Vaccinations in Portugal could start this year // Ten recommendations for a safer Christmas
Portuguese news in English on December 16, 2020.
By the numbers
The number of people in hospital may have started to come down, a few weeks after the number of daily confirmed cases peaked. Of course, it’s too early to say if the trend will sustain itself but there are 73 fewer people in hospital today than on Monday and 27 fewer in intensive care after two days of reductions. Unfortunately more than 80 covid-19 patients are still dying every day. That figure is expected to take even longer to fall than the hospitalisations.
Vaccinations in Portugal could start this year
Covid-19 vaccinations in Portugal could start as early as this year, thanks to the European drug regulator’s plan to finish evaluating the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine sooner than expected, Público reports. Last week, Prime Minister António Costa put forth January 4 or 5 as “excellent” days to start the mass inoculation. Directorate-General of Health Deputy Director Rui Portugal said if that happened, the vaccination drive could effectively be brought forward eight days, with every effort made to ensure the logistics chain was ready. Mr Portugal stressed the early phases of vaccination would not be a substitute for control measures already in place. He said the intention to refuse the vaccine was “low or very low” in Portugal. You can read about the likely approval by the European Medicines Agency by Reuters in English.
Ten recommendations for a safer Christmas
Anyone looking to celebrate Christmas with people they don’t live with should do so outdoors if possible and see fewer people before and after the date, health authorities warn. Directorate-General of Health Deputy Director Rui Portugal yesterday shared a list of 10 recommendations for a safer Christmas, reported Público. But probably the two most important tips are this: Preferably limit your celebrations to people you live with, and if that’s unavoidable, reduce your contact with anyone you don’t. The next two tips are obvious: follow the rules in place wherever you’re going (check my December 7 newsletter for what restrictions will apply) and cancel if you’re feeling sick. DGS also recommends reducing the time you’re together for, eating outside if at all possible and if not, gathering in the largest room possible and making sure the air is circulating and surfaces are regularly disinfected. The Deputy Director stressed the importance of physical distancing while preparing food, pointing to kitchens as high-risk areas. Obviously, you should also wash and disinfect your hands frequently, wear a mask and keep your distance while avoiding sharing any objects like cups or cutlery.
Hospital occupation to drop by a fifth, modelling suggests
Hospitalisations should drop 20% by the end of the year, according to modelling reported by Diário de Notícias. The prediction, by COTEC Portugal in partnership with NOVA Information Management School, suggests roughly 2800 covid-19 patients in hospital on Christmas Day and 2600 the following week, with a similar drop in intensive care, down to 420 and then 400. As you can see above there are 3181 patients in hospital today, 486 of which are in intensive care. The platform, called Covid-19 Insights, predicts about 900 to 1000 more covid-19 patients to die before the end of the year even as the number of daily confirmed cases keeps dropping.
If you want to help keep this newsletter going, please think about subscribing. Thank you so much to everyone who has done so already.
In brief
Two Portuguese sentenced to nine and eight years for helping Daesh (Islamic State). The judges found the pair had helped several Portuguese, some of whom were family members, travel to Syria to fight for IS, but had not joined the organisation
Portuguese 19-year-old who died with covid-19 had 'several’ serious illnesses
US FDA finds Moderna vaccine to be highly effective. It’s likely to grant emergency use authorisation soon
Another SEF agent subject to disciplinary proceedings over Ukrainian's death. The latest was the head of the inspection office that concluded Ihor Homeniuk’s death was not suspicious. Thirteen are subject to disciplinary proceedings, three of which are charged with murder.
On a lighter note
If you open up this year’s Michelin Guide (or more likely go on the website), you’ll find two more Portuguese restaurants with stars, Diário de Notícias reports. Those restaurants are 100 Maneiras, by Bosnian-Portuguese chef Ljubomir Stanisic, and Eneko Lisboa, from Spanish chef Eneko Atxa. It’s been a busy month for Stanisic, who has led a hunger strike demanding more help from the government for the restaurant industry, ending up in hospital as a result, and been accused of giving wine and rum to a police officer in exchange for help escaping the Easter lockdown, Público reports. If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, Javali, in Bragança; Avista, in Funchal; Check-in, in Faro; Semea by Euskalduna, in Porto; and O Frade, in Lisbon, were all added to the Bib Gourmand ranks.
Please keep sharing on Facebook, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.