Virus spread ‘uncontrolled’ in Portugal for more than a week before first cases detected // Exploring the summer surge in racist violence
Portuguese news in English on September 28, 2020.
By the numbers
To the good news first: today’s increase in new cases is the lowest in two weeks and the weekend’s numbers are low enough (884 and 665) that the two-week average has dropped appreciably for the first time since late August. Of course, it’s only the start of the week so if the normal pattern holds, we’re likely to see much larger increases in the next few days. The hospitalisation and intensive care numbers continue to increase — with 98 more people in hospital and 37 more in ICU than last Monday — and deaths may also be on the increase, with eight and nine on the weekend.
Active, recovered, deaths, contacts under surveillance, confirmed, hospitalised, in ICU.
Coronavirus spread ‘uncontrolled’ in Portugal for more than a week before first cases detected
The coronavirus was spreading undetected in Portugal more than a week before the country detected its first cases, Lusa reports, citing a Doctor Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute study. According to the genetic examination, the specific SARS-CoV-2 variant arrived in the North and Central regions about February 20 on the back of trips to Italy’s Lombardy region, and sparked a “massive dissemination”. Research coordinator João Paulo Gomes said the virus would have circulated in a somewhat “uncontrolled, or at least undetected”, manner, in these parts of the country. The first Covid-19 cases reported in Portugal were on March 2. The researchers said the variant was only stopped from spreading widely further south “very strong, very rigorous” measures, including the sanitary cordon around the town of Ovar, which was one of the hardest hit areas early on.
Click here for interactive version.
Portugal’s summer surge in racist violence
I’m sure the summer’s series of shocking racist incidents, capped by the tragic killing of actor Bruno Candé in broad daylight, are still relatively fresh in your mind. The Guardian, in English, has taken a look at several, placing them in the context of a 26% increase in complaints of racism last year and the continued presence of far-right agitator André Ventura in the political sphere. Mamadou Ba, the head of anti-racism organisation SOS Racismo, says the “hate messages are fuelling more aggressive tactics that target human rights defenders from racial minorities”. Mr Ba himself was one of several politicians and activists who received a message telling them to leave the country or face the consequences. A few week earlier he had received another letter: “Our goal is to kill every foreigner and anti-fascist – and you are among our targets.” I strongly encourage you to give this one a read.
New bridges and houses in multibillion-dollar ‘plan for unique opportunities’
Two new bridges to Spain, €1.2 billion to properly house 26,000 families and new public transport projects in Porto and greater Lisbon are some of the projects envisioned in Portugal’s multibillion-dollar Recovery and Resilience Plan, Público reports. The plan, which will have access to €12.9 billion in European Commission money and another €15.7 billion in loans, is due to go to Brussels in the middle of October. Prime Minister António Costa said it was not a blank cheque, describing it as more demanding than the normal multi-year financial frameworks and required well-defined projects, objectives and evaluation by the European Commission and Council. Resilience, digital transition and climate transition are the three pillars of what the PM describes as a “plan for unique opportunities”. On top of the housing, bridges, fast tram network in Loures and automatic bus in Porto, other measures include 8000 integrated and palliative care beds and the state purchase of firefighting aircraft to protect against bushfires.
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In brief
Public transport a critical point for covid-19 transmission, says infectious disease expert. Jaime Nina says it’s necessary to quadruple public transport levels to allow proper physical distancing (Diário de Notícias)
Flu vaccine available from today for priority populations. Residents in nursing homes, health professionals, social sector professionals and pregnant women will be the first to be eligible (Lusa)
Hopes for nasal spray that gave '96pc infection cover' in ferret. Weekly use of a nasal spray could give 96 per cent protection from coronavirus, new research from Public Health England (PHE) shows (The Telegraph, in English)
Banco de Portugal destroyed €950 million worth of €500 banknotes. Since the end of January last year, all €500 banknotes returned to Banco de Portugal have been burned, following the ECB's decision to gradually end circulation. (Público)
On a lighter note
It’s never been easier to find a lighter note to end on, thanks to Google Arts & Culture promoting its new Portuguese language and culture project as soon as I opened my browser. It can be a little hard to know where to start with Portuguese language and culture, so if you have any interest, it’s worth clicking around here to see if anything catches your eye. It’s much more than just Portugal, with information, songs and art from Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, East Timor and all the other Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Jerónimos Monastery in Belém. Photo: Jorge Branco
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