Algarve Situation Report Saturday 26th June 2021
Covid-19: Algarve is the region of the country with the highest transmissibility index – INSA
The Algarve region has the highest transmission index (Rt) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the country, with 1.3, while in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo it dropped to 1.11, according to data released today by the INSA.
At the national level, from the last June 14th to Sunday, there was a reduction of the Rt from 1.20 to 1.1, which was also registered in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo region, where it went from 1.26 to 1.11, advances the weekly report of the epidemic curve of the National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA),
For the INSA researchers, this result suggests “a slowdown in the increase in the number of new cases in this period of time, that is, the number of new cases keeps growing, but more slowly”.
On the other hand, in the Algarve region there is “a sharp increase” in the transmissibility index, having gone from 1.07 on May 27, 2021 to 1.4 on June 14 (0.33 in 19 days).
“From this date onwards, the Rt decreased to 1.3 to June 19, although it still remains at high values”, stresses the INSA
According to the researchers, the mean value of Rt for the days 16-20 June was 1.14, and its true value could be between 1.13 and 1.15 with a confidence of 95%.
The following R(t) values were also estimated for the regions: 1.03 in the North region, 1.12 in the Center region, 1.17 in the LVT region, 1.08 in the Alentejo region, 1.34 in the Algarve region, 0.98 in the autonomous region of the Azores and 1.17 in the autonomous region of Madeira.
“All regions have an average rate of transmissibility (five days) above 1, with the exception of the Autonomous Region of the Azores”, the researchers say.
Portugal has an accumulated notification rate of 14 days between 120 and 239.9 per 100,000 inhabitants and a R(t) higher than 1, that is, a high notification rate with a growing trend, they add.
Covid.19: Owners of restaurants and other establishments in Albufeira are considering closing this weekend
Owners of restaurants and other establishments in Albufeira are considering closing this weekend, citing lack of profitability with the restriction of hours imposed to contain the covid-19 pandemic, sector businessmen told Lusa.
Albufeira is one of the three municipalities in the country with a very high risk level of incidence of covid-19, which means that, according to the measures announced on Thursday by the Government, this weekend non-essential trade and catering must close at 15:30.
“During the weekend, most establishments will remain closed, because it is not justified. Most of the people are on the beach, they leave the beach after a while, and they won’t be having lunch in a hurry on a terrace, it’s not feasible”, says Sérgio Brito, from the Albufeira Commercial Association.
Albufeira lives almost exclusively from tourism, concentrating half of the region’s hotel supply (approximately 50,000 beds), but the sector has never recovered since the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020, which is causing bankruptcies and redundancies, according to Sérgio Brito.
To Lusa, the businessman reports that some restaurants “are closing and laying off people”, a situation that has been going on since last year and that brings with it the prospect of “a tragedy, at an economic and social level”, putting Albufeira with seven thousand unemployed, when before they were no more than 500.
“Most of the companies started working very recently, about a month ago, and they hired people, created ‘stocks’ of food, made investments and now we are faced with this incomprehensible situation”, he laments.
Carlo Mealha, owner of several restaurants and nightlife establishments in Albufeira, also decided that he will not open the spaces this weekend, which would only “increase the loss”, since the probability of have customers.
“For us it doesn’t pay off at all. This is a decision that has been taken since yesterday [Thursday], from the moment we heard the news. There is no point in such a heavy restriction at the hourly level”, he says.
Covid-19: New Measures Have Huge Impact on Restaurants and Hotels
The Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Services of Portugal (AHRESP) said today that the latest measures announced by the government in the context of decontamination have “a huge impact” on catering and tourist accommodation and defended “universal, preferably non-refundable” support.
On Thursday, the Council of Ministers decided, among other measures, that the hours of restaurants and similar and of commerce will be reduced in Lisbon and Albufeira, having to close at 3:30 pm on weekends, joining the rules that already in force in Sesimbra, under the measures to combat the covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement, AHRESP – Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar of Portugal said today that the measures that were announced by the government «have a huge impact on catering and similar companies and tourist accommodation».
In this context, the association defended «simple and universal support, preferably in the form of non-repayable funds», referring that «current support is almost non-existent and the moratoriums only last until the end of the year».
«It is time to maintain but also to recover and improve support», insists AHRESP, which adds that it will soon present a set of measures that go in that direction.
The decision taken by the Council of Ministers to withdraw from the lack of confinement also implies, in the case of those three municipalities, Lisbon, Albufeira and Sesimbra, that supermarkets and other food retail outlets close at 7 pm on weekends.
During the week, restaurants, cafes and patisseries can be open until 22:30, with capacity rules determining a maximum of four people per group inside and six people per group on the terraces.