Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 9^th March 2022

Introduction

It is very saddening to have reached a point of being closer to normality as far as Covid-19 is concerned, only now to have a war in Ukraine! We have had to deal with a considerable amount of bad news over the last two years and it now appears this is set to continue.

Since last week’s report, the news has been dominated by events in Ukraine. The war has effected everyone especially, of course, all those suffering directly in Ukraine. The invasion by Russia has so far resulted in over 2.1 million people (nearly all women and children) fleeing the country, the fastest growing humanitarian crisis since World War II (UNHCR).

What we are seeing on television and through the media is truly terrible and distressing. Massive destruction; women, children and the elderly sheltering underground to help escape the relentless bombardment of their homes by the Russian military and the plight of many innocent people caught up in this. Exacerbating this are evacuation attempts, previously agreed, but which have mainly failed due to military strikes – it is truly devastating. Let us hope that the first successful evacuation yesterday will continue to day.

Against this we have seen the considerable resilience, fortitude and bravery of the Ukrainian people themselves, fighting to keep their land at all costs. This was exemplified last night by their President, whose impassioned speech to the House of Commons, served as an inspiration that everyone needs to do more to support the Ukrainian people in their hour of need. What a man President Zelensky is; his spirt best amplified up by his words:

“We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost. We will fight in the forests, the fields, the shores and in the streets.” Ukraine will not give up and “we will not lose”.

The only positive note from this war has been the united global response (apart from a few countries) coming together in the provision of assistance to Ukraine and the imposition of unprecedented sanctions on Russia.

Portugal is playing its part by sending aid and supplies to Ukraine, with many organisations raising money and providing equipment ranging from ambulances to clothing medical supplies for example. Other bodies such as the Order of Doctors and Order of Notaries are providing free services to Ukrainians and the Government has provided a safe haven for over 2000 Ukrainian refugee who have so far arrived here.

There are many ways to assist those in need and we have created a page for this purpose which can be downloaded here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/helping-ukraine-in-this-time-of-crisis/

Our role at Safe Communities in times such as this, is to report news that impacts in some way on Portugal, promote services that can help the victims of the war, as well as a general overview of latest events. Rather than report numerous events individually, which becomes even more depressing, we summarize these each day in the form of a Situation Report divided into various headings such as “Humanitarian aid”, (Military Operations” etc. This makes it easier to find information and in summary formation it highlights the main points. There is a tab on our website where you can find information or through our daily post on Facebook.

There are two aspects that could potentially affect Portugal and many countries closer to Ukraine, one being the potential impact of a “no-fly zone” should one be established over Ukraine and the other is a western ban on Russian oil. The President of Ukraine has repeatedly called for a no fly zone over Ukraine but this has been rejected by the UK, various countries in the EU and NATO itself. A no-fly zone, is a region or area where a military power has halted the operations of certain aircraft. That is to say more simply, if any plane is found to be flying in a no-fly zone the imposing military power will shoot it down, either through its own air force or through ground units.

While NATO was responsible for establishing the NFZs seen in the past, it is unlikely it will impose one in Ukraine. The reason behind the move is simple – Iran, Libya, Bosnia-Herzegovina did not involve any nuclear states, but Russia has its own nuclear weapons. To explain a bit further, imposing a NFZ would mean NATO jets directly engaging in combat with Russian airplanes. This escalation between Russia and NATO is something that the organisation is trying to avoid, believing it to be a prelude to either WWIII or a nuclear conflict.

Turning to oil prices – On Monday, Russia warned it might close off its main gas pipeline to Germany if the West went ahead and banned Russian oil. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said such a move would lead to “catastrophic consequences” for global supply and lead to the oil price doubling to $300 a barrel.

Since 1945, 11 out of 12 times that there has been such a movement in the oil price scale, we ended up having a recession in the next six to eight months. The current situation is creating a harmful impact on the West.  The increase in the price of a barrel of oil and the fluctuations in the markets are a consequence of the imposition of sanctions, which were very important, but with delay or not reaching the desired outcome, has consequences that have to be very well monitored from the western side”, to avoid a risk of recession.

Ukrainian and Russian Foreign Ministers are due to meet on Thursday and with the President of Ukraine stating that he no longer plans to seek membership of NATO and is open to “compromise” on the status of two breakaway pro-Russian territories that Putin recognized as independent, let us hope there is some negotiating room to bring this war to a conclusion saving countless more lives.

Lastly turning to Covid-19, mainland Portugal will remain on alert due to covid-19, until 23:59 hrs on March 22, according to a resolution of the Council of Ministers published this Tuesday in the Diário da República, and which immediately enters into force. Please see our Facebook post yesterday.

With that have a Safe Day.

Feature

Why Ukraine’s problem is everyone’s problem

Ukraine was struggling to control the COVID-19 pandemic even before Russian troops advanced on the country. It was slower to launch its COVID-19 vaccination campaigns than other European countries, and while the government encouraged citizens to get immunized, most people struggled to find a way to get the shot, didn’t feel the need to get vaccinated, or didn’t trust the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

Just before the invasion on Feb. 24, only 35% of the Ukrainian population had been vaccinated. That puts it in line with most of its neighbouring countries, although some, including Poland and Hungary, have achieved higher vaccination coverage. Like many other countries, Ukraine experienced a surge in cases due to the Omicron variant in November and another peak in the first week of February—most likely due to its low level of vaccination. By the middle of February, 60% of COVID-19 tests conducted in the country were positive.

Vaccination and mitigation measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing, and basic hygiene are critical for curbing spread of SARS-CoV-2, but are impossible to maintain when a country is under siege. The humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders has been distributing trauma kits and training health care providers in Mariupol, Ukraine—a target of the Russian attack—as well as providing shelter and basic health needs for those crossing the border into other countries like Poland. But it’s not enough.

“War is an infectious disease’s best friend,” says Michael Osterholm, director of the Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “It challenges every public health program you can possibly have. It limits the medical care available for those who might be seriously ill, and often fosters transmission when so many people are crowded into bomb shelter locations and on trains. This is going to be the perfect storm of one serious challenge after another.”

Hospitals will likely be hit hardest by the influx of refugees during the pandemic, say public health experts. War-related injuries will take precedence over COVID-19 care, which will only make it easier for the virus to spread. That disruption will in turn lead to more health care workers who will get infected, and won’t be able to perform their duties.

https://time.com/6153254/ukraine-russia-war-covid-19/

Covid-19

COVID -19 Situation Tuesday 8^th March 2022

Confirmed: 3,352,874 (+15068 / +0.45%)

Admitted in hospital: 1,225 (-25 / -2.00%)

Admitted to ICU: 78 (-3 / -3.70%)

Deaths: 21,248 (+32 / +0.15%)

Recovered: 2,856.458 (+12,649 / +0.44%)

Active cases: 475,168 (+2387 /+0.55%)

TRENDS

A moderate increase in new cases compared to previous days. Not unusual after the weekend. Above last week’s daily average

A moderate decrease in hospitalisations after 2 days of increases. Total in hospital well below last week’s average

A further decrease of those in ICU, and lowest since October 2021.

Death larger than for over a week and well above last weeks’ daily average (22)

Active cases increase after 3 days of decreases

Heath

Mainland Portugal remains on alert for covid-19 for another 15 days

Resolution of the Council of Ministers that enters into force this Tuesday emphasizes that “the current situation also requires that the declaration of alert situation be renewed” until March 22 at the end of the day

Mainland Portugal will remain on alert due to covid-19, until 11:59 pm on March 22, according to a resolution of the Council of Ministers published this Tuesday in the Diário da República, and which immediately enters into force.

“Notwithstanding the epidemiological situation caused by the covid-19 disease pandemic has maintained its positive evolution since the entry into force of that resolution of the Council of Ministers – in terms of the number of new daily cases of infection by SARS-CoV-2, as well as  with regard to the number of citizens hospitalized, including those in intensive care -, the current situation also requires that the declaration of alert situation be renewed throughout the continental national territory for an additional period of 15 days”, reads the document. .

The text also states that, in addition to renewing a declaration of alert status throughout the mainland, all the rules established by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 25-A/2022, of February 18, remain in force.

At the time, mainland Portugal was no longer in a situation of calamity, the highest level of response, which had been in force since December 1, 2021.

The Council of Ministers updated several measures to move towards the new phase of the pandemic and in which it was decided to lift a set of restrictions.

Other news

Ryanair moves towards fleet reduction and cancels 19 routes in Lisbon in the summer

Ryanair announced this Tuesday that it will proceed with the reduction of the fleet at Lisbon airport, in the summer, “since the Portuguese Government has not acted” to free TAP “slots”, and will cancel 19 Portela routes for the summer.

In a statement, the Irish airline said that, “since the Portuguese Government did not act”, “it was forced to reduce the number of aircraft based in Lisbon, from seven to four, for the summer of 2022, causing the cancellation of five thousand flights, 900 thousand passengers and 19 routes from Lisbon for summer 2022”.

Ryanair also added that those cancellations will lead to the “loss of 150 well-paid jobs” at Humberto Delgado airport.

“We regret this unnecessary inconvenience for all passengers on these cancelled flights and the loss of 19 routes due to the blocking of unused slots by TAP in the summer of 2020, in Lisbon”, said the executive president, Michael O’Leary, quoted in the same note.

The low-cost airline has twice appealed to the Prime Minister, António Costa, for the release of slots (slots) not used by TAP until March 4, indicating that, if this did not happen , would have to cancel routes. 

Passenger transport grows on all roads except metro in 2021

Lisbon, Mar 08, 2022 (Lusa) – Passenger transport grew by 39.3% by air, 11.5% by train and 2% by waterway, but a decline of 2.8% by metro, according to preliminary data for 2021, released today by INE.

“The preliminary results for 2021 show growth in passenger transport by air (+39.3%; -69.4% in 2020), by train (+11.5%; -38.8% in 2020) and by waterways (+2.0%; -42.8% in 2020) and a decrease in passenger transport by subway (-2.8%; -48.1% in 2020)”, noted the National Institute of Statistics (INE), which published data on transport activity in the fourth quarter of 2021, as well as preliminary results for last year’s total.

According to the statistical authority, passenger transport increased in the last quarter of 2021, but the annual results were “still far from those of 2019”. In the last quarter of 2021, national airports handled 9.8 million passengers, which represents a growth of 212.9% compared to the same period in 2020. However, compared to the same period of 2019, there was a decrease of 26.9%.

In the quarter under analysis, the number of passengers per train and per metro increased by 40.6% and 44.9%, corresponding to 39.8 and 48.6 million users, respectively. Even so, compared to the same period of 2019, there were respective decreases of 18.9% and 35.1%.

Passenger transport by waterway increased by 37.2% compared to the same quarter of 2020, reaching 3.8 million passengers, but decreased by 29.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Regarding the transport of goods, the preliminary results for 2021 indicate an increase compared to the previous year across all modes of transport, with air transport registering a growth of 29.8% (after -30.2% in 2020), 11% by rail (-7.6% in 2020), 11.2% by road (-14.8% in 2020) and 5.2% by sea (-7% in the previous year).

In the fourth quarter of 2021, freight transport by air grew 31.5% year-on-year, but less significantly than in previous quarters (+52.5% in the third quarter and +108.3% in the second), corresponding to a reduction of 2.9% compared to the last three months of 2019.

On the railways, the transport of goods recorded an increase of 7.5% compared to the same period of 2020 (+16.5% in the previous quarter) and of 3.9% compared to the same period in 2019, a decrease of 1.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 (+0.7% in the third quarter of 021), also recording a reduction compared to the fourth quarter of 2019 (-3.6%).

Transport of goods by road continued to register a slight increase of 1.2% in the fourth quarter of last year.