Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 18th August 2021
Pioneer serological study started in homes in Algarve and Alentejo
5200 people, including 2400 employees and 2800 users, from 62 nursing homes in the Algarve and Alentejo started this Tuesday, the 17th, to undergo the serological test, which will determine the «prevalence of positive antibodies, 8 months after the vaccination’ against Covid-19.
For 10 days, teams from the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC) will run institutions, «from Vila Real de Santo António to Vila do Bispo, in Algarve, and from Odemira to Portalegre, in Alentejo», to carry out these tests. The serological study is voluntary and free of charge. A little prick on the finger to collect the blood and that’s it.
The operation began yesterday, at the Sagres home of Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Vila do Bispo, with the presence of Minister Ana Mendes Godinho, responsible for the Ministry of Work, Solidarity and Social Security. Results will be presented in September.
Speaking to Sul Informação , Nuno Marques, president of ABC, explained that what will be done are tests «on a group of elderly people over 80 years old, who are the people who are in the homes, and, at the same time, the employees of these homes, younger’, only being included ‘people who have been fully vaccinated to date’.
The serological study, added that responsible, “will make the comparison of these two groups, since it is already known that the elderly always have a weaker immune system”, being “often excluded from scientific studies”, which leads to that there is “very little data on this population”.
In other words, this serological study will analyze the immunity of the most vulnerable elderly who have already been vaccinated and compare it with that of employees who received the vaccine at the same time.
Algarve tourism in Germany to captivate luxury tourists
During this week, from the 15th to the 18th of August, the Algarve Tourism Association (ATA) is participating in the Loop Summer 2021, the most recognized Luxury Travel Show exclusively aimed at markets such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, the event brings together the main agents in the sector dedicated to the luxury tourism segment, with the aim of promoting, over the three days, strategic business meetings and networking moments among the participants.
In a statement, the ATA informs that the promotion of the region among travellers looking for «quality, exclusivity and differentiating experiences» has been one of the bets of Turismo do Algarve, with a view to the sustainable development of the region as a tourist destination.
“We have been intensifying the effort to attract tourists from a medium/high segment, with purchasing power, who appreciate a more sustainable tourism and less sensitive to the price factor”, explains João Fernandes, president of Turismo do Algarve. “The presence at Loop Summer 2021, where we are participating for the first time, assumes, therefore, a strategic relevance, considering that it allows us to contact directly with travel agencies and tour operators specialized in this type of tourism and that work with the market Germany, the second most expressive foreign market for our region, after the United Kingdom,” he adds.
Seniors living alone safer with technology “made in Portimão”
Elderly people who live alone are now more protected and safer with technology “made in Portimão”. click2care tele-assistance system will be offered to 30 seniors from Portimão.
The Municipality of Portimão is proceeding with the free delivery of 30 tele-assistance devices, through the click2care system, to elderly people who were identified by the services of the Health and Citizenship Unit of the municipality because they live in a situation of isolation and without a support network, meager economic income, with this group being monitored in social housing, community centers and senior social centers in the municipality of Portimão and in the GAPI – Support Group for the Elderly.
According to Teresa Mendes, councillor with the responsibility for Social Action and Health at the Portimão Council, “the support that should be given to these people, who normally live alone at home, is essential due to the hectic life that family members have, that prevents the necessary support. Therefore, this tele-assistance system becomes a great asset in emergency situations, allowing them greater proximity and a feeling of security».
In the view of the local authority, who delivered some equipment in person, “it is imperative that our seniors can resort to quick help whenever something happens to them while they are alone, and for this we have established a partnership with the company Tecnologias Imaginadas, who grew up at StartUp Portimão»?
«The municipality of Portimão assumes in full the costs inherent to this very useful service for the 30 seniors covered in this first phase, having already signed a 24-month contract. We believe that the amount involved (13,702.80 euros) is by no means an expense, but an investment, because this back-up support provides the appropriate social response to a gap that was felt», stresses Teresa Mendes.