‘Stay home’: Government tightens weekend curfew // State of emergency declared in 77 more councils, several in Algarve
Portuguese news in English on November 13, 2020.
By the numbers
Portugal has passed 200,000 total confirmed covid-19 cases, half of which were recorded in just the past month. Público notes it took 231 days for the country to record its first 100,000 infections but just 26 for the next 100. Even so, while not exactly improving, it is deteriorating less quickly. The most recent R(t) estimate is 1.11, which means every patient infects on average 1.11 people and that the pandemic is still growing. But at least it’s growing less slowly than when that figure was 1.26 heading into the last week of October. Health Minister Marta Temido said the number had to be looked at prudently, because even after hitting the peak of infections (which we won’t know until it’s already passed), it will take weeks for demand for hospital beds to fall and fewer people to die. And to top it all off, today is again the worst day we’ve seen for new confirmed cases, with record regional increases in the North and Lisbon and the Tejo Valley.
‘Stay home’: Government tightens weekend curfew
More than 70 councils have been placed in a state of emergency as the government further strengthens the curfew in place for the next two weekends, Díario de Notícias reports. Last night Prime Minister António Costa, taking the blame for any misunderstanding about the requirement to stay home from 1pm on Saturday and Sunday, declared all commerce must shut during the curfew, with only rare exceptions. He said people had been hunting for exceptions to the rules, when the message was simple: “stay home”. The only exceptions are pharmacies, clinics, shops selling food, less than 200m2 and with a door to the street and fuel pumps. Restaurants can still deliver food but can’t offer takeaway from the premises, as had previously been previewed. Small shops and restaurants in Lisbon with a loss of revenue of at least 25% will be eligible for grants of up to €8000 as part of a €55 million package, Diário de Notícias reports. That includes up to €750 each to prepare restaurant terraces through the purchase of umbrellas and heaters.
Hooray! There’s finally a full list of the measures applicable in high-risk council areas available in English on the government’s Estamos On website. So if you have any specific queries I haven’t answered you can take a look there.
Source: Estamos On
State of emergency declared in several Algarve councils
Several of the Algarve’s most popular cities and towns are among 77 new councils added to the state of emergency list. Albufeira, Faro, Lagos, Portimão, Tavira, Vila do Bispo and Vila Real de Santo António will all pass into a state of emergency from Monday, meaning residents will be subject to the curfew and several other restrictions (my newsletter, October 31). Other notable additions include Elvas and Evóra in the Alentejo and Viseu in the Central region. You can see the full list of additions at the bottom of this newsletter and you can search for your council area here (in Portuguese). There was at least good news for residents of Moimenta da Beira, Tabuaço, São João da Pesqueira, Mesão Frio, Pinhel, Tondela and Batalha. They’re the only councils to be moved out of the state of emergency, due to case numbers falling below 240 per 100,000 people in the past 14 days.
Experts call for mandatory airport testing
Portugal has been urged to copy Spain by forcing almost all travellers flying into the country to provide a negative covid-19 test on entry, Público reports. The state of emergency explicitly allows such a practice but there’s yet to be any change in the policy, which currently only requires a negative test — taken within 72 hours — from passengers flying in from outside the EU or Schengen Zone. International health expert Tiago Correia said Portugal should be using the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s traffic light system (see below for the latest edition) to require tests of anyone coming from a country where the pandemic is “out of control”. From November 23, anyone arriving in Spain from a high-risk country without a negative PCR test (the more common, more accurate, slightly slower variety), will face fines of up to €6000, Diário de Notícias reports.
Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Thank you so much to everyone who has donated or subscribed over the past few days. It takes a lot of work to keep this newsletter going. Please help out if you can.
In brief
Lisbon’s Time Out Market shuts temporarily. President João Cepeda says it doesn’t make sense to keep open something that directly competes with the businesses it aims to promote, at a time when the city centre is so quiet. (Time Out)
Democratic Socialist Party (PSD) opposition wants armed forces in charge of pandemic. The party won’t clarify exactly what operations it means, but highlights the military’s preparation for complex operations, discipline and wide-ranging resources. (Diário de Notícias)
There are hospitals without a resident doctor at night to watch covid-19 patients. Others have just one doctor to watch over 100 or more patients. (Público)
Female genital mutilation accused on trial in Portugal for the first time. Several have previously made it to prosecutors before being shelved. (Público)
Hotels in state of emergency. After 20 hotels shut in 10 days in Porto alone, those that resist struggle to keep their doors open, even with occupancy below 10%.
Private hospitals to receive €2495–€8431 per covid-19 patient (Público)
On a lighter note
Don’t worry if you’re bitten with the shopping bug after 1pm tomorrow or Sunday, there’s always the internet. And if you’re going to be spending your hard-earned cash, you may as well be supporting some small Portuguese businesses or others focusing on quality over quantity. Time Out has a list of exactly that, from the simple lines and original cuts of Bavan’s dresses to the funky designs of Mihso’s sweatshirts. Go forth, support the local economy.
Please keep sharing on Facebook, in real life and anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.