Portugal Situation Report Saturday 17Th July 2021
Introduction
Good morning – We start today by extending our condolences to the families and friends of those who died in the floods in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as other countries. This is a tragedy beyond all proportions, in terms of deaths, injuries and widespread destruction.
There are many in the community in Portugal who have friends and relatives in the affected area, and are undoubtedly worried over the situation.
Our coverage of this, which we started around 0700 hrs on Thursday. I thank “Deutsche in Portugal” Facebook group for kindly sharing our post within the German community here and the vast majority of our followers, who have found such information useful and shared it accordingly – thank you.
However, we received one or two comments, asking “what has this has to do with Portugal and why is Safe Communities covering this?”
Let me explain. Safe Communities Portugal has and will always report on safety and security matters that affect the large diverse community we support in Portugal and this means a multi-national approach. We have many followers of many different nationalities, and we try our best to serve those communities here, through for instance our overseas reports, as well as reporting on major catastrophes overseas, where there is a significant local interest and concern.
It is important to distinguish between just reporting the news which the media do, and the role of Safe Communities, which is to provide assistance through identifying and promoting official enquiry services such as for missing persons, various government warnings, travel that may be affected and of course, answering your enquiries where we can. This has been part of our remit for some years in our capacity as an official Civil Protection Volunteer Organisation. We have undertaken these services during major catastrophes in Portugal of course, including the fires of 2017 and Monchique fire of 2018.
In crisis situations, debate on Facebook, which is not focused on the facts can create unnecessary, unrelated and long threads. This has a negative impact and makes it more difficult for people to find factual information and answers to questions. In critical situations such delays can even place lives at risk. Where such comments detract from the main topic, be it a health crisis or major fire for instance, we will delete these in the interests of the majority and in order to achieve our mission. The “about us” section on our Facebook page is very clear on this subject.
If anyone finds this part of what we do not to their liking, then rather than spend a lot of time criticising which then means we have to answer the issue in question, which takes up time and detracts from our important work, then please feel free to use another Facebook community that is more in keeping with their views.
Some good – news. Yesterday mainland Portugal surpassed the mark of 10 million doses of vaccines against Covid-19 administered to the population, of which about six million correspond to first doses and about four million to people with the complete vaccination schedule.
We should all be grateful for as this is by far the main weapon in our arsenal to combat Covid 19 in the long run. We are trying our best in liaison with government to resolve the issue concerning vaccinations for those without a utente number and will update as soon as there is progress.
With the heat increasing across the country it is more important than ever to push home the fact that rural fires are a part of Portuguese life and we should all be aware of their impact. The temperatures are likely to increase further over the next few days and vegetation will become dryer. It is important that those of you living in rural areas, especially in high risk areas are aware of action to take in the event of a fire. I cannot stress enough the importance of having an action plan beforehand because trying to decide at the time what to do without a plan will be too late. Fires can spread very quickly with great intensity. I will be discussing this on KissFm tomorrow Sunday 18th July at 0915 hrs.
Please have a restful and Safe weekend
Headlines
Portugal has already administered 10 million doses of vaccines
Mainland Portugal surpassed the mark of 10 million doses of vaccines against Covid-19 administered to the population, of which about six million correspond to first doses and about four million to people with the complete vaccination schedule.
At this moment, about 95% of the population over 50 years living on the continent already has a dose of the vaccine administered and 85% has completed vaccination. It should also be noted that, of the adult population residing on the continent, 74% already have a dose of the vaccine and 55% have the complete vaccination schedule.
The Secretary of State for Health, Diogo Serras Lopes, underlined the joint effort that has been developed to achieve this goal: «We thank everyone involved in this vaccination process – health professionals, health entities, the armed forces, the security forces, and local authorities, among many others – the enormous spirit of commitment and dialogue that has been demonstrated so that our main objective, outlined since the beginning, continues to be achieved: that each vaccine, delivered in Portugal, arrives , as soon as possible, to the people”.
Covid-19: Centre for Disease Control anticipates strong increase in the number of cases in the coming weeks in the Union
Stockholm, 16 Jul 2021 (Lusa) – The number of covid-19 cases is expected to increase sharply in the coming weeks in the European Union (EU) due to the Delta variant and the widespread relief of restriction measures, announced today the European Centre for Control of Diseases (ECDC).
According to projections released today, there may be almost five times more new cases of infection by August 1st, with an estimated incidence of over 420 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the week ending August 1st in relation to the territory of the EU, as well as Norway and Iceland. Last week, the incidence was less than 90 cases per 100,000 population.
For the following week, between August 2nd and August 8th, which represents the longest projection of the ECDC, the European organization estimates a new rise in this indicator, then rising to around 620 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Although these projections remain epidemiological scenarios, this level of infection is in line with what was observed during the peaks of autumn 2020 and in April 2021, according to data from the EU agency. However, the number of hospitalizations and deaths is likely to grow more slowly due to the vaccination campaign at the community level.
Currently, the trend is upward in two-thirds of the 30 countries monitored by ECDC, “and in the most affected countries, the largest increases in cases and the highest levels of infection are in the 15-24 age group, with limited increases ” in the over 65 age group.
Covid-19 Incidence and transmission rates published 16th July
The national incidence rate rose from 336.3 to 355.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and on the continent from 346.5 to 366.7 cases, in the figures published today.
The national R(t) decreases from 1.15 to 1.12 and for the mainland from 1.15 to 1.13.
At municipal level for incidence rates per 100,000in the 14 day up to 14th July the highest municipalities were: Albufeira 1291, Loulé 1176, Portimão 941, Lagos 912, Sines 897 and Faro 888.
As can be seen five of the six highest municipalities were in the Algarve. All municipalities in the region showed an increase compared to last week
Covid-19
DGS Covid-19 Report published 16th July 2021
Confirmed Cases: 923,747 (+ 3547 / + 0.39 %)
Number of admitted: 778 (+ 4 / + 0.52 %)
Number of ICU admitted: 171 (-3 /-1.72 %)
Deaths: 17,194 (+ 7 / + 0.04 %)
Recovered: 857,108 (+ 2571 / + 0.30 %)
Active cases: 49,445 (+969/ +1.9%)
Safe Communities comparisons/trends show that deaths were higher than yesterday and above last week’s daily average of hour; new daily cases were similar to Thursday and third highest since 10th February; of these 41.6% were in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo same percentage to average of last week. In hospital there was a small increase with the highest total since 19th March 2021 and in ICU a small decrease but still the second highest total since 19th March 2021. Active cases again increased with the highest total since 11th March 2021. In the Algarve there were over 300 news cases.
Health
Lisbon “maybe already at the peak” of the fourth wave, says Temido
Lisbon “maybe is already at the peak” of the fourth wave, admitted the Minister of Health.
On a visit to the vaccination centre in Oeiras, this Friday, Marta Temido admitted the hypothesis that Lisbon is already going through the peak of a fourth wave, acknowledging, however, that more data are needed and praising the vaccination efforts.
“Perhaps we are at the peak of the fourth wave in Lisbon. The professionals have been a tireless workforce in this vaccination campaign. At the moment we are registering well over 120 thousand doses per day and in this centre there have been three thousand doses per day , in recent days. This involves many manoeuvres, many small actions, so that everyone can be vaccinated,” he explained.
“One of the things we know about this pandemic is that only after we pass the peak can we say that we have already been there”, stressed the official, adding that it is necessary to continue to “bet on basic precautionary measures, which are not very demanding ” face what they allow.
About the open letter written by health professionals calling for no return to confinement, the minister assured that Portugal already has a set of measures adapted to the situation: “What this letter tells us is that maybe we can manage to control the numbers maintaining the measures that we are currently practicing.”
Covid-19: Intensive care with 72% of intensive care beds occupied
Lisbon, July 16, 2021 (Lusa) – On Wednesday, 72% of the 245 intensive care beds for patients with covid-19 were occupied by mainland Portugal, when, in the previous week, this indicator was at 56%, the Directorate announced today. General of Health (DGS).
“The daily number of covid-19 cases admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) on the continent showed an increasing trend, corresponding to 72% of the defined critical value of 245 occupied beds”, indicates the report of the “red lines” of the pandemic DGS and the National Institute Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA).
According to this risk analysis, on Wednesday, 174 patients were admitted to intensive care, 38 more than on the previous Wednesday.
“The maximum recommended occupancy for covid-19 patients in Intensive Care Units by region is being updated and will be presented next week”, the report also states.
The “red lines” of control of the pandemic established by several experts predicted 245 beds as the critical value in the set of hospitals in mainland Portugal, pointing to a regional distribution of 85 beds in the North, 56 in the Centre, 84 in Lisbon and Vale the Tagus, 10 in the Alentejo and 10 in the Algarve.
The document that established these “red lines” stressed, however, that the integrated management of the National Health Service’s capacity presupposes a network response, which means, in intensive care medicine, that regional needs can be met with the response of others regions with greater capacity.
The report released today also mentions that the age group with the highest number of cases of covid-19 in the ICU corresponds to people between 40 and 59 years old, representing 82 patients out of a total of 174 hospitalized in these units.
Covid-19: Doctors and pharmacists speak out against containment measures
Lisbon, July 16, 2021 (Lusa) – Doctors and pharmacists spoke out in an open letter, released today, against the taking of “extraordinary containment measures” to combat the pandemic, warning that they produce “more serious” effects for society than the covid-19.
In the letter, released by some media, the 20 signatories portray the current situation in the country, stating that in the last 14 days (until July 8th), the covid-19 mortality rate was 0.03 per 100,000 population, against a mortality rate from other diseases and causes of death of 2.7 per 100,000.
“The average number of patients hospitalized for covid-19 was 528.7, in a total of about 21 thousand NHS beds, of which 17,700 were dedicated to covid-19”, underline the signatories, among which are the President of the Order of Pharmacists, Ana Paula Martins, pathologist Germano de Sousa, public health physician Jorge Torgal.
They further note that the incidence of positive tests was 254.8/100,000, “but the true incidence of covid-19 is unknown”, and that the “incidence” of infection among those who completed the vaccination plan is 0.01 %.
In light of this situation, the subscribers state that “it is not reasonable to combat the current situation – no longer pandemic, but endemic – by resorting to ‘sanitary’ measures, the effectiveness of which has been called into question by several prestigious researchers”.
They also consider that these measures produce “greater effects on society and the common good than the disease itself” and that some of them “may have contributed to the increase in the circulation of the virus”.
“The risk of dying from a disease other than covid-19 is actually increasing in Portugal”, they say.
Portuguese back to the altar. Marriages increase 88%
The postponement of wedding celebrations was one of the consequences of the pandemic, but it is now on a growing trend.
According to data released this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in May there were 2,602 celebrations, which represents an increase of 88.4% from April to May.
Deaths, on the other hand, follow an inverse trend and are falling. In June, 8,116 deaths were registered, a number lower than in May (-493). Also compared to the same period of the previous year, there is a decrease of 5.2% (-448).
Only related to Covid-19, 76 deaths were identified in the last month, representing 0.9% of total deaths in June.
Live births also continue to decline, which has been happening for a year, since July 2020.
In April and May, respectively, 6,212 and 6 629 live births were registered, which means a decrease of 10.7% (-742) and 8.4% (-611), compared to the same period in 2020.
In April and May 2021, the natural balance was, respectively, minus 2,217 and minus 1,972, which compares with balances of minus 3,487 and minus 2,361 in the same periods of 2020.