Not time to bring back COVID-19 rules, government says // Secretary of state resigns over malfeasance accusation
Portuguese news in English on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
By the numbers
Not time to bring back mandatory rules, government says
The government says now is not the time to bring back mandatory pandemic rules, Público reports. Asked after a meeting of experts on Friday to discuss the coronavirus, Health Minister Manuel Pizzaro said it was time to “turn the page” on the most difficult times, though he stressed that didn’t mean declaring an end to the pandemic or underestimating its seriousness. He said he was concerned but not alarmed by an increase in hospitalisations among the over-50s, and appealed for them to get vaccinated. The minister also called on people suffering colds or other light respiratory illnesses to wear a mask “to protect others”.
A new survey carried out by the National School of Public Health at Nova University found 69% of people were only somewhat or not at all worried about Covid-19, Diário de Notícias reports. A majority of Portuguese would accept wearing a mask (80%) or physical distancing (73%) but 61.7% rejected the idea of measures again preventing mixing with friends and family.
Vaccine program widened to over-50s
The seasonal vaccine program has been widened to include everyone over 50, Público reports. The Directorate-General of Health announced the change on Friday, saying eligible residents would soon be invited to get another jab. The latest estimates indicate Covid-19 vaccination has prevented 12,000 deaths and saved 2 million hospital days, Público reports. Epidemiologist Henrique Barros analysis also showed 130,000 intensive care bed days saved by the jab program, noting that his figures were conservative and real numbers would be much higher.
Secretary of state resigns over malfeasance accusation
A key government member has resigned after being formally accused of malfeasance, Público reports. Secretary of State Assistant to the Prime Minister Miguel Alves quit on Thursday, just two months after entering the role, saying his position was untenable in the face of the allegation from public prosecutors. The former mayor of Caminha, on the northern border with Spain, said he had a “clean conscience” and was convinced of the legality of every decision he took while serving the municipality. The accusation is related to two contracts with a firm owned by Manuela Couto, wife of the then-president of another council, fellow socialist Joaquim Couto, signed by Alves in the name of the municipality, Público reports. The newspaper had previously reported the council of Caminha had paid €300,000 to a company for a project that still hadn’t left the drawing board two years later. Facing criticism for appointing Alves when he was already under investigation, Costa said the case showed justice was working and that no one was above the law.
In brief
Socialist Party (PS) wants intelligence services to access metadata with judicial authorisation. The governing party’s constitutional reform proposal also includes the right for public health authorities to declare confinements. (Público)
Americans replace Chinese as "golden visa" leaders. Americans spent €277.5 million for 483 golden visas from the start of this year until September but real estate agents say the majority are opting for D7 visas. (Dinheiro Vivo)
Portugal at fifth-highest risk of energy poverty, EU warns. European Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said energy problems could get worse in countries like Portugal and Spain thanks to droughts. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
Portugal has pulled in another big haul at the World Travel Awards, Público reports. The country's 12 wins in the “Oscars of tourism” included best urban destination for Porto, best seaside metropolitan destination for Lisbon and best island destination for Madeira. The much-maligned TAP also picked up gongs for its air connections to Africa and South America while the Passadiços do Paiva (Paiva Walkways) won best adventure tourism attraction and the Dark Sky Alqueva star observatory won for best responsible tourism.
