SEF murder trial: trio plead not guilty to murder // Vaccine delays, updates and controversies
Portuguese news in English on Wednesday, February 3, 2021.
By the numbers
I can properly say it for the first time in what feels like forever: good news, everyone! Just about all of the numbers from yesterday, while still catastrophically bad, were a significant improvement from the day before and a positive departure from what we saw throughout basically all of January. There were more than 200 fewer cases, 15 fewer deaths, almost 10,000 more recoveries and almost 100 fewer covid-19 patients in hospital. This obviously doesn’t mean it’s time to drop your guard. That’s a devastating number of people to die in one day, hospitals are way beyond their covid-19 capacity, 5540 new cases is still a mind-boggling number and, as always, it’s only one day. I’m really hoping the last couple of days are a sign the lockdown is starting to have an effect but there’s still a long way to go.
SEF murder trial: trio plead not guilty to murder
Three Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) officers have plead not guilty to the murder of Ukrainian man Ihor Homeniuk, who died in SEF custody at Lisbon airport, Reuters reports, in English. The 42-year-old was declared dead on March 12 last year, two days after he was detained on arrival in Lisbon Airport. A government inquiry found he was kicked, beaten and had his hands and legs taped before being left to asphyxiate on the floor, and Prime Minister António Costa approved €800,000 in compensation for his family. When their trial began on Tuesday, lawyers representing the trio argued their clients had been made media scapegoats, attacking conditions in the centre and arguing other workers should face charges. The defendants said they were called to the room to deal with someone behaving erratically and when they arrived his arms and legs were already taped together, a restraint they replaced with a fabric tie and metal handcuffs. “There are many tales of abuse which happen in this ‘no-man’s land’,” lawyer Ricardo Sa Fernandes said in his opening statement. “Homeniuk died because of the deplorable conditions in that centre.” The trial is likely to go to whether this was a one-off tragedy or something much deeper within SEF, so please go and read the whole article in English.
Vaccine delays, updates and controversies
Prosecutors have already opened several inquiries into suspected cases of people being unduly vaccinated, including the two I mentioned on Monday, Público reports. The vaccination process is running slower than expected across the EU and Diário de Notícias reports the goal to have 70% of adults vaccinated by summer appears to be in question. In Portugal, Health Minister Marta Temido says 70,000 people are completely vaccinated and 270,000 have received at least one dose, Público reports. On top of this, there’s an ongoing debate about how many politicians should be vaccinated early, as in before they would otherwise be given their age etc. At one stage there was talk of hundreds skipping ahead but a list released late last month by the Assembly of the Republic contained only 50 names, Diário de Notícias. Politicians across the world are basically trying to strike a balance between showing confidence in the vaccine, ensuring the government can properly run without people in essential roles constantly getting sick and making sure they don’t look like they’re putting their own interests above those of the people. The Associated Press has a good look at the latest on the EU vaccine rollout in English.
No Carnaval, shorter Easter, for students
Portuguese school kids will no longer enjoy the Carnaval break originally scheduled for February 15–17 and the Easter break will be shortened significantly, Diário de Notícias reports. The widely expected move is an attempt to make up for the teaching days lost thanks to the emergency closure of all schools until February 8, when online learning returns. The Easter break will now run from March 29 to April 1, instead of March 25 to April 5. Different age groups will finish this third term at different times but these details, along with any delays to exams, won’t be known until February 12.
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In brief
Two children/youths in intensive care with covid-19 at the end of January. In total, there were 33 covid-19 patients in hospital aged from 0–19. (Público)
Christmas rule relaxations helped Portugal avoid another recession. Prime Minister António Costa has taken responsibility for the relaxation leading to the enormous spike in cases that sent the country back into lockdown. But, while it’s cold comfort, EuroStat partially credits the move with Portugal’s status as one of only seven EU countries not to go backwards economically in the last part of the yeah. (Público)
But the economy still fell 7.6% in 2020 (Diário de Notícias)
Italian president Sergio Mattarella to seek a 'high-profile' government. Media speculations suggest former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi could become Prime Minister. (The Guardian, in English)
European Commission 'ready' to help Portugal as soon as it asks. “Our Emergency Response Coordination Centre #ERCC is closely following the critical situation related to the #COVID19 pandemic in Portugal and stands ready to help should 🇵🇹 request 🇪🇺 assistance,” European Emergency Response Coordinator Janez Lenarčič said on Twitter.
On a lighter note
When it comes to digital nomads, mainland Portugal is so passé. Luckily for you, the so-called “next big thing” isn’t too far away. CNN Travel has a big piece on the Portuguese autonomous region of Madeira’s push to attract those of you who need nothing more than good WiFi and strong espresso to get some work done. Digital Nomads Madeira Islands opened on February 1 with space for about 100 nomads to live in the tiny village of Ponta do Sol. Lisboeta Gonçalo Hall, who is helping to launch the project, says more than 2000 people have already registered interest.
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