Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 7^th July 2021

 

João Fernandes says that despite being good news, the German decision does not have immediate effect.

The removal of Portugal from the German list that prevented the entry of travellers into the country without quarantine is “good news”, but tour operators will take time to recover the activity, considered today the President of Turismo do Algarve.

“Nevertheless, this is good news, it allows non-essential flights to be carried out from Germany and is exempt from quarantine for those who have completed vaccination, have immunity certificate, or who undergo a PCR or antigen test on their return” , said the President of the Algarve Tourism Region, João Fernandes, to Lusa agency.

In reaction to the decision announced on Monday by Germany to remove Portugal from the list of countries with a ban on entry into the country due to the high prevalence of the Delta strain of the Covid-19 virus, João Fernandes recalled that, before the imposition of these limitations on travel, there were “311 flights planned for July from Germany”, but warned that these numbers will not be reset immediately.

“It would correspond to more than 56,000 airplane seats. A large part of these operations were cancelled, tour operators and airlines were, with the announcement of the 25th, demobilizing their operations, and, therefore, it will be necessary to resume all this dynamic”, he argued.

João Fernandes stressed that the image of Portugal, after the announcement that imposed the restrictions, “has suffered a major setback” and now it is necessary to “see how it is possible to capture this demand again”, in the face of “great distrust from the consumers themselves in relation to decisions that are changed at every moment and that often leave travellers at their destination having to anticipate their return”.

“And this whole process, contrary to what would be expected with the digital certificate, is unfortunately hampering what would be an opening expected by everyone” in the regional tourism sector, he lamented.

João Fernandes said he hopes that “there will be a stabilization of the rules based on the [digital] certificate that was agreed by the Member States of the European Union” and that its use is already more normalized after the main summer months and in the months of greater demand from the German market to the Algarve.

MotoGP/Portugal: FIM President “very happy” with return to Algarve.

The President of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), the Portuguese Jorge Viegas, was “very happy” with the return of the MotoGP World Championship to Portugal, after a second race in the Algarve was announced today.

Speaking to Lusa agency, Jorge Viegas said that he is “very happy that MotoGP is once again visiting Portugal, demonstrating the confidence of the FIM and Dorna in the national organizational capacity”.

“In addition to being the penultimate in the World Cup, which could be decisive for the attribution of the titles, I am convinced that we will have the stands full to applaud Miguel Oliveira and all the other protagonists”, stressed Jorge Viegas.

The Portuguese who manage the destinations of world motorcycling also highlighted the fact that Portugal has, with this race, “12 races of the various FIM World Championships in Portugal, the next being the Resistance – 12 Hours of Estoril”.

Portugal will host a second MotoGP World Championship event from November 5th to 7th, after the Australian GP was cancelled, due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thus, the Portuguese race integrates, for the second time this year, and third in the last two, the calendar of the world championship in motorcycling speed.

This time it will be the penultimate round, before the end of the season, scheduled for Valencia (Spain) a week later.

In 2020, Miguel Oliveira (KTM) won the GP of Portugal, which took place for the first time at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. In 2021, in the race held on April 18th, victory was for Frenchman Fábio Quartararo (Yamaha), while Miguel Oliveira was 16th, after a fall suffered in the opening laps.

 

Algarve Situation Report Saturday 3rd July 2021

 

Hospitals in the Algarve with an increase in admissions among the youngest

Hospitals in the Algarve have 49 patients admitted to COVID-19 wards, 12 of which are in intensive care, with a trend towards an increase in admissions among the youngest.

Speaking to Lusa, the chairman of the board of directors of CHUA Ana Varges Gomes said that patients admitted to hospitals in Faro and Portimão are aged between 23 and 67 years old, “a younger age group than was verified in hospital admissions in previous years’.

“It is really a younger population that we have hospitalized and that does not have vaccination”, explained out Ana Varges Gomes, stressing that there are «a greater number of young patients hospitalized who are ill, who do not know if they will fully recover or if they will be left with sequelae”.

She attributes the increase in cases to non-compliance with the recommended health rules, due to the fact that people still think that the disease “only affects the elderly”, contrary to what is happening.

According to Ana Varges Gomes, the total number of admissions (49) in the two hospitals in the Algarve represents about 60% of the limit of 80 beds defined for the region, with no forecast for opening more beds.

«Right now we are in phase 2 of the contingency plan, which has four phases, and we do not plan to open more beds, because we still have 21 vacancies. However, we are monitoring the phases and we will open beds as needed», he said.

For her, the epidemiological situation in the Algarve “deserves some surveillance”, given the significant increase in cases of infections of the disease in recent weeks in younger age groups and given the forecast of an increase in population during the summer.

Loulé Council will be one of the safest in Europe to save lives

The project “Algarve Coração Seguro” was made official today in Quarteira, between the Algarve Medical Centre – ABC and the National Institute of Medical Emergency – INEM. This is a pilot project that aims to train people to be able to provide assistance to cardiac victims with defibrillators, with 1700 people already trained in the municipality of Loulé alone.

In addition to using the automatic external defibrillator – AED, these people also have knowledge of basic life support manoeuvres.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Secretary of State and Health, António Lacerda Sales, Luís Meira – chairman of the board of directors of INEM, IP, Vítor Aleixo – chairman of Loulé City Council, Nuno Marques – chairman of ABC, Telmo Pinto – President of the Parish Council of Quarteira, among other guests.

Essentially, the project exists to provide assistance to cardiac patients before the arrival of the means of assistance in coordination with CODU – Guidance Centre for Urgent Patients. At the moment, in the municipality of Loulé, there is a network with 61 operational defibrillators, with a total of 180 being expected to be acquired.

Another objective is to train around 3,000 people with this specific qualification. “If, with this, we make the ratios per 100,000 inhabitants, it can be said that this becomes the safest municipality, perhaps in European terms”, referred Nuno Marques do ABC.

The fourth edition of the cycle of “Cinema ao Ar Livre” in the parishes of the county is postponed indefinitely.

In a statement, the municipality states that following the weekly review on the level of incidence of covid.19 cases, in which the Municipality was considered to be at high risk, the new measures imposed by the DGS were adopted, which oblige to postpone the initiative, taking into account that its timetable is not compatible with the curfew (11:00 pm), one of the measures to be taken by high-risk municipalities.

The Municipality of Silves regrets the inconvenience caused, and recalls the importance of adopting safety steps in the fight against the pandemic by the entire community.

 

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.

 

Algarve Situation Report Saturday 26^th June 2021

 

Covid-19: Algarve is the region of the country with the highest transmissibility index – INSA

The Algarve region has the highest transmission index (Rt) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the country, with 1.3, while in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo it dropped to 1.11, according to data released today by the INSA.

At the national level, from the last June 14th to Sunday, there was a reduction of the Rt from 1.20 to 1.1, which was also registered in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo region, where it went from 1.26 to 1.11, advances the weekly report of the epidemic curve of the National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA),

For the INSA researchers, this result suggests “a slowdown in the increase in the number of new cases in this period of time, that is, the number of new cases keeps growing, but more slowly”.

On the other hand, in the Algarve region there is “a sharp increase” in the transmissibility index, having gone from 1.07 on May 27, 2021 to 1.4 on June 14 (0.33 in 19 days).

“From this date onwards, the Rt decreased to 1.3 to June 19, although it still remains at high values”, stresses the INSA

According to the researchers, the mean value of Rt for the days 16-20 June was 1.14, and its true value could be between 1.13 and 1.15 with a confidence of 95%.

The following R(t) values ​​were also estimated for the regions: 1.03 in the North region, 1.12 in the Center region, 1.17 in the LVT region, 1.08 in the Alentejo region, 1.34 in the Algarve region, 0.98 in the autonomous region of the Azores and 1.17 in the autonomous region of Madeira.

“All regions have an average rate of transmissibility (five days) above 1, with the exception of the Autonomous Region of the Azores”, the researchers say.

Portugal has an accumulated notification rate of 14 days between 120 and 239.9 per 100,000 inhabitants and a R(t) higher than 1, that is, a high notification rate with a growing trend, they add.

 

Covid.19: Owners of restaurants and other establishments in Albufeira are considering closing this weekend

Owners of restaurants and other establishments in Albufeira are considering closing this weekend, citing lack of profitability with the restriction of hours imposed to contain the covid-19 pandemic, sector businessmen told Lusa.

Albufeira is one of the three municipalities in the country with a very high risk level of incidence of covid-19, which means that, according to the measures announced on Thursday by the Government, this weekend non-essential trade and catering must close at 15:30.

“During the weekend, most establishments will remain closed, because it is not justified. Most of the people are on the beach, they leave the beach after a while, and they won’t be having lunch in a hurry on a terrace, it’s not feasible”, says Sérgio Brito, from the Albufeira Commercial Association.

Albufeira lives almost exclusively from tourism, concentrating half of the region’s hotel supply (approximately 50,000 beds), but the sector has never recovered since the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020, which is causing bankruptcies and redundancies, according to Sérgio Brito.

To Lusa, the businessman reports that some restaurants “are closing and laying off people”, a situation that has been going on since last year and that brings with it the prospect of “a tragedy, at an economic and social level”, putting Albufeira with seven thousand unemployed, when before they were no more than 500.

“Most of the companies started working very recently, about a month ago, and they hired people, created ‘stocks’ of food, made investments and now we are faced with this incomprehensible situation”, he laments.

Carlo Mealha, owner of several restaurants and nightlife establishments in Albufeira, also decided that he will not open the spaces this weekend, which would only “increase the loss”, since the probability of have customers.

“For us it doesn’t pay off at all. This is a decision that has been taken since yesterday [Thursday], from the moment we heard the news. There is no point in such a heavy restriction at the hourly level”, he says.

 

Covid-19: New Measures Have Huge Impact on Restaurants and Hotels

The Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Services of Portugal (AHRESP) said today that the latest measures announced by the government in the context of decontamination have “a huge impact” on catering and tourist accommodation and defended “universal, preferably non-refundable” support.

On Thursday, the Council of Ministers decided, among other measures, that the hours of restaurants and similar and of commerce will be reduced in Lisbon and Albufeira, having to close at 3:30 pm on weekends, joining the rules that already in force in Sesimbra, under the measures to combat the covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement, AHRESP – Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar of Portugal said today that the measures that were announced by the government «have a huge impact on catering and similar companies and tourist accommodation».

In this context, the association defended «simple and universal support, preferably in the form of non-repayable funds», referring that «current support is almost non-existent and the moratoriums only last until the end of the year».

«It is time to maintain but also to recover and improve support», insists AHRESP, which adds that it will soon present a set of measures that go in that direction.

The decision taken by the Council of Ministers to withdraw from the lack of confinement also implies, in the case of those three municipalities, Lisbon, Albufeira and Sesimbra, that supermarkets and other food retail outlets close at 7 pm on weekends.

During the week, restaurants, cafes and patisseries can be open until 22:30, with capacity rules determining a maximum of four people per group inside and six people per group on the terraces.