Vaccine leader wants focus on poorer countries, not boosters // New isolation rules for the vaccinated
Portuguese news in English on Friday, October 1, 2021.
By the numbers
What can I say? Things keep going in the right direction. It’s been almost two weeks since authorities have confirmed more than 1000 cases in a day and we’re now averaging six deaths a day. The pressure on the hospital system is at its lowest point since June and, especially in terms of hospitalisations, approaching the lowest levels seen since the pandemic really took hold (311 in August last year). According to Público, 87.84% of the population has had one dose and 84.93% is fully vaccinated.
There are big rule changes from today. Check the details here.
Vaccine leader wants focus on poorer countries, not boosters
The international praise for Portugal’s successful vaccine program keeps coming in this beautiful Washington Post piece, in English. But there’s also a really important message from the man who ran the program. Vice-Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, who has switched to his formal uniform after wearing army camouflage for months to signify the “war” against the coronavirus, is becoming increasingly vocal about the need to help poorer countries get vaccinated. “These countries will have their revenge on us,” he said, calling booster shots “stupid” and pointing out the high risk of more contagious variants emerging from countries (including many former Portuguese colonies) where vaccination rates are still in the single digits. “You cannot win just by vaccinating everyone in your own country,” he said. “The war ends after we give shots to everyone in the world.”
So, so close to 85%
On that note, the naval officer’s taskforce is being scrapped as Portugal quite literally starts to run out of people to vaccinate. In the lead-up to today’s big new stage of reopening, the country was struggling to officially reach the 85% marker that seemed all but assured a week ago, Público reports. Vice-Admiral Gouveia e Melo said it appeared some people had forgotten to take their second dose and laid out the figures behind the struggle. On Tuesday, there were only 345,000 eligible people still left to be vaccinated. But of those 140,000 still hadn’t recovered from Covid-19 and need to wait longer for a shot. Authorities are going to start individually calling the 80,000 people who have recovered but not responded to appeals to get vaccinated.
New isolation rules for the vaccinated
There’s a big change to the isolation rules for people who’ve been in contact with someone who has Covid-19. So long as you’re fully vaccinated, and test negative to Covid-19, you will no longer have to isolate after coming in contact with someone contagious, Público reports. The guidelines aren’t expected to be finalised until this afternoon but it looks like you’ll be required to get tested a maximum of five days after contact and still expected to reduce your contact with others. Unvaccinated people will have their isolation period cut from 14 to 10 days in most cases. In other vaccination news, Público reports that laws currently in place prevent your employer from asking for your vaccination status. Nor can they impose restrictions on you based on that status.
Some more specific info about masks, via Público:
They’re mandatory in commercial spaces of more than 400m2 such as supermarkets and hypermarkets but not legally required in minimarkets
You don’t have to wear one in hospitality venues, but the workers do
In other workplaces, businesses can make their own decisions
Lisbon has a new mayor after shock election result
Carlos Moedas of the centre-right Social Democrat Party (PSD) beat incumbent Fernando Medina of the centre-left Socialist Party (PS), something all the polls had failed to predict, Público reports. Independent Rui Moreira will continue as Porto’s mayor but has lost his majority. PS, the party that leads the national government, controls roughly twice as many municipalities as PSD.
If you find this newsletter useful, please help out if you can.
In brief
Nightclubs are back but it's feared some are gone for good. Many venues couldn’t survive the 18 months of closed doors. (Diário de Notícias)
Prosecutors maintain charges against 27 of the 28 charged in former PM Socrates corruption investigation. Many have secondary roles but the only accused to have its charges dropped was a now-extinct company. (Público)
Study proposes high-speed rail to link Porto and Madrid in three hours. It would mean a four and a quarter hour journey from Lisbon to Madrid. (Público)
On a lighter note
What better way to celebrate the reopening of bars and nightclubs than with Time Out’s list of new bars you should know in Lisbon. The list takes in everything from hip-hop-vegan mashups and old cocktail favourites in new locations to arcade games and whisky-soaked sadness. The good folks of Time Out in Porto unfortunately haven’t created a similar list, but they have highlighted nine new restaurants. You’ll find seafood, Texas barbecue and one place trying to push the boundaries of what the delicious and traditional leitão (baby pig) can be. There’s also a pre-pandemic list of best bars and a collection of best beach bars from July.
Please keep sharing on Facebook, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.