Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 12^th January 2022

Do you think you have Covid-19? Whatever you do, don’t run to the ER

If you think you have Covid-19 or if you have had a positive self-test, do not, under any circumstances, go to the emergency rooms of hospitals in the Algarve, appeals Ana Varges Gomes, the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve.

This is because, the head of management of public hospitals in the Algarve told Sul Informação, there has been great pressure from “completely asymptomatic” patients with Covid-19, which makes it difficult to provide assistance to those who really need urgent treatment.

“People who go to the ER who are green and blue [respectively, minor and non-urgent cases, according to the Manchester triage method] and who had no reference to come here, still constitute 46% of the people we see in this service”.

«While we are like this, the Emergency Department can never give the best answer. And all because people don’t look for the right services. There are respiratory services at the health centers in operation, there is a family doctor, there are specific places to do tests. Therefore, coming to a hospital emergency to come for a Covid test when the person is asymptomatic is not a good practice”, defended Ana Varges Gomes.

This rush of asymptomatic Covid patients to the emergency room has to do, on the one hand, with «the non-functioning of the Saúde 24 line», but also with a wrong notion that many people have, that it is necessary to go to the emergency room to be able to have a sick leave.

Firefighters from São Brás de Alportel enter 2022 with a new permanent intervention team.

The Firefighters of the new Permanent Intervention Team (EIP) of the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of São Brás de Alportel received their insignia on Friday, January 7th, during a ceremony attended by the Mayor of São Brás de Alportel, Vitor Guerreiro, and the Civil Protection District Operational Commander of Faro, Richard Marques.

The entry into office of this new team, which represents an annual investment of 70 thousand euros, was possible after the signing of a protocol between the municipality of São Brás de Alportel, the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) and the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of São Brás de Alportel (AHBVSBA), will be supported in equal parts by the City Council and ANEPC.

This second AHBVSBA Permanent Intervention Team reinforces the work of the first team that was created in 2012.

For the Commander of the Fire Department of São Brás de Alportel, Vitor Martins, and for the President of AHBVSBA, Custódia Reis, the realization of this new team «is a very important objective in the life of the Fire Department» because it will allow the daily reinforcement operational structure and highlighted the fundamental role of the municipality in this improvement of assistance to the population.

Tourist village in Tavira regulates public lighting via Bluetooth

The Pedras da Rainha Tourist Village, in Tavira, inserted in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, has just implemented a sustainable smart lighting project.

Without the need to dig trenches or use cabling, and in a completely autonomous way, SunStay solar luminaires were installed that offer public lighting to the village in an intelligent, clean and sustainable way.

In a statement, the tourist village explains that, essentially, the SunStay solar luminaires, produced by the Signify company of the Philips Group, are fully sustainable and include battery, motion detector and photovoltaic panels that adapt to sunrise and sunset, making the luminaire autonomous and sustainable. It is also possible to connect via bluetooth, which allows the management of the luminaires through an application, being possible to define the lighting levels adaptable to the place, allowing the saving of resources, given that it is a renewable energy, and also the saving of resources.

Almeida Pires, General Director of Pedras da Rainha says that “The Algarve is one of the most privileged regions of our country, and with 300 days of sunshine a year there are even more reasons to bet on sustainable and smart solutions. We want to reduce the ecological footprint and we believe that we are contributing to making the Algarve an increasingly smart and sustainable destination, and by inserting the Sunstay solar luminaires in the Pedras da Rainha village we are setting an example of good practices and betting on the future. .

Woman died who went swimming at Faro beach

A woman in her 50s was found dead on Faro beach on Monday, after being spotted by people entering the water and swimming, a source from the Marinha told Lusa.

According to the Commander of the Southern Maritime Zone and Captain of the Port of Faro, Fernando Rocha Pacheco, the woman who “was undocumented was taken out of the water by people and assisted on the beach by the INEM doctor who confirmed the death”.

The source said the body was pulled out of the water around 3pm, about 50 minutes after witnesses saw the lady enter the water and swim.

“On the beach a towel and some personal belongings were found that are presumed to belong to the lady”, he added.

The causes of death will now be determined by the Medical-Legal Office of Faro, where the body was transported.