Year’s Eve festivities scrapped
As keen as many of us are to say goodbye to 2021, Portugal’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are again going to be much more restrained than usual. Lisbon, Porto and Braga have already called off planned end-of-year concerts to avoid crowds, Público reports. There won’t even be fireworks in Porto, while Lisbon mayor Carlos Moedas is expected to announce whether or not they’ll go ahead, along with “big restrictions” for December 31, in the coming days. The Directorate-General of Health has warned the number of average daily cases could double by Christmas, although the increase has slowed, Público reports. The government has not ruled out introducing further restrictions over the Christmas period if necessary, Reuters reports, in English. But there’s one measure that’s not on the agenda, at least according to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa: mandatory vaccination. Minister of the Presidency Mariana Vieira da Silva said there was no expectation of a repeat of the previous winter’s devastating virus surge. On travel restrictions, Brussels is calling on Portugal to scrap its requirement for a negative test to enter the country, Diário de Notícias reports.
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In brief
Home Affairs Minister resigns after his driver charged with negligent homicide over roadworker’s death. Eduardo Cabrito was a passenger as the car allegedly travelled at 163km/h. (Público)
Government approves increase in minimum wage to €705 a month from January. About 110,000 workers affected in the public service alone. (Público)
President again vetoes euthanasia law, which won't return until after elections. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said the wording regarding how sick someone would need to be had been broadened. (Público)
Rui Rio re-elected as leader of main opposition Social Democratic Party. The party’s deputy secretary-general said it was ready to win the national elections.
Portugal has donated 4.4 million vaccine doses but only half have arrived. They’re mostly going to Portuguese-speaking African countries and East Timor.
On a lighter note
It’s December and that means one thing: Pinheiro Bombeiro (Firefighter Pine Tree — yes, it sounds much cooler in Portuguese) Christmas trees. Basically, you can “rent” a pine tree branch that’s been cut down to help thin out forests and prevent bushfires, and the money goes to helping volunteer firefighters across Portugal. Once the festive season is finished, the tree can be returned and turned into biomass. In Lisbon you can pick one up on weekends at the pop-up tent beside CCB in Belém or order one online in greater Lisbon or greater Porto.
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