Algarve Situation Report – Wednesday 6th January 2021
CHUA is receiving patients from Lisbon and Alentejo
Given the disrupted situation in many hospital units, the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) is receiving Covid patients from other areas of the country.
In a statement issued CHUA states that, at this stage, it has a reserve of “significant” capacity with regard to hospitalization and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) assigned to Covid-19.
According to the Board of Directors of CHUA, an increase in demand has been registered in the last few days, “which, thanks to the timely implementation of the contingency plan”, has allowed to receive users from hospitals in the areas of Central Lisbon and Alentejo.
Currently, CHUA is in phase 2 of the contingency plan for the response to covid-19, and the plan has the capacity to expand to phase 4. The Algarve First knows that in terms of infirmary the occupation in the CHUA round 65% and in the UCI the 53%.
On the first day of vaccination at the Faro and Portimão units, Horácio Guerreiro, CHUA’s clinical director, told our newspaper that the hospital centre has been working intensely on this pandemic issue, as it has always maintained its response capacity, “although the regional reality is relatively favourable, thanks to the cooperation of the population, local authorities and public health authorities that have allowed the infection to be controlled. As for the hospital, I can say that we have a very large reserve for the assistance of Covid cases, without prejudice to other needs”.
The clinically responsible person ensured that CHUA has the capacity to respond to any need arises, “except if it is an absolutely uncontrolled and catastrophic situation, but I can say that we are very far from exhausting our capabilities”, he assured.
Vilamoura International College Christmas Campaign raised a ton and a half of food
The Christmas Campaign of the International College of Vilamoura (CIV) managed to collect a ton and a half of food.
In addition to food, distributed by the Quarteira Social Refectory, Existir Association and Algarve Network for Families in Need, the community also collected clothes, shoes for children, women and men, books and toys, which were donated to the Quarteira Social Refectory, an institution which serves 160 cooked meals daily and provides hygiene services to individual people (baths, clothes and shoes) with social and financial problems.
This institution also supports 60 families each month with a basket of basic foods, similar to the Existir Association, which provides support to 20 families in the municipality of Loulé (in the areas of food, clothing, public baths and furniture) and who, with food received, according to its director Paulo Graça, allowed “to reinforce support to his community in a crisis and pandemic situation”.
Gunilla Zandin, a volunteer at Algarve Families in Need, reinforced the importance of this social support, distributed mainly by families in the municipalities of Loulé and Faro, but also by family nuclei in Albufeira, Carvoeiro, Lagoa and Lagos. In total, 200 families are supported.
Through the sale of raffles, whose draw will take place next Wednesday, January 6th, the CIV community maintained its support for the Big Hand Project, through which it sponsors five Mozambican children.
Mayor of Tavira suspends 2nd and 3rd cycle classes over concerns regarding increases in municipality
The increase in cases of Covid-19 in Tavira led the Regional Health Authority to suspend the 2nd and 3rd cycle classes and secondary education in the municipality, the Mayor of the city, Ana Paula Martins, confirmed to Lusa.
Speaking to Lusa, the mayor said she was “very concerned” about the “sudden” increase in cases registered in the municipality in the last week, which led the authorities to determine the suspension of classroom classes for the 2nd and 3rd cycles and secondary education of all school groups in the municipality.
In the statement in which it informed the municipality about the suspension of classes in these teaching cycles, which applies for a period of seven days starting today, the Algarve Regional Health Authority justified the measure with “the existence of 262 confirmed active cases of Covid-19, with a 14-day incidence rate greater than 960 cases / 100,000 inhabitants”.
This number of contagions leaves Tavira among the “extremely high risk” counties and the situation will be reassessed on January 10, added that official in the statement released by the municipality of Tavira on social networks.
“What I can say is that I see this increase with great concern, mainly because we are witnessing a virus – at least in comparison with what had happened here in the municipality – much more contagious, with a greater degree of contagion, and then also, this growth ”, said Ana Paula Martins to Lusa.