Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 16th December 2020
Marcelo: “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a lifetime, to thank João de Deus”
I’ve been waiting for this moment for a lifetime, to thank João de Deus for what has changed in me almost 70 years ago. With him, I started to learn to love Portugal more, when I still didn’t know what Portugal was, and I doubt that I would understand better what would transform my life knowing how to read and write in 
Portuguese. But it transformed my life. Mine and that of millions of Portuguese. Thank you João de Deus!”
That was how the President of the Republic ended, this Monday, his address at the Closing of the Commemorations of the 190 Years of the Birth of João de Deus, which took place in São Bartolomeu de Messines, hometown of the pedagogue and poet.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s first words even went to Algarve researcher Maria João Raminhos Duarte, who would shortly present his most recent work, the book «João de Deus Immortal and Timeless».
The head of state spoke a word “for his work and for his talent in research, writing, concern for the reader, in affective identification with today’s great honouree”.
The President would also commend his hostess Rosa Palma, Mayor of Silves, stressing her work in defence of the municipality.
Considering that “there is no future that can dispense with the experiences of the present and the lessons of the past”, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted the “rich and unexpected life of João de Deus, so well celebrated in his land”.
Eight thousand children and young people from Albufeira will receive a gift check from the municipality
The municipality of Albufeira, in collaboration with ACRAL – Association of Merchants of the Algarve, will offer a voucher that will work as a gift voucher directed to the entire school population.
In a press release, the municipality clarifies that the gift voucher will have a one-year value of 15 euros, and is intended for all children and young people who attend institutions in the municipality, from day care centres, kindergartens, 1st, 2nd, 3rd students cycles and secondary.
In total, about 8 thousand children and young people will benefit from this measure, whose investment is around 120 thousand euros. According to the municipality, the objective is to support families in this area, channelling resources in order to boost the local economy.
“We will allocate a substantial part of the resources initially allocated to the organization of events connected to the court, namely Christmas and New Year, to initiatives aimed at supporting families and the local economy» explains José Carlos Rolo. The municipality also hopes to implement other measures aimed at catering and transport, which will be announced shortly.
In the same statements, the mayor argues that “it is necessary to strengthen support for the economy, interconnecting the social needs of current families and working in a network with municipal services, IPSS and business associations”.
Municipality of Vila do Bispo delivers 90 Christmas baskets to needy families
In order to provide a dignified Christmas dinner to the most needy families, the Vila do Bispo City Council promotes the delivery of 90 Christmas baskets, until next December 23.
In a press release, the municipality notes that the baskets, which are appropriate to the composition and characteristics of each household, include foodstuffs such as cod, olive oil, flour, sugar, milk, canned goods, rice, pasta, bolo-rei, among other goods.
According to the same publication, the beneficiaries of the Christmas baskets were identified by the municipality’s Social Action services in conjunction with the local Social Security Service of Vila do Bispo (NLI), the Figueira Cultural and Social Center and Santa Casa da Misericórdia Vila do Bispo – CLDS – Dignitate of Vila do Bispo, through the Food Bank Against Hunger and FEAC.
The council says that this measure of support for needy families, “is part of the strategy that the municipality has been applying in the area of social action, and that is particularly important in this Christmas season”.
Algarve Report December 12 of 2020
Regional Covid-19 update
The District Civil Protection Commission of Faro yesterday revealed new data on the current epidemiological situation in the Algarve with 1,729 active cases of covid-19.
According to the regional health delegate, 5,838 infected were registered until yesterday, 80 more in the last 24 hours and 4,046 recovered (cumulative).
37 people are hospitalized, 11 in the Intensive Care Units and 4 ventilated. The same source said that since the beginning of the pandemic, 63 deaths have been recorded in the region. Currently, 2,089 people are under active surveillance and 236 (cumulative) were discharged. In relation to last week’s bulletin, another 66 active cases and 428 new cases are confirmed. Another 356 people are recovered. There are less 6 people hospitalized (37), 3 less in intensive care (11) and the same number of ventilated patients (4). Under active surveillance there are 33 fewer people.
Lagoa exchanges Christmas lights for support to the local community
Source bePortugal
Lagoa Municipality will provide 102 thousand euros to encourage residents to buy in local stores, stimulating the county’s economy. In a statement it said, “in this very unusual year, the Christmas season will continue to be celebrated among all, but with the awareness and responsibility that the current situation imposes, having taken the decision to redirect the funds destined to the Christmas lighting, which in previous years reached expenses between 50 thousand and 65 thousand euros, for a direct support of 102 thousand euros to residents and traders”
This amount will be introduced into the local economy through the approximately 1300 unemployed, registered at the Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP), residents of the municipality of Lagoa, who will receive at home a voucher to make purchases in the local commerce and through raffles to be held at the end of January, February, March, April and May. In all, the municipality will distribute around 52 thousand euros for the unemployed and raffle 50 thousand euros for the population, awarding prizes ranging from 1500 euros to the lowest, which will be 20 euros. The municipality is preparing the mechanisms to put this initiative into practice, which will involve “the delivery of a coupon for every 10 euros in purchases, in the adhering establishments, in a total of 10 coupons for each purchase, which will be placed in symbols and drawn at the end of each month. Winning citizens will receive vouchers to spend on local businesses”.
In 2020 Christmas spending is higher in the southern region
According to data from Observer Cetelem Natal 2020, the Portuguese intend to spend around 216 € during the Christmas period, 172 € less than the 388 € registered in the previous year. Most of this amount (55%) is expected to be spent on gifts. However, this percentage also decreased compared to the same period last year (minus 6 percentage points). For this category of spending, an average budget of € 119 is set – € 115 less than in 2019. After the gifts, the grocery store is the second largest expense, although like the gifts this category has also suffered a sharp decline, going from 41% of the budget in 2020 to only 36% in 2019, with a budget stipulated for this category of € 88.
Christmas decorations are the category that will gain the least from the Portuguese, as only 4% intend to spend money on seasonal decorations, with an average budget of 9 €. The highest values will be spent by the age groups between 35 and 54 years, while the lowest values are indicated by respondents between 18 and 24. It was also found that the Portuguese intend to spend an average of 64 € on gifts for children, 51 € less than in 2019. With the end of the year festivities, the Portuguese intend to spend an average of 85 € – a break of 90 €. It is in the South that the average value will be higher, around 306 €. Next, respondents from Greater Porto intend to spend € 248 and those from Greater Lisbon an average of € 188. At the end of the table are residents in the North and Center regions with an average spending intent of € 179 and € 172 respectively.
Fund supports companies in Albufeira with 1.2 million euros
The payment for the second phase of the Business Support Fund, promoted by the Albufeira Council, is completed. In total, 591 applications were accepted and support of almost 1.2 million euros was granted. With an initial allocation of 1 million euros, the Fund reached a total of 235 approved applications in its first phase, 131 from individual entrepreneurs and 104 from commercial companies, which translated into support of 470 thousand euros. According to the Albufeira Council, “individual entrepreneurs, commercial companies, cooperatives and professionals were the beneficiaries. The support resulted in the allocation of a two thousand euros non-refundable grant, for each of the approved applications », with« Albufeira being one of the pioneer municipalities in the implementation of this support instrument”.
However, “since the amount allocated to the Fund was not exhausted in the first phase, a second was opened which widened the range of recipients. At this stage, the number of approvals reached 356 applications, with 238 from individual entrepreneurs, 19 from self-employed professionals, 97 from commercial companies and 2 from cooperatives”. Adding the two phases of candidacies, the amount initially stipulated was exceeded by 182 thousand euros, which led the municipal executive “to extend the budget allocation in order to fully respond to all requests under conditions of approval”. This measure allowed a total value of 1,182,000 euros to be reached.