Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 15^th June 2022 

Lagos invests four million euros in the transport network

The Lagos City Council announced this week the award, for four million euros, of the acquisition of passenger transport services that will allow the “A ONDA” transport network to operate for the next three years.

According to a statement from the municipality, the public tender that was concluded provides for the maintenance of the 10 current lines that make up “A ONDA” and which serve the entire municipality.

A fleet of 18 vehicles will cover an estimated 2.7 million kilometres, “ensuring accessibility conditions for people with reduced mobility, thermal comfort and the ease of contactless ticketing”, said the municipality.

Sardine Festival considered one of the best summer events in Europe

The Sardinha Festival, promoted by the municipality of Portimão since 1985, leads the list of the 25 best summer gastronomic events in Europe, prepared by the renowned travel site ‘Big 7 Travel’ and now released, taking into account the public’s suggestions, as well as as well as the contributions of the editorial team itself.

According to those responsible for the list (available at https://bigseventravel.com/25-of-the-best-summer-food-festivals-in-europe/), in addition to good grilled sardines, other typical snacks and entertainment, with emphasis on live music, the festival in Portimão allows visitors to get to know the local customs and traditions, namely through the historical reconstitution of the unloading of sardines.

In the last edition before the pandemic, held in 2019, the Festival broke records, attracting around 100,000 visitors to the riverside area of ​​Portimão in five days, which on several occasions sold out the amount of sardines available.

This year’s edition will take place from the 3rd to the 7th of August and will be preceded once again by the reconstitution of the fish discharge, scheduled for the 2nd of August.

During the five days of the gastronomic event, grilled sardines in bread will once again be queen, accompanied by boiled potatoes and Algarve salad, served in the various restaurants in the area between bridges and in the stalls of local associations and clubs, which offer more than a thousand seats to taste that gastronomic ex-libris.

The entire riverside area, between the Portimão Museum and the old Lota, will host craft and sweets stalls, with lots of street entertainment and music.

Woman helped at Fábrica beach after dislocating kneecap

A 59-year-old Spanish woman suffered on Sunday, June 12, a dislocation of her kneecap on Fábrica beach, in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António , having been helped by elements of the “SeaWatch” project, announced the National Maritime Authority.

The alert was received at 1:00 pm, through the lifeguard, with the immediate activation to the site of the elements of the “SeaWatch” project, supported by a quad bike, and also elements of the Vila Real de Santo António Fire Department.

The victim was stabilised and transported to the disembarkation site, and was later taken on a boat to the Factory. At the scene, where firefighters were waiting, she was transported to a hospital.

Two people rescued from the sea in Cacela Velha.

Two people were rescued from the sea in Cacela Velha , in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António , on the morning of Friday, June 10th, because they were in difficulty, having lost their feet and being dragged by the current. of the Ria Formosa, announced the National Maritime Authority.

The rescue was carried out by elements of the “SeaWatch” project, which belongs to the National Maritime Authority, following a request for assistance.

The elements, who were nearby, went to the scene with the support of a water scooter and rescued the 49-year-old man and the 48-year-old woman, of Brazilian nationality, having been transported ashore. The couple was in good physical condition and no medical assistance was needed, having left the place by their own means. 

Parishes to get together to run the festivals of Popular Saints.

The festivities of Santos Populares will take place between the 10th and 28th of June in Vila Real de Santo António and in Hortas with dances and typical meals, announced the Parish Council of the county organisation.

The festivities will involve several associations of the parish and will take place on the nights of 10, 11, 12, 23, 24, 25 and 28 and June at Praça Marquês de Pombal, in Vila Real de Santo António, and on the nights of the 12th and 24th of same month at Rua da Columbófila, in Hortas.

Before the balls, the participation of the parish associations related to music and dance is planned, through small performances. This initiative is organised by the Vila Real de Santo António Parish Council in partnership with the City Council.

Albufeira  promotes summer vacation programs for the young.

Between the 14th and 15th of June, it is possible for young people from Albufeira to sign up for the “Youth in Action” program.

The program, to take place between July 4th and August 26th,between the ages of 13 and 18, will be divided into four fortnights: the first from July 4th to 15th, the second from July 18th to 29th, the third from August 1st to 12th and the Wednesday, 16th to 26th of August. When registering, a fortnight preference will be requested. The vacancies, per fortnight, are limited to 44 participants, who will be divided into two groups. The municipality also informs that each young person can only participate for a fortnight and there can be no group exchanges.

Entries are made exclusively online and are available from this Tuesday until 17:00 tomorrow, the 15th. The selection of participants will be made in order of registration.

On June 22, selected participants will be contacted in order to be able to go to the Youth Office (next to Mercado dos Caliços) to formalise their registration. Selected participants will have to share the costs of the program with the total amount of 60.60 euros, which includes activities at Aquashow and Jeep Safari. The remaining activities will be funded by the municipality of Albufeira, as well as the transport, insurance, monitoring and materials necessary to carry out these same activities. You can register here .

For the “Infantis em Ação” program, aimed at children aged 10 to 12, registration takes place on the 20th and 21st of this month between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, also online. This program will take place between the 4th of July and the 26th of August and will also occupy four fortnights. Seats per fortnight are limited to 22 participants.

The selection of participants will also be in order of registration and on the 25th of June the selected participants will be contacted. Participants selected for the project will have to share the costs of the program with the total amount of 48.50 euros, which includes the following activities: Lagos Zoo, two Bowling, Zoomarine and Padel games with lunch.

Finally to end this Algarve report we bring you the latest numbers regarding Covid 19.

The Algarve region had 5,558 positive cases of covid-19 and 16 deaths between May 31 and June 6, while Portugal recorded 158,534 infections with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, 292 associated deaths, and a decrease in hospital admissions, indicated the Directorate-General for Health ( DGS ).

In intensive care there was a slight increase. According to the DGS weekly epidemiological bulletin, compared to the previous week, there were 15,479 fewer cases of infection, with 68 more deaths, however, compared to the two periods.

As for hospital occupancy in mainland Portugal due to covid-19, the DGS started to release data on hospitalizations for the Monday before the report was published on Fridays.

Based on this criterion, the bulletin indicates that, last Monday, 1,991 people were hospitalised, 101 less than on the same day of the previous week, with 108 patients in intensive care units, plus one.

According to data from the DGS, the seven-day incidence was, on Monday, at 1,539 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, having registered a decrease of 9% compared to the previous week, while the transmissibility index (Rt) of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 dropped from 1.00 to 0.98 nationally.