Algarve Situation Report Saturday 12th June 2021
Aljezur, Albufeira and Loulé are the three Algarve municipalities with more than 120 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to an update made this Friday, June 11, by the General Directorate of Health (DGS).
The municipality with the most delicate situation at the moment, albeit controlled, is Aljezur, with 161 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
This municipality is, moreover, considered of low density, having a new limit for the application of restrictions.
Albufeira registers an incidence of 142 and Loulé (121), a little above the risk threshold defined by the Government.
Algarve health professionals with electronic mannequins capable of having symptoms and reacting to treatments
Like aviation pilots, the Algarve’s health professionals will be able to train procedures over and over again without an error being fatal.
As explained in a report from the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), the Centre for Clinical Simulation of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Algarve is preparing to, from September, open its doors to continuous training in hospital teams with electronic mannequins capable of having symptoms and reacting to treatments.
The wide mirrored glass side walls and the high definition video cameras installed in the ceiling suggest that the approximately 30 square meters painted in white will be, more than a hospital emergency room, a theatre of operations scrutinized in detail by many eyes and ears. “On the other side of this glass there will be observers, while, behind this one, an instructor is controlling the clinical episode and introducing the variables that the team in the room will have to be able to respond to”, explains Guy Vieira, coordinator of the Centre of Clinical Simulation that begins to take shape at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Algarve.
When the new school year starts, in September, the space will already be equipped just like a hospital unit, but with a fundamental difference that will make it the focus of attention: on the stretcher, instead of a flesh-and-blood patient, there will be a mannequin equipped with multiple high-fidelity sensors capable of recreating the basic functions of the human body. It will be in it that the symptoms generated by computer programs designed to recreate the clinical cases that will put the region’s health professionals to the test will be reflected.
“Let’s assume that we are simulating an acute pulmonary edema and that the instructor decides to generate a significant drop in oxygenation, which is a common symptom in such a situation”, exemplifies the faculty oncologist. “This variation will have to be reflected in the oximeter of the monitors, the team will have to notice and the team leader will have to take measures in relation to it, probably ordering oxygen administration. These simulators are already so evolved that they are able to identify the oxygen administered and in what quantity and react in a physiological way, as the human body would react”.
Tavira, Faro and Vila do Bispo among municipalities across the country with more “zero pollution” beaches
Tavira, Alcobaça and Porto Santo (Madeira), with four, Faro, Vila do Bispo, Peniche and Sesimbra, with three, are the counties in the country with the most “zero pollution” beaches, according to the evaluation of ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável, released today.
In the Algarve, in all, there are 14 beaches, in six municipalities, with this classification of water, sand and air without any pollution. Thus, de Tavira (4 beaches) are in the list Barril, Cabanas-Mar, Ilha de Tavira-Mar and Terra Estreita; Faro (3), the beaches of Barreta, Culatra-Mar and Ilha do Farol-Mar, while Vila do Bispo (3) are considered Castelejo, Cordoama and Martinhal.
Loulé has two zero pollution beaches: Ancão and Quinta do Lago. Finally, Aljezur (Vale Figueira) and Castro Marim (Alagoa-Altura) have a beach each.
Altogether, according to the environmental association, there are 53 zero pollution beaches in Portugal, evaluated according to parameters that ZERO considers to be “truly what is desired on a European scale within the framework of the European Ecological Pact, in particular within the scope of the Action Plan for Zero Pollution».
A zero pollution beach is one in which no microbiological contamination was detected in the analyzes carried out on the bathing waters over the last three bathing seasons.