NEW RESTRICTIONS: Masks and vaccine certificates are back // New testing rules even for the vaccinated
Portuguese news in English on Friday, November 26, 2021
By the numbers
Well, we’re definitely starting to see the effect of all those new cases translate into the hospitals now. There are almost 180 more Covid-19 patients in hospital than this time last week and 21 more in intensive care. That’s about a one-third jump in hospitalisations and a one-quarter jump in ICU occupancy. The number of average daily cases is up about 720, or 45%. And deaths, while still relatively low, have jumped from about 7.6 to about 11.4.
Next week I will be travelling so the next newsletter may be delayed. But I'll send a short update if there are any major changes.
New rules from December 1: Masks, tests, vaccine certificates and more
This has felt somewhat inevitable for the past week or two and now the moment has arrived: more restrictions. From December 1, masks are again mandatory in enclosed spaces, we’ll need to show our Covid-19 Digital Certificate to eat at restaurants and testing will be required to enter several high-risk situations, even for the vaccinated, Público reports. Negative tests will be required to fly into Portugal, even when fully vaccinated. The government is also introducing a “containment week” from January 2–9, when parents will be working from home, kids will have their school holidays extended and bars and nightclubs will be shut. It’s (as you can probably guess) an attempt to contain any infections people may have picked up across Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Working from home is officially recommended but not mandatory at all other times. And we’ll be back into a state of calamity but the government and the President say they’re not interested in a state of emergency.
The Covid-19 Digital Certificate is coming back in a big way and will be required to enter restaurants (not needed when staying on an open terrace, according to the Council of Ministers), tourist establishments, local accommodation such as Airbnb and Booking.com, large events with marked seating and gyms.
Testing is probably where the biggest changes come in. You’ll need to show a negative test (PCR or rapid antigen) to enter large events without marked seating, sporting precincts, nightclubs and bars and to visit nursing homes or patients in hospitals and other health establishments. That includes vaccinated people with certificates.
Travel testing is mandatory for all arrivals into Portugal and fines have been dramatically increased for aviation companies that don’t enforce the requirement. According to the Council of Ministers, both PCR tests and antigen tests are acceptable and must have been taken within 48 hours of departure. Normally, PCR tests have been valid for 72 hours but this is the only time period I can find for testing in general with these new rules so it’s best to be on the safe side and assume 48 hours for entry into bars, nursing homes etc as well.
Children return to school on January 10 and will have less time off at Easter and Carnival to make up for the longer Christmas break.
Pfizer jab for young kids recommended for EU approval
Europe’s medicines regulator has recommended the approval of a smaller dose of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, Diário de Notícias reports. The European Medicines Agency (in English) said the jab was about 90% effective (with a wider margin for error) in preventing symptomatic infection and was associated with side effects broadly similar to those experienced by adults. It found the benefits outweighed the risks. The European Commission and Portugal’s Directorate-General of Health still need to tick off on the decision before young kids can be vaccinated here. The government has reserved about 700,000 doses of the child-targeted Pfizer jab to start vaccinating almost 638,000 residents aged 5 to 11 in continental Portugal, Diário de Notícias reports.
Boosters for all, ECDC says
For the rest of us, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has recommended a booster dose for all adults, with priority for those over 40, Público reports. It’s a big change the agency put down to new data out of Israel and the UK showing the effectiveness of a third dose, which should be given roughly six months after the second. For now, eligibility for a booster shot in Portugal is limited to those older than 65, the immunosuppressed (over 16), aged care residents and similar, paramedics and anyone over 18 who had the single-shot Janssen vaccine at least three months ago. On December 5, 8, 12 and 19, vaccine centres will be in “open house” mode for boosters for those over 50 who had Janssen more than five months ago, Observador reports. Anyone younger or more recently vaccinated will probably need to contact the centre or their doctor for recommendations.
New variant found in South Africa, European countries cut flights
Countries across Europe are cutting aerial ties with southern Africa amid fears a new Covid-19 variant detected in some countries could be more transmissible than Delta, Diário de Notícias reports. The European Commission today proposed that all nations in the bloc follow suit but so far only a handful have done so, including the Netherlands, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, the UK, Israel and Singapore, the BBC reports, in English. The countries commonly blocked are South Africa — where the variant first emerged — Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Lesotho but some are including Zambia and Mozambique. The main thing concerning scientists is the high number of mutations found in the new variant, B.1.1.529, prompting fears it could be different enough from the original coronavirus to evade vaccine protection. The World Health Organisation was expected to declare whether the new line was a “variant of concern” or just of interest and name it (in the vein of Alpha, Delta etc) this afternoon.
One case has been detected in Belgium, the only European country to find it so far, but scientists expect it has spread further. National Institute of Health researcher João Paulo Gomes said the new variant was a “cause for concern but not for total alarm” and that it was yet to be detected in Portugal. He said the number of mutations was concerning but we would need time to know whether the variant was more transmissible than Delta or able to evade vaccines.
In brief
Brussels warns of "potential overvaluation" of housing prices in Portugal. The European Commission called for increased vigilance of macroeconomic imbalances and called attention to high levels of public, private and external debt. (Público)
Financial aid for families returns in 'containment week'. Available to those who have to stay home to look after children, the same as in previous mandatory working from home settings. (Público)
On a lighter note
With Christmas around the corner, I’m sharing with you guys a chance to find some pretty great gift ideas (or treats for yourself) that will also do a massive amount of good. There are vouchers to nice restaurants, hotels and experiences (some with decent discounts), which have been donated so all the money you spend goes to a great Portuguese charity — a win-win. The campaign is through Just a Change, which uses small teams of volunteers to fix up absolutely decrepit houses people are still living in all over the country. I’m talking places missing roofing, windows and electricity. You can also give a desperately needed donation or volunteer your time.
I’m going to be donating next month’s subscriber income to Just a Change. Many of us are in a really privileged position to be living here on foreign wages. I know that starts to weigh on my mind particularly around this time of year so giving back via organisations like Just A Change is a great way to help out. Instead of my usual “buy me a tosta mista” link, I encourage you to check out Just A Change too and give what you can.
Please keep sharing on Facebook, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.