Summer music festivals banned, and more extraordinary measures in Lisbon
English language coronavirus news in Portugal on May 7, 2020.
By the numbers
Today is our second day in a row with a slightly higher increase in cases than we’ve grown accustomed too. Both today and yesterday (480 new cases) sat around the 2% increase mark. Since the end of April that figure has been less than 1% most days. Most of those new cases (400 yesterday and 224 today) are in Lisbon. Today marks another 16 deaths, which is more or less what we’ve been seeing for a week.Confirmed recoveries are very high for a second day in a row.
There won’t be any summer music festivals in Portugal
Deep down, we probably knew it would come to this. The big Portuguese music festivals had been clinging on to hope as major festivities around the world were cancelled but today the decision was taken out of their hands. The Council of Ministers decided to prohibit music festivals until September 30 this year, Público reported. That will affect Nos Alive, Super Bock Super Rock, Sudoeste, Paredes de Coura, Vilar de Mouros and Primavera Sound. Ticket holders for festivals and concerts cancelled because of the pandemic (which were originally scheduled between February 28 and September 30 this year) are expected to receive a voucher of equal value to their ticket, the council said. It’s unclear whether the festivals will attempt to delay until later in the year or call the whole thing off but we know Paredes de Coura will try to come back next year with the same lineup.
We gon’ be alright. But we won’t be watching Kendrick Lamar in July. Photo: Jorge Branco
More extraordinary measures in Lisbon
Lisbon is reinforcing a social emergency fund to help families and creating a helpline for all goods, services and equipment necessary for institutions throughout the city, Diário de Notícias reports. The two moves are expected to cost €25 million euros and are part of a package of 15 extraordinary measures, including rent suspensions for commercial establishments in municipal spaces until June 30. Social, cultural, sporting and recreational institutions in those spaces will receive rent exemptions. The council will also regularly buy fresh produce from the producers who used to sell at markets that have been closed and deliver it to social work organisations. There will also be a team created to help small businesses and a marketplace set up to match the needs of business, institutions and municipalities with the services of the startup community.
Paid parking returns in Porto and Lisbon
Many drivers in Portugal’s two biggest cities will have to start paying for parking again soon, as the cities clarify their plans for reopening. Street parking and EMEL car parks will no longer be free from Monday in Lisbon, but residents with a valid badge can keep parking without paying in EMEL car parks until June 30, Diário de Notícias reports. Municipal parking garages will be reopened in Porto from Monday, with paid street parking phased back in across three weeks starting on May 18 for zone 1, the city says.
Photo: Jorge Branco
But there’s good news for parks of a different kind in Lisbon. DN reports that the gardens of Palácio Pimenta will reopen from May 12, with the Cerca da Graça garden and the Cold Greenhouse to follow on May 12 along with the marionette, fado and municipal museums. There will also be a sanitisation program running near schools and in-person dealing with Loja Lisboas in Entrecampos, Marvila, Alcântara e Baixa, via appointment only. JN reports Porto will keep its preventative measures in place until May 10.
In brief
Madonna reveals she had COVID-19. The Lisbon-based singer said she and many other artists on her tour were sick at the end of her tour in Paris and that she recently tested positive for antibodies.
Portuguese President asks Chinese President to speed up ventilator delivery. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa spoke to Xi Jinping on the phone, receiving a guarantee the subject would be resolved quickly
On a lighter note
If you’re a shopaholic, I’m guessing there’s at least one Portuguese word you’re pretty familiar with: SALDOS. That’s “sales” for people – like me – who try their best to avoid shopping for anything ever. In an attempt to help shops get rid of excess stock and stimulate the struggling economy, the government has decided discount sales during May and June won’t count towards the yearly limit of 124 days. That’s right, Portugal, like many other European countries, imposes limits on bargain sales. So, I guess be on the lookout for bargains as more shops reopen over the next few weeks.