New recommendations for wearing masks in public, and rents start to fall
English language coronavirus news in Portugal on April 13, 2020.
At the end of the strangest Easter long weekend I can remember we have some slightly more positive numbers to look at. There were only 349 new COVID-19 cases confirmed today. More importantly, all of the percentage increases are, for now at least, going in the right direction: down. The increase in confirmed cases from Sunday to today was only 2.1% and the sad passing of 31 people equated to a 6.15% jump in deaths. But, we know that numbers don’t tell the whole story so read on to find out what you missed over the weekend.
You should wear a mask in enclosed spaces
Health Minister Marta Temido says if people need to visit enclosed spaces such as supermarkets, pharmacies and public transport they should wear a mask, according to Diário de Notícias. The new advice from Portugal’s DGS stresses that the mask must be fitted properly and is worn for the protection of others, not the wearer. It follows recent updates from the United States’ CDC and Europe’s ECDC.
The ECDC stresses this is a complementary measure and should not replace social distancing or washing your hands. In the tweet thread below, it also reinforces how important it is to give priority to medical professionals and breaks down the differences between surgical masks, home-made or “community” masks and respirators. For this reason, DGS says these non-surgical masks can be considered for community use.
The Minister also brings better news on the testing front. Público reports here saying more tests have been completed so far in April than in all of March, including 8406 from Thursday to Friday last week. That might have something to do with the relatively large jump in confirmed cases (1516) we saw that day.
On Easter Sunday, she told the country any expectation of a return to normal would have to be “tempered”, until the discovery of a vaccine, Diário de Notícias reported.
Rents have already started to fall
The pandemic has “practically frozen” the property market and is starting to affect prices, TVI reports. Listings on Airbnb and other short-term accommodation providers are discounted as much as 50% as tourist accommodation sits empty, while Remax’s Hugo Silva says longer-term rents are already falling by about 20%. Property sales have almost completely stopped but real estate companies admit purchase prices will likely see “considerable adjustments” too in the coming months, according to the TV network. One real estate agent says the prices are “becoming more realistic”.
The Portuguese nurse who helped treat Boris Johnson
You’ve probably already seen that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has thanked the National Health Service for saving his life when he was struck down by the coronavirus. But he calls out two nurses in particular, Jenny McGee from New Zealand and Luîs Pitarma, a 29-year-old from Aveiro in central Portugal. Diário de Notícias reports that President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has already personally thanked the senior intensive care nurse at St Thomas’s hospital for his “work and vigilance” during Mr Johnson’s stay in intensive care.
Picture: Facebook/Luís Pitarma
In brief
14% of Portuguese people didn’t leave the house for two weeks, according to a Catholic University survey for Público and RTP
The prioritisation of the pandemic is putting non-urgent patients at risk by leaving them without their normal therapies
Hand sanitiser sold in Portugal isn’t being tested by any government organisations. The CDC recommends at least 60% alcohol content
On a lighter note
If you feel like watching something a little more classy than Tiger King tonight, then this is for you. Portugal’s National Ballet Company is now streaming a new performance every week. This week you can catch A perna esquerda de Tchaikovsky (Tchaikovsky’s Left Leg). So, put on your fanciest clothes, crack a bottle of espumante and feel the magic. It’s in Portuguese but the music and dancing are, obviously, beautiful.