Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 30^th June 2021

 

Covid-19: Algarve with 32 active outbreaks and schools with the highest number of cases.

Faro, June 29, 2021 (Lusa) – Until Sunday, the Algarve recorded 32 active outbreaks of Covid-19, most of which originated in work, school and parties, and in schools where more cases were confirmed, a document indicates that the Lusa had access today.

According to the document from the regional health authorities, the schools had a total of eight active outbreaks, which allowed the identification of 88 cases of infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, most of which in the Padre Cabanita 2nd and 3rd cycle elementary school, in Loulé (29 cases), and at the Areal Gordo Basic School and Kindergarten, in Faro (21).

In the labour context, 10 active outbreaks were recorded, four of which in hotels, with a total of 50 confirmed cases of Covid-19 having been registered until Sunday in companies in Albufeira, Loulé, Portimão, Lagos, Olhão and Tavira.

The parties and social gatherings in the Algarve led to five outbreaks of Covid-19, with 51 infected, 10 of which in a social gathering on Ilha da Culatra, in Faro, and there were also outbreaks originating in meetings in restaurants in Loulé, Olhão and Lagos.

On Monday, more than 1,300 students from 52 classes in the five municipalities in the Algarve where classroom classes were suspended, were in isolation, according to the Algarve Health delegate, Ana Cristina Guerreiro, told Lusa.

The decision to switch to non-face-to-face teaching, until the end of the school year, in 1st and 2nd cycle schools in the municipalities of the Central Algarve – Faro, Loulé, Albufeira, Olhão and São Brás de Alportel – was announced in the Sunday afternoon, due to the epidemiological “severity of the situation”.

In a family context, four outbreaks were identified, with 27 infected, and in homes and residential structures for the elderly, one outbreak, in the Torre Natal home, in Faro, which accounted for 20 cases and one death, of a 92-year-old elderly woman.

At the level of federated sport there were two outbreaks, in the hockey team in Boliqueime (two cases) and in a basketball team in Olhão (five).

In day care centers, only one outbreak was identified, with two cases, in a nursery in Monte Gordo (Vila Real de Santo António). The 32 outbreaks had caused, until Sunday, one death and two hospitalizations.

Covid-19: Municipality of Loulé announces free testing to the population.

In order to detect new infections early and reverse the increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 in the municipality of Loulé, as of July 1, the City Council will support testing in private social solidarity institutions via subsidy and promote it with the population to carry out free tests.

In a statement, the municipality said that the testing would include all users of residential structures for the elderly and residential homes, home support service, day centers and temporary shelter, socio-occupational forum and center for occupational activities in the area of ​​disability intellectual, totalling 19 institutions.

Employees and collaborators of these institutions will also be tested, in the same way as what had happened before, that is, by sample: they will be divided into four groups, with one group testing per week, which will ensure the testing of the entirety, employees of all institutions at the end of each month, as well as weekly monitoring of the situation in all households.

On the other hand, the municipality will open the tests to the community in order to reach a greater number of people screened. Thus, the municipality makes available to resident citizens the possibility of carrying out, free of charge, an antigen test. To do so, simply register on the platform and wait for the appointment. Each citizen will be able to perform only one test per month. If the result is positive for Covid-19, the person should contact the SNS24 Hotline or the entity that provides the testing service so that the appropriate PCR test can be performed.

The same statement also said that, at a time when Loulé is already on the red line corresponding to municipalities at high risk of infection (with more than 120 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Mayor Vítor Aleixo stresses the importance of vaccination and testing to face this epidemiological situation, as well as the resumption of economic activity. “We are concerned about the current moment that requires urgent and effective measures so that we can return to normality in our daily lives. Only by identifying the cases can they break the transmission chains, which becomes more relevant at a time when more transmissible strains of the virus are circulating”, stresses the same person in charge.

Albufeira: GNR identifies 19 people in yet another illegal party.

Event took place on the public road.

The Albufeira GNR ended, on Sunday, June 27, a party that took place on the public highway “in breach of the measures in force to contain the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The facts took place during a patrol action. The Guard’s military verified “that a party was taking place on the public road, which was attended by 19 people”.

Following the action, an order was given to end the party, with several items being seized, such as a sound mixer, a column, a laptop computer and headphones.

Following the police investigations, all those present at the party were identified, and a notice was drawn up for the spread of disease, and the facts were sent to the Court of Albufeira.

The action was reinforced by the Intervention and Public Order Group (GIOP) of the Intervention Unit (UI).

This was not, moreover, the only party in Albufeira where the GNR had to act over the weekend: in a house, 43 people were accused for carrying out the illegal gathering.