Two years on, Portugal hits ‘comfortable’ point in pandemic // How to help Ukraine // Petrol and diesel prices about to soar
Portuguese news in English on Sunday, March 6, 2022.
By the numbers
Case numbers are still dropping significantly but the rate is slowing down, falling from an average of about 13,000 a day last Sunday to about 10,000 now. The number of daily average deaths has dropped below 30 for the first time since January and looks to be falling steadily. Similarly, there are now fewer than 100 people with COVID-19 in ICU for the first time since November.
After two years of COVID-19, Portugal reaches ‘comfortable’ point in pandemic
Two years after the coronavirus first reached Portugal, the country has reached a “comfortable” point in the pandemic, according to an expert who’s been modelling the virus’ spread, Diário de Notícias reports. Professor Carlos Antunes said the stabilisation in case numbers reached at the start of the month was already below what had been predicted two weeks ago. With spring on the way, he’s hopeful more people spending more time outside will help to improve things even more. The number of deaths is still well above the European Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation of 20 per million per fortnight but Director-General of Health Graça Freitas says restrictions should be ready to be relaxed in spring. She warned autumns and winters to come could require “taking some backwards steps”. More specifically, Professor Antunes and fellow mathematician Óscar Felgueiras think that level should be reached at the end of March or the start of April. The European Medicines Agency has approved a half-dose of the Moderna vaccine for children 6–11 and a Pfizer booster for all kids aged 12 and up, Lusa reports.
Tens of thousands of jobs for Ukrainian refugees in tourism
The tourism industry wants to be one of the main areas of employment for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion arriving in Portugal, Dinheiro Vivo reports. There are some 40,000–50,000 jobs to fill ahead of summer and Secretary of State for Tourism Rita Marques wants them to be completely available to refugees. On Friday, there were already more than 11,000 job offers on a specially designed Institute for Employment and Vocational Training portal launched at the start of the month. Meanwhile, 10 Socialist Party (PS) and Social Democratic Party (PSD) members of the Portugal Russia Friendship Parliamentary Group have proposed its extinction, Lusa Reports. And Portuguese former commandos and parachutists are among some 16,000 already responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call to arms for foreign nationals to join the defence of “Ukraine, Europe and the world”.
How to help Ukraine
If you want to help the Ukrainian people in a safer way, CNN Portugal has a list of more than 30 places around the country where you can donate material goods. The Helpingucrania Facebook page stresses that you should contact the centre in question before donating and says water, milk, flour and clothes are definitely not being asked for. Experts generally advise that donating money is more useful than goods in any emergency. The Guardian and the New York Times, VOX and WIRED (to name just a few) all have lists of worthwhile organisations to support.
Petrol and diesel prices about to soar
Filling up your car is about to get a lot more expensive, with historic increases in the price of petrol and diesel, Diário de Notícias reports. Sources in the sector are expecting a jump of at least 14c/L in the price of diesel and at least 8c/L for petrol. Secretary of State for Energy João Galambe blamed the hike on Russia’s war in Ukraine, the pandemic and the drought. The government is increasing the Autovoucher program from €5 to €20 this month and will maintain a suspension of the carbon tax applied. You can find the cheapest fuel in your area here (in Portuguese).
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In brief
Former Portuguese banker Ricardo Salgado accused of corrupting Brazilian banker. Former Bank of Brazil vice-president allegedly received more than $1 million for arranging that Banco Espirito Santo benefit to the tune of $200 million. (Público)
Omicron subvariant is dominant in Portugal. Responsible for about two-thirds of positive COVID-19 tests. (Diário de Notícias)
Only 3% of vaccinated people in Portugal refused to take a booster. The number of people yet to get a booster for various reasons but haven’t actually responded “no” to the SNS message is highest. Portugal on Friday passed the milestone of 9 million people double vaccinated. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
Tuesday is International Women’s Day, which is obviously important for a wide variety of reasons. But for Lighter Note purposes, it means freebies for culturally minded women across the country. The Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGCP) has announced free entry for women to national museums, monuments and palaces, Time Out reports. Some spaces, such as the National Music Museum, National Museum of Costume and National Coach Museum, will even have programming relating to the day. You can find a list of DGPC-run sites here.
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