Not a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ just yet // More than 570,000 vaccines administered
Portuguese news in English on Wednesday, February 18, 2021.
Important announcement: From March onwards, I’ll be sending out a weekly update, plus a wrap of any major changes to restrictions on the day they’re announced. I could try to spin this as a way for you guys to cut down on information overload but that’s not the reason at all. I’m starting a new full-time job on March 1 so I’m just not going to have the time to do this three times a week. I know this is a lot less than what you’ve come to expect. So, particularly for my paid subscribers who I appreciate more than I can say, I completely understand if you wish to change your subscriptions.
By the numbers
Now I’m starting to seem like a broken record again, but in a good way. Cases, hospitalisations and deaths are all still trending down. Monday’s 1303 new cases were the fewest since October before a slight increase today. The number of active cases has dropped below 100,000 for the first time since January, having been as high as 180,000 a little more than two weeks ago.
Not a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ just yet
Some Portuguese politicians have begun speaking about a “light at the end of the tunnel” but, as Diário de Notícias points out, the situation is still dire. As of Wednesday, Portugal remained the European country with the most deaths per capita and essentially level with Peru as the worst affected on a global scale, according to Our World in Data. It’s not until you look at the number of new cases that Portugal begins to fare slightly better compared to other EU countries. That, of course, is a positive signal because the deaths generally lag case numbers by a couple of weeks, so hopefully we soon begin to see as rapid a reduction in deaths as we’ve seen in new confirmed cases.
More than 570,000 vaccines administered
Younger people are among those most likely to have received a jab, Diário de Notícias reports. Shared Services of Ministry of Health figures show 216,105 people between 24 and 49 have received one or both vaccine doses, reflecting the rollout plan to target frontline health workers before older people. By Sunday, 571,981 vaccine doses had been distributed and the Alentejo had the highest percentage of its population completely vaccinated, with 4%. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is expected to be approved next month, before the first doses arrive in the second quarter, Público reports.
New Constitutional Court president under fire for text on homosexuality
Portugal’s new Constitutional Court president is under fire for an opinion piece he wrote arguing the “gay lobby” liked to ignore that homosexuals were a “meaningless minority, whose voice is huge and unreasonably amplified by the media”, Diário de Notícias reports. Writing on the same day in 2010 as a key step for a gay rights law, João Pedro Barrosa Caupers also criticised an anti-discrimination campaign in Lisbon for “promoting homosexuality”. The posters said: “if your mum was a lesbian, would anything change?”. The court is soon expected to consider a law aimed at protecting trans people.
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In brief
Positive review for first week of distance learning. Teachers said they still faced many difficulties. (Diário de Notícias)
Another new coronavirus variant seen in the UK. Public Health England found 38 cases of the variant, which appears similar to the South African variant.
Bookshops can reopen, so long as they also include other businesses like a newsagent. The Bertrand bookstore chain and FNAC can sell again. (Diário de Notícias)
Last year had 12 million fewer foreign tourists and €3 billion in profits. Accommodation providers hosted 10.5 million people in 2020, more than half of them Portuguese. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
It might not feel it right now, but Portugal is the second healthiest country in the world, according to a UK credit broker. Money.co.uk’s mortgage experts used obesity levels, life expectancy, cost of healthy food and safety to compile the list, which Spain topped. The Spanish cities of Valencia and Madrid topped the list, with Lisbon in third and Porto in 13th.
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