Portuguese researchers developing saliva test for COVID-19 // PM slammed for allegedly criticising some doctors
Portuguese news on August 24, 2020.
By the numbers
As is regularly the case, the numbers have been good over the weekend and into the start of the week. New confirmed cases in the Lisbon and Tejo Valley region have improved markedly, so much so that the north recorded more cases on Sunday (69 versus 47). Not many patients are being ticked off as recovered though, meaning active cases are still on the rise. You can also see in the chart a bit further down that national case numbers have started to tick back up slightly over the past week or two.
Portuguese researchers developing saliva test for COVID-19
PCR tests for COVID-19 are amazing. They let doctors modify treatment after diagnosis and they’re, most experts agree, one of the key measures we have to track and control the spread of the pandemic. But they’re also pretty uncomfortable for the patient and the professionals administering them. Now a team of Portuguese scientists, led by Nuno Rosa from the Portuguese Catholic University, are working on a way to detect COVID-19 with just a drop of saliva, Diário de Notícias reports. The researchers have already produced a successful proof of concept and are now looking for a partner to develop and create a miniaturised test they hope can be ready to use at a broad scale by the middle of next year. In other testing news, Diário de Notícias reports the government has pledged €8.4 million to double Portugal’s already impressive (for its size) testing ability. The investment would allow 22,000 tests a day and quadruple capacity in some regions such as the Alentejo and the Algarve, according to Secretary of State for Health António Lacerda Sales.
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The Algarve train line is only six minutes faster than four decades ago
Being August, there’s a decent chance some of you might be spending a bit more time in the Algarve (or just enjoying the beautiful weather if you live there normally). There’s also a chance you might have experienced the pretty average state of the region’s rail network, which has been highlighted by Público. The train journey from Vila Real de Santo Antonio on the Spanish border to Lagos in the west takes two hours and 50 minutes, twice as long as by car. More damingly, it’s only six minutes faster than the same journey 40 years ago, thanks to the need to transfer at Faro. Unfortunately, this and other complaints appear to be going unheeded. Público describes the electrification of two points along the line as the “least ambitious of all” the Ferrovia 2020 rail improvement projects and will do nothing to improve speed, frequency or connectivity. Even connecting the rail line to Faro Airport is off the table for now.
PM slammed for allegedly criticising some doctors
Prime Minister António Costa is under fire for allegedly criticising doctors dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in the Alentejo village of Reguengos, Diário de Notícias reports. In an off-the-record conversation with reporters from newspaper Expresso, the PM is accused of saying doctors sent to a nursing home there were “cowards”, who didn’t do their jobs. The newspaper repudiated the “illegal” disclosure of an “amateur” recording of a screen playing the video and denied responsibility for the release. Mr Costa was slammed by opposition political parties and the Order of Doctors demanded an urgent meeting, saying the comments were offensive to doctors.
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In brief
Hospital emergencies face winter with more space and support from health centres. In the three largest hospital centres in the country, winter is anxiously awaited, the first season in which the flu will coexist with the new coronavirus. (Diário de Notícias)
One dead and one seriously injured in a car and tuk-tuk accident in Lisbon. An 82-year-old woman riding to a hospital appointment in her son’s tuk-tuk was killed when the vehicle was rammed by a French-plated car that later hit a pole.
Body of 13-year-old boy missing since Sunday found in the Tejo River
″We made history for Portugal.″ Miguel Oliveira claims first victory in MotoGP. He won in Austria ahead of the event coming to Portugal in November.
Madeira nude beach announced on social media. It’s called “Gay Beach Madeira Island”.
On a lighter note
It’s a great year for Portuguese motorsport. After winning the right to host the first Formula 1 event here in more than 20 years, followed by the return of MotoGP, Miguel Oliveira has become the first Portuguese rider to win on the tour. The KTM rider was emotional after the victory in Austria, saying “we made history, today, for Portugal”, Diário de Notícias reports. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa quickly congratulated Oliveira but also issued a challenge: repeat the victory on Portuguese soil when the MotoGP comes to the Algarve in November.
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