Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 3rd February
CHUA Arena can have an Intensive Care Unit if needed
There is still “no need”, but, “if necessary”, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will be created inside the CHUA Arena, in Portimão, guaranteed this Monday, February 1st, Ana Castro, chairman of the Board of Administration of the Centro Universitário do Algarve (CHUA).
Speaking to Sul Informação, the official said that, for now, “there is still the capacity to expand” hospital capacity, without having to resort to CHUA Arena.
According to data from 1st February, there were 33 patients admitted to the field hospital, with a total capacity of 100.
On his visit to the Algarve yesterday, the Assistant Secretary of State for Health made sure to highlight the “extraordinary upgrade” that CHUA Arena has been doing.
“We started with little more than a back-up structure for patients with Covid-19 with low oxygen flows, 2.3 liters per minute, and we have evolved into situations where high flow is possible, with level 2 patients being treated”, He told reporters.
António Lacerda Sales also alluded to the meeting he had with Ana Castro, where the chairman of the Board of Directors of CHUA assured him that, “as soon as it was necessary, there are certainly fans available to set up an UCI inside the Arena”.
This field hospital was initially set up to treat patients with less critical situations and has also served to receive people from other regions of the country.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2021/02/chua-arena-pode-ter-unidade-de-cuidados-intensivos-se-for-necessario/

Lagos PSP discovers restaurant that served lunch and dinner behind closed doors
The Public Security Police (PSP), this Monday detected a restaurant in Lagos, which was serving meals inside to several customers.
In a statement, the PSP states that the inspection took place, after several complaints by citizens who anonymously reported that there would be an establishment operating behind closed doors in the Atalaia area, “serving meals during the lunch period and dinner at groups of people who work in the city from other parts of the country “.
The police said that the establishment welcomed people through a back entrance. In the operation, PSP identified 10 customers, who were at the table for lunch. The same source found that “there would be an agreement between the establishment and some companies to provide meals at a more affordable price to their employees”.
As a result of the police action, the owner of the restaurant was charged for keeping the establishment operating outside the rules set out in article 2 al) J Dec-Law 28-b / 2020, as well as the customers who were inside it, for breach of the general duty of confinement at home.

Covid.19: Situation in Monchique worsens with 52 active cases
The Municipality of Monchique has seen its epidemiological situation worsen sharply in recent days, as a result of the outbreak that occurred at the Lar da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Monchique (SCMM).
In this Monday’s update, four more new cases of Covid-19 were registered in the parish of Monchique. Of these four cases, two are users of the SCMM Home and two more in the community. In the outbreak at Lar da Santa Casa alone, DGS confirmed 30 infected people, 26 users and 4 employees. The municipality registers 52 active cases.
According to the mayor Rui André, this Monday tests were carried out for the 5th and 6th grade classes at Escola EB 2,3 in Monchique and a wide range of education professionals and parents of students. The strategy aims to test the largest number of people and thus control possible chains of contagion.
It should be remembered that in the update this Monday, between 13th and 26th January, the Algarve had 7 counties at extreme risk: Castro Marim, Vila Real de Stº António, Albufeira, Loulé, Faro, Tavira and Olhão.
At very high risk, Lagos, Silves, Alcoutim, São Brás de Alportel, Portimão and Lagoa. At high risk the municipality of Vila do Bispo and at moderate risk, Aljezur and Monchique, the latter with the lowest incidence base in the region, however, with the new data both in the community and with the outbreak that occurred in the home of Santa Casa, the municipality will be at extreme risk in the next assessment.