Algarve Situation Report Saturday 23rd January 2021
Cases of schoolchildren in the Algarve almost double in less than a month – authorities say
The number of school-age children in the Algarve infected with the new coronavirus has almost doubled since Christmas, compared to the previous nine months, said the regional health delegate today.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic and until Christmas, we had 872 cases in school children up to 16 years old. And then, since Christmas and up to two days ago, we had 818. Therefore, in a much shorter period a number almost equivalent “, said Ana Cristina Guerreiro.
The official, who was speaking at the usual press conference promoted by the District Civil Protection Commission of Faro, clarified that this increase, caused by family transmissions, is in line with the whole country.
“Since the beginning of the school season, many cases have arisen, which came from family transmission. And the epidemiological investigation caused many of the classes to go home in prophylactic isolation. This caused, in the whole country, a very large number of cases at home and a high number of cases that had not existed before; such a large number of school children with a positive test “, he added.
According to the regional health delegate, in the Algarve, which had an average of 350 to 400 daily cases in the last ten days, the “moment is complicated and demanding, just as in all regions in the country”.
The “main concerns” of regional health authorities are related to nursing homes – there are more than 100 in the region, both legal and illegal – and to long-term care units.
“There are 12 institutions [nursing homes], at this moment, with outbreaks”, with a total of 421 cases, between residents and employees, revealed Ana Cristina Guerreiro.
Regarding testing capacity, the president of the Regional Health Administration (ARS) of the Algarve, Paulo Morgado, stressed that the region is above the national average, currently around two thousand daily tests – seven times more than in the first wave, in March (about 300 a day).
“It is a considerable increase. We are in fact testing and testing a lot. I would even say, in percentage terms, above what is the national average, in terms of testing per 100 thousand inhabitants. We are testing a lot in the region and it is an aspect about which I wanted to reassure the Algarvians, passing on this message “, he stressed.
As for vaccination, 2,000 health professionals have already been vaccinated, in addition to 2,000 home users and integrated long-term care units in the region.
“In the eastern counties, this process is finished and is now taking place in the central and western Algarve counties, continuing over the next few days. It is flowing smoothly, without serious side effects of the vaccine, without complications”, underlined the president of ARS, Algarve.
The official also stressed that the line of psychological support provided by health centres in the Algarve region is helping a total of 263 people.
“There has been an increase in requests in recent weeks. It is an important service, because the pandemic has psychological consequences. They are there, there are those, in the population and professionals, who have been under great pressure in recent months,” said Paulo Morgado.
Covid.19: More personal protection material on the way to the Algarve
The District Civil Protection Commission of the Algarve reported that the municipality of Olhão, through its Municipal Civil Protection Service, the fire brigade, and the company TPO – Transportes e Logística, are launching a logistical operation for the transport of protective equipment Individual, (EPI’s) from the Military Laboratory of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products, in Lisbon, to the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve.
The operation involves 3 semi-trailers and 8 firefighters, with the support of the company TPO – Transportes e Logística, which provided two containers.
The goods were loaded this morning in Lisbon, and are expected to arrive at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve this afternoon.
PPE’s will later be distributed throughout the region.
VRSA Municipality closes walkways, playgrounds and sports equipment
The municipality of VRSA prohibited the access walkways to the municipality’s beaches, in order to avoid the crowding of people in public spaces in order to stop the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement issued this Friday, the municipality informs that it has also determined the ban on the use of garden benches, playgrounds and public equipment for sports.
In the case of walkways, access was restricted at the entrances, through the placement of signs and stalls, which will also imply a ban on movement in these structures. In the remaining equipment, signs and boundary tape were placed.
Only owners and employees of restaurants located in these areas or customers who need to go to said commercial establishments can access the walkways, in strict compliance with the applicable legal regulations, namely for the collection of meals in restaurants that are operating in take away regime.
The municipality recalls that this measure follows the provisions of Article 35-A of Decree No. 3-A / 2021, of January 14th, in its most recent version, as well as the recommendations made by the Government of the Republic regarding the closure of public spaces due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid-19: CHUA or ABC who will ask for the refund of the 30 broken ventilators?
The administration of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) told Lusa that it is up to the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC) to request the reimbursement of the 30 broken ventilators, but this entity discards responsibilities and refers the process to CHUA.
The devices were purchased by ABC in April 2020, with money donated by the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), but they did not pass the tests carried out by the Hospital Common Use Services (SUCH), with the mayors claiming a refund of 1.3 million euros.
“ABC is 50% CHUA and 50% from the University of Algarve, two respected public entities and knowing that there was a damage, in which he interfered in that damage, he just has to resolve the matter and quickly” said Lusa Paulo Neves, executive member of the CHUA board of directors.
The official defends that “whoever negotiated, knows the manufacturer, the intermediary and paid them”, and they should “execute the guarantees if what they bought is deficient”.
“I do not see how we, who do not have the invoice, who do not know the manufacturer or the intermediary, are going to pursue those who did not pay, it is meaningless”, he maintained.
ABC’s president, Nuno Marques, has another position, stating that CHUA should request the refund since it’s “the legitimate owner of the equipment”, claiming that “there cannot be another entity asking for a refund” of devices from which is owner.
“We are not the owner, we have no legal standing to interfere in the process”, he defended
The official revealed that he was unaware of any decision on a refund request and added that the invoice was issued in the name of ABC but “is in CHUA” since the donation and “as soon as any equipment is donated, the other becomes the owner”.
Nuno Marques stressed that after ABC had “made available to support” and send the supplier’s contacts to CHUA and only learned that the company’s technicians came to Portugal and worked on the ventilators, but from then on he does not know “what the evolution of the process”.
As a financing entity, AMAL revealed to Lusa that, in an analysis with CHUA and ABC, “they understood that one should ask for a refund of the money”, advancing its president that “a commission will be created with one member of each entity”. “I already talked to them and they know about our position,” said António Pina.
Safe Communities Comment
A disturbing situation as 30 ventilators is a large number which may well be needed with the large vast increases we are seeing in the Algarve at present.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/covid-19-chua-ou-abc-quem-vai-pedir-o-reembolso-dos-30-ventiladores-avariados-/36409-1