Top health official makes appeal to country, and beach season starts tomorrow: what you need to know
English language coronavirus news in Portugal on June 5, 2020.
Today we see the highest number of new confirmed cases in almost a month. The 377 new cases are not that much higher than some days earlier in the week and late last week but still the most since May 8 (553). Another 30 patients are in hospital, bringing the total to 475, the biggest increase since May 7, Público reports. All up, 64 people are in intensive care, six more than yesterday. Deaths and confirmed recoveries are fairly similar to the rest of the week’s figures, for the most part.
Portugal ‘on the verge’ of controlling the pandemic situation
Director-General of Health Graça Freitas has appealed to the country to make “one last social containment effort” as people begin to relax, Diário de Notícias reports. Dr Freitas said the country was “on the verge” of controlling the pandemic but, citing studies showing the perception of risk from the coronavirus was dropping, issued a reminder that it had not disappeared. On the subject of holidays, she saw no problem with trips to other parts of the country in “an orderly manner” but asked they be restricted to households. “This year we will be able to take holidays, but in a different way,” she said. “ ... Friends, relatives, acquaintances, must have physical distance measures, wear a mask when necessary and not share objects, cups, bottles, towels, maintain hand and surface hygiene.”
The six Greater Lisbon councils with the biggest case increases
Diário de Notícias has crunched the numbers on the increase in cases in Greater Lisbon since the end of the state of emergency. It found six of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area’s councils suffered increases of 150% but the city of Lisbon itself only rose 61.89%. That’s mostly because it was already the most-affected council in the country on May 3. So the 969 cases registered since then don’t account for as big of a percentage increase as the 620 new cases in Amadora. The six councils with the biggest increases are Amadora (184,52%), Loures (181,13%), Montijo (162,50%), Odivelas (158,02%), Seixal (152,12%) and Moita (150,72%).
Bathing season starts tomorrow: what you need to know
We’ve been allowed to go to the beach for a few weeks now but the swimming season doesn’t officially start until tomorrow, when there’ll be life savers on the beach and stricter regulations. The main difference will be the traffic-light system and Info Praia app to signal how full the beaches are, but tomorrow also brings the return of the walking donut sellers and the possibility of beaches being closed in the case of serious breaches.
Thank you so much again to everyone who has already subscribed or bought me a “tosta mista”. It really makes a big difference. If you missed the email explaining how to do it you can check it out here or hit one of these buttons to help out.
In brief
Rocks thrown at Benfica team bus after draw with low-ranked team. Players’ houses were also vandalised after the 0-0 draw with Tondela. A win would have sent the country’s most-supported team to the top of the league, ahead of Porto. (Público)
Airports ready to resume traffic from June 15, Prime Minister guarantees (Público)
Foreign Affairs Minister pushes back against Daily Mail report. The report showed Portugal at the top of the list of European countries for daily new cases per capita. The Minister said the country’s epidemiological situation couldn’t be judged on only one data point, from one day. (Diário de Notícias)
Postponing the reopening of shopping centers in Lisbon could lead to bankruptcies, Portuguese Shopping Centers Association claims. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
They brought you the “safest” beaches in Europe and now the judges at European Best Destinations have put together the continent’s “safest destinations”, including a healthy dose of Portuguese locales, Público reports. Madeira, the Azores, the Alentejo and the Algarve all make it into the top 21, thanks in no small part to Portugal’s relative success against the pandemic. Madeira is still imposing a mandatory quarantine on arrival but that is due to be lifted on July 1, replaced by the requirement of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of leaving home. Visitors to the Azores also need to take a test either on arrival or before leaving home.
São Miguel is stunning. Photo: Jorge Branco
I’m hoping to keep as many expats informed as possible, so please share this with any friends you think might find it useful.