Algarve Situation Report Wednesday July 29th 2020
Covid-19:
67.4% of Algarvian patients with Covid-19 have recovered, according to the regional data to which South Information had access.
Thus, of the 841 cases that the Regional Health Authority reports in relation to yesterday, 27 July, there were already 567 people recovered, while the number of deaths has remained at 17 since the beginning of June. This means that the number of active cases across the region now stands at just 257.
The municipality that still has the most active cases is Albufeira (50), followed by Loulé and Faro, both with 46. Castro Marim, despite having had three confirmed cases, a long time ago that has no active case.
Vila do Bispo and Alcoutim remain the only two municipalities in the Algarve where, so far, no positive cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed.
In the past few days, an outbreak that affected 6 people of the same family was reported, two of whom worked in a restaurant in Armação de Pêra. The restaurant, as well as an ice cream parlour, were closed as a precaution, but the outbreak is already contained.
However, for some days now, the figures communicated by the Regional Health Authority to mayors and other officials in the Algarve are below the numbers announced by DGS. The first totals 841 (no new cases today), the second 853 (no new cases for two days).
Progressive recovery measures do not satisfy companies in the Algarve – hoteliers
The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA) considered today that the progressive recovery measures approved on Monday by the Government “do not satisfy” companies in the region’s tourism sector.
“These measures may, perhaps, adjust to the needs and requirements of other sectors of activity in the rest of the country, but they do not, of course, satisfy the situation in the Algarve,” said Elidérico Viegas.
The leader spoke after a meeting of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques, with businessmen and unions in the region, held at the headquarters of Turismo do Algarve, in Faro.
“The Secretary of State came to announce the measures that the Government approved for the country, not for the Algarve, nor for tourism. What was expected was that there could be positive discrimination measures for the region, much more affected than the rest of the country, given its dependence on a single sector of activity “, stressed the leader of AHETA.
Extraordinary support for the progressive resumption, which will be in effect between August and December, may be requested by companies with a break in revenue equal to or greater than 40% “as of the end of next week”, announced on Monday the Minister of Labor , Solidarity and Social Security.
The additional support for companies with a break in sales of 75% or more can only be requested in September, but will have retroactive effects to August, said the minister.
Extraordinary support for the progressive recovery was provided for in the Economic and Social Stabilization Program (PEES) but did not include new additional support for companies with a break in sales equal to or greater than 75%.
Albufeira – Beach safety reminder
The Albufeira Town Council (Algarve) launched a campaign on the municipality’s beaches, alerting bathers to risky behaviours, not only due to the covid-19 pandemic but also due to the instability of the cliffs, was announced today.
Under the motto ‘Albufeira safe beaches’, the awareness campaign calls on users of the beaches to adopt “protective measures and respect for the signs existing at the entrance to the beaches”, the municipality said in a statement.
Through information available in Portuguese and English, the rules for responsible use in the 25 bathing areas of the municipality and the duties of bathers are pointed out in actions promoted by the Municipal Civil Protection Service.
Started on June 6, the campaign will continue until September, with awareness actions reinforced on the beaches through a tent that provides information between 9:30 am and 11:30 am.
For the Mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, cited in the document, the objective is to alert vacationers “to the importance of a preventive attitude, calling attention to avoid behaviours that jeopardize the health and safety of all”.
According to the mayor, the municipality “did not spare efforts to ensure that the bathing season runs safely”, not only due to the pandemic caused by the covid-19, but also due to the danger of the cliffs falling.
The initiative aims to alert to the problem of cliff instability due to natural erosion, with the adoption of preventive measures, namely, when beach users seek shelter from the sun and wind at the base of the cliffs, whose risk of falling debris is permanent.
Beaches
Beachgoers complain about Non-Compliance with Rules
Users of Manta Rota beach have complained about non-compliance with rules to contain the covid-19 pandemic, but the Vila Real de Santo António City Council has ensured that the bathing areas of municipality “is obeyed as stipulated”.
Célia Santos frequents the Algarve beach and told the Lusa agency that, last Sunday, she was able to verify on the beach of Manta Rota that the beach was “crowded” and people were positioned “without taking into account any measure of contingency and social distancing”.
“The capacity of the beach is largely exceeded and there is no inspection of compliance with it. There is no social distance. There is no indication of the capacity of the beach, such as signs or flags”, criticized the user of that beach in the district of Faro.
The same source pointed out that he could also see on the beach access walkway “crowded people”, who “did not wear masks” and “did not respect social distance.
“The standards are not being monitored or respected. There is no intervention by the authorities. The enjoyment of these public spaces in the context of the covid-19 pandemic is an attack on public health”, also considered Célia Santos.
Carlos Sousa, who has been on vacation in the area for about a week and has been attending the Algarve beach, said that “the situation of non-compliance or greater proximity between people usually occurs”.