By the numbers
So far, we’re doing a little better than the same time last week when it comes to new cases. We even saw a reasonable dip in the number of active cases yesterday, thanks to 300 recoveries and only 229 new cases. Deaths remain relatively steady, with the exception of yesterday’s eight deaths, the most since the first week of the month.
Reminder: The new rules for the country, Greater Lisbon, and the 19 most-affected freguesias (parishes) kick in today. You can read about them here in Friday’s newsletter.
Flurry of announcements over who can fly where
This week looks likely to be dominated by lists of which countries are and aren’t allowed to visit each other. Today, Portugal reopened its border with Spain, a major step Prime Minister António Costa declared to be a “reunion between neighbours who are brothers and friends, Diário de Notícias reported. Yesterday the EU listed 15 countries whose citizens would be allowed to travel to the bloc, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand, but barred travel from the US, Brazil and Russia, the New York Times reported, in English. Of course, EU recommendations are sometimes applied differently at a national level. Portugal lifted restrictions on any flights coming from the EU, Schengen Zone or the United Kingdom, Diário de Notícias reported. It also authorised flights to and from Algeria, Canada, South Korea, Morocco, Tunisia and China, subject to those countries reciprocating. Passengers from Portuguese-speaking countries and the US, as well as European citizens and people making “essential” journeys must present a negative test before they fly. We’re still waiting on any news of a so-called “air bridge” to allow British tourists to visit without having to quarantine on their return home. That’s a massive deal for the tourism industry, which is heavily dependent on the Brits, and obviously any Brits living here and hoping to pay a visit home in the near future.
‘Public transport is not associated with any new infections’
Overloaded public transport continues to be a hot topic as experts and politicians seek to explain the continued outbreaks in some of Greater Lisbon’s less central suburbs. Mayors have been quick to blame busy buses but Comboios Portugal insists overloading hasn’t been a problem on trains, at least. The latest comments from Health Minister Marta Temido seem to be pretty definitive. “Public transport is not associated with any new infections,” she said today in a parliamentary health committee, Diário de Notícias reported. Opposition parties, particularly the Social Democratic Party, had raised the issue, insisting on social distancing on public transport and suggesting the removal of taxes on taxis and parking fees to make it easier to get around the city.Meanwhile, the Mayor of Cascais threatened to take “drastic measures”, if transport in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area wasn’t returned to 100%, Diário de Notícias reported. He claimed he would block intermunicipal bus routes from entering the council if an “effective solution” wasn’t found by Friday.
Portugal had ‘no clear strategy’ for reopening, doctor says
Respected Portuguese respiratory doctor Filipe Froes said Portugal had a strategy for confinement but “no clear strategy” for reopening, Diário de Notícias reported. He said the country reopened with roughly 200 new cases a day, not paying enough attention to asymptomatic patients. “We did not have the capacity to transform epidemiological data into public health knowledge,” he said, proclaiming the importance of looking for the virus, not the patient. Dr Froes said reforming the National Health System was important because another pandemic was likely to arrive in the future.
In brief
"Investment in intensive care must advance now, otherwise hospitals will stop again". Lisbon Intensive care doctor Philip Fortuna says the government needs to follow its promise to react now, otherwise hospitals will likely be forced to treat only COVID-19 patients in winter. (Diário de Notícias)
The Azores will pay for travellers to get tested before leaving mainland Portugal. You’ll still need a negative test to avoid quarantine, but now you can get it free before you leave. (Público)
‘Today will be the day’: Prime Minister foresees ‘stable solution’ for TAP. António Costa said if he had to bet, today would be the day for a deal, but it hasn’t been yet. The PM expects an agreement with private companies but opens the door to nationalisation of the airline if that fails. (Diário de Notícias)
There are About 15,000 people under surveillance in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Roughly 100 patients are unreachable every day. (Público)
Parliament unanimously approves bonus for SNS professionals. It’s equivalent to 50% of each worker’s basic monthly remuneration. (Público).
On a lighter note
This is your regular reminder that there will probably never be a better time to visit the Algarve, assuming you prefer quiet beaches to nightclubs full of drunk Brits and Aussies. This piece from The Guardian highlights the relaxed beauty of Olhão, with its “beaches, splendid seafood and ramshackle charms”. Apart from anything else, it’s also a beautifully written article that does a great job of capturing the charming small town’s spirit.
Photo: Daniela Sunde-Brown