PM calls extraordinary meeting to control pandemic // North could hit 7000 cases a day next week, experts say
Portuguese news in English on October 28, 2020.
By the numbers
Sorry if I’m beginning to sound like a broken record: today is the worst day we’ve seen for new confirmed cases, (3960) and yesterday isn’t far behind, with 3299 cases. The situation is particularly concerning in the North but the figures are also growing rapidly in the Centre and the Lisbon and Tejo Valley region. Health Minister Marta Temido expects total hospitalisations to surge past 3000 by November 4 but says the health system is better prepared. She says its capacity is flexible and we can count on 17,000 ward beds and 800 intensive care units in extreme cases, Observador reports.
Source: DGS
What you need to know about new mask rules and travel ban
There’s a lot changing in the next few days, so here’s a quick recap to make sure you don’t get caught out, via Público. Wearing a mask in crowded public places is mandatory from today for everyone over 10, except for some medical exemptions, if you live with the people you’re crowded together with or doing something that can’t be done with a mask (theoretically that could mean running but it’s not specified anywhere.
I can also clarify a few things as far as the long weekend local travel ban (00h00 on Oct 30 - 06h00 on Nov 3). If your work is in a neighbouring council area or within the same metropolitan area, you’ll only need a sworn statement (compromisso de honra in Portuguese) declaring your purpose. I imagine it will need to be in Portuguese and include your name, address, ID number and possibly some other details but I can’t advise you on how exactly to fill one out. If your work is further away you’ll need something signed by your company. Other exceptions include non-residents heading to somewhere they’ll be staying and people returning to their home address. Other slightly less obvious exceptions are anyone with a concert or theatre ticket (so long as it’s in the same metropolitan area or a neighbouring council) and any travel you need to undertake in order to leave the country.
PM calls extraordinary meeting to control pandemic
This weekend is likely to be a critical one for determining what the near future looks like in Portugal. Prime Minister António Costa has called an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers (the group making most of the big pandemic decisions) for this Saturday, Público reports. Health Minister Marta Temido and Secretary of the State for the Presidency Mariana Vieira da Silva are already meeting with epidemiologists and Economy Minister Pedro Siza Viera is meeting social partners. The PM is set to participate in an extraordinary session of the European Council on Thursday before meeting with other parties in Portugal on Friday. We don’t know what measures are likely to come out of the meeting. The PM hasn’t ruled out a tightening of restrictions, while rejecting a return to generalised lockdown.
North could hit 7000 cases a day next week, experts say
Anyone watching the numbers in the North over the past few weeks knows the situation there is rapidly worsening. Now some University of Porto experts are warning the region could hit 7000 cases a day by next week, with several councils facing an increased spread of SARS-CoV-2, Diário de Notícias reports. University of Porto public health institute professor Milton Severo’s mathematical models point to 8000 cases a day nationally, 7000 of those in the North. The Porto Civil Protection District Commission has called for a curfew in the district to avoid infections during family get togethers or other night-time gatherings, Público reports. The mayor of Porto wants a state of emergency to be declared to allow for even stronger measures and the mayor of neighbouring Matosinhos has argued for the duty to stay at home to be imposed, similarly to what’s happening in three councils to the north-east of the city. The city’s biggest hospital, São João, is already under pressure, with some wards full even before the arrival of the normal “winter illnesses”, Lusa reports.
Do you want to help keep this newsletter going? You can find out how to subscribe here or hit one of these buttons to help out.
In brief
Everything you need to know about rapid tests. There’s too much for me to summarise but you might be interested to know Red Cross Portugal does PCR, the standard tests for €60 and rapid tests (less reliable) for €20. (Diário de Notícias)
Police forces step up efforts to patrol gatherings, masks and people in isolation. The national guard issued 1109 fines for breaking covid control laws (mostly to businesses) between June and October 14. (Diário de Notícias)
Health authorities reviewing guidelines for isolation after being in contact with someone infected. The recommended isolation period may drop from 14 to 10 days. (Lusa)
SNS already sending covid-19 patients to private hospitals. The National Health Service and the Fernando Pessoa teaching hospital already had an agreement in place to deal with things such as flu peaks. (Público)
Two Portuguese MPs infected, four in isolation. (Diário de Notícias/Lusa)
On a lighter note
The list of Portuguese rice dishes is, frankly, overwhelming in the best possible way. And there’s one that’s particularly hard to skip: seafood rice (arroz de marisco). Users of TasteAtlas, which promises to find you “good local food around the world”, have voted the warming pot of oceany goodness into 14th spot on the site’s list of the 100 Best Traditional Dishes in the world, Time Out reports. It’s beaten out by some absolute classics, such as margherita pizza, ramen and the humble kebab. According to the site, Lisbon’s Uma Marisqueira is the best place to tuck in. The indulgent francesinha also made the list at 50 and all these positive ratings were enough to earn Portuguese food the “title” of fourth best cuisine in the world, behind Italian, Greek and Spanish.
The arroz de marisco at O Lutador. Photo: Daniela Sunde-Brown
Please keep sharing on Facebook, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.