Outdoor dining returns tomorrow // What happens in councils with higher infection rates? // Cheap self-tests available
Portuguese news in English on Sunday, April 4, 2021.
By the numbers
It’s been a bit of a weird week for case numbers but it’s hard to say how reflective they actually are of what’s going on out there. That’s mostly because the super low numbers today (193) and yesterday (280) are probably due in large part to fewer testing facilities being open over Easter. There’s also a chance that the higher number of positive tests revealed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (roughly 600 per day) were influenced by people getting preemptively tested before sneaking over to see their family for Easter lunch, like what happened before Christmas. Either way, Diário de Notícias reports that it’s the first rise in the average number of cases for nine weeks. Deaths, however, are still falling, down to an average of fewer than 10 a day.
Outdoor dining from tomorrow
Tomorrow is the day! Esplanada life is back and I can’t wait. From Monday, restaurants, cafes and other dining establishments can reopen for outdoor dining only, as detailed in this Público Q&A. Only four people are allowed per table and they must shut at 10.30pm during the week and 1pm on weekends and public holidays. Museums, monuments and other similar attractions can also reopen during the same hours. You’ll also be able to exercise outdoors with up to four people and return to the gym, but without any group classes, while students up to grade 9 go back to school. This week also brings an end to the local travel ban that’s been in place for more than a week not, but that doesn’t end until 11.59pm on Monday.The vast majority of small shops can also reopen, from 10am–9pm.But of course, a lot of restrictions are staying in place. Working from home remains mandatory for those who can and we’re all meant to stay at home unless we’re doing something that’s specifically allowed, which now includes restaurants, school etc.
Check the full reopening roadmap here.
What happens in councils with higher infection rates?
It’s worth remembering the whole reopening process is controlled by the traffic lights (I explain that in full here) used to simplify our epidemiological situation, both nationally and on the level of individual council areas. For now, the whole country is taking this first major reopening step together, even though 19 councils are above the limit of 120 cases per 100,000 people per fortnight, Público reports. Prime Minister António Costa says the situation is evaluated every 15 days and individual councils will be blocked from taking the next step if they fail two evaluations in a row. For now, many of the councils exceeding the case limit are in the Algarve, including, Albufeira, Portimão and Lago. Diário de Notícias points out the Algarve is the only one of continental Portugal’s five health regions where the R number (explained here by the BBC in English) is above 1, meaning the pandemic is worsening. The full list of councils above the case limit as of the most recent update is: Alandroal, Albufeira, Beja, Borba, Cinfães, Figueira da Foz, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Lagoa, Marinha Grande, Penela, Soure, Vila do Bispo, Vimioso, Carregal do Sal, Moura, Odemira, Portimão, Ribeira de Pena and Rio Maior (the last 6 are more than 240 cases/100,000/fortnight).
Cheap self-tests available from pharmacies
Rapid self-administered tests for COVID-19 are now available in Portugal for as little as €7, Público reports. The antigen tests are not as sensitive as the PCR tests demanded by airlines and countries to enter but when used on a broad scale can be useful in picking up asymptomatic cases. On Friday, 120,000 tests began arriving at 500 pharmacies across the country, two days after sales began at Pingo Doce and Well’s. Of course, if you have any symptoms or think you might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should call the SNS24 hotline on 808 24 24 24 to talk to a professional and organise a free test. In Lisbon, the council is making two free rapid tests available per month to residents in parishes (freguesias) with more than 120 cases/100,000 people/fortnight. You can see the full list below and find more information and a list of participating councils on the Lisbon City Council website (only in Portuguese. Use your browser to translate).
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In brief
Friday is D Day for Portugal’s most infamous criminal investigation. Former PM José Socrates and 27 co-accused will find out if they’ll go on trial for corruption and a series of other alleged crimes. (Lusa)
President gives the green light for concert test events and clarifies festival refunds. Anyone who bought tickets for festivals last year but will now only take place next year can ask for a refund within two weeks of this year’s proposed festival date. If not, it’s assumed you accept the event’s delay until next year. (Diário de Notícias)
Portugal shouldn’t open to travellers until the middle of May, Secretary of State for Tourism says. The EU is working on a Digital Green Certificate to help people who have been vaccinated, tested negative or recently recovered from COVID-19 travel more easily. (Público)
On a lighter note
A dodgy refereeing decision has, in a very roundabout way, led to a sick Serbian baby getting tens of thousands of dollars for medical treatment. Christiano Ronaldo was so furious when a match-winning goal he scored was wrongly disallowed in Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia that he stormed off the field and threw his captain’s armband on the ground. While the goal decision was pretty much unanimously considered to be terrible and Ronaldo’s behaviour also pretty bad, there’s a silver lining. The armband was auctioned to raise €64,000 for medical treatment for a 6-month-old boy suffering from spinal muscular atrophy, the Associated Press reports, citing local media.
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