Situation Report Algarve | Safe Communities Portugal

Algarve Situation Report Saturday 30th January 2021
Covid 19 situation
Yesterday in the Algarve there are over 327 confirmed cases, for a total of 16,356. There are another ten deaths, now totalling 193.
Gambelas Private Hospital will have a testing post for Covid-19
As of next Monday, February 1st, the HPA Group, in partnership with Unilabs, will provide another testing station for Covid-19 this time at the Hospital Particular de Gambelas, in Faro.
This fixed post, with access by foot (walk-thru) will operate daily, from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. According to a statement from the Group, the tests may be carried out by RT-PCR (swab) or Antigen (IgG and IgM antibodies through blood analysis), with the results available between 24H to 48H and about 2H after testing (within opening hours).
It also warns that the IgG and IgM Antigen serological tests should not be performed in the acute phase of the infection, as they may give a false negative result.
Anyone wishing to opt for the drive-thru system, not needing to leave their vehicle to perform the test, can do it in Portimão at the Parque de Feiras e Exposições, also from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00.
Both methods always require prior booking through the call centers (282 420 400; 222 401 401) or the website (https://www.unilabs.pt/marcacoes-covid-19#).
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/hospital-particular-de-gambelas-vai-ter-posto-de-testagem-a-covid19/36529-1

Covid-19: Loulé Hospital continues to provide face-to-face consultations in all medical specialties
The Loulé Hospital reported that even in times of pandemic and general confinement, it continues to ensure that face-to-face consultations are held in all medical specialties, and its medical staff is currently available to assist users in accordance with health hygiene and safety rules, required by health authorities.
In a statement, the hospital administration says that with the start of the pandemic, it reorganized services “in order to guarantee a safe and properly hygienic functioning and service model for the public, in line with the best international practices”.
In the same document he stressed that the postponement of consultations, surgeries, treatments and exams “has the consequence of worsening the disease, which can and should be avoided, for the sake of public health”, and that “regardless of the current situation that the world faces, it remains imperative to treat people who suffer from other pathologies, under pain of their health condition getting complicated “, he concluded.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/covid19-hospital-de-loule-continua-a-assegurar-consultas-presenciais-em-todas-as-especialidades-medicas/36531-1

Loulé provides psychological support for students and parents
With schools closed and most of the families in confinement in their homes, the Loulé City Council promotes access to Line Solidarity Education.
This telephone line, accessible by contacting 966 951 913, operates from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and is intended for all students who attend school groups in the municipality of Loulé, constituting a psychological counselling service for young people and guardians.
It also intends to combat misinformation about the new coronavirus and to mitigate feelings of guilt, fear, anxiety, as well as the social impact of the pandemic. It also has a study support component, namely access to photocopies, prints and other study documents for students who lack these means.
It should be noted that this initiative is an integrated service and provided by the School Psychology Support Program (PAPE), with the involvement of psychologists who provide psychological and psycho-pedagogical support to students in schools.
“Based on the premise that the school is a safe, welcoming space that promotes development and physical and mental health, the psychological dimension is essential at this particularly difficult time for the whole community”, stress the city officials.

Algarve Situation Report Saturday 23rd January 2021

Cases of schoolchildren in the Algarve almost double in less than a month – authorities say
The number of school-age children in the Algarve infected with the new coronavirus has almost doubled since Christmas, compared to the previous nine months, said the regional health delegate today.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic and until Christmas, we had 872 cases in school children up to 16 years old. And then, since Christmas and up to two days ago, we had 818. Therefore, in a much shorter period a number almost equivalent “, said Ana Cristina Guerreiro.
The official, who was speaking at the usual press conference promoted by the District Civil Protection Commission of Faro, clarified that this increase, caused by family transmissions, is in line with the whole country.
“Since the beginning of the school season, many cases have arisen, which came from family transmission. And the epidemiological investigation caused many of the classes to go home in prophylactic isolation. This caused, in the whole country, a very large number of cases at home and a high number of cases that had not existed before; such a large number of school children with a positive test “, he added.
According to the regional health delegate, in the Algarve, which had an average of 350 to 400 daily cases in the last ten days, the “moment is complicated and demanding, just as in all regions in the country”.
The “main concerns” of regional health authorities are related to nursing homes – there are more than 100 in the region, both legal and illegal – and to long-term care units.
“There are 12 institutions [nursing homes], at this moment, with outbreaks”, with a total of 421 cases, between residents and employees, revealed Ana Cristina Guerreiro.
Regarding testing capacity, the president of the Regional Health Administration (ARS) of the Algarve, Paulo Morgado, stressed that the region is above the national average, currently around two thousand daily tests – seven times more than in the first wave, in March (about 300 a day).
“It is a considerable increase. We are in fact testing and testing a lot. I would even say, in percentage terms, above what is the national average, in terms of testing per 100 thousand inhabitants. We are testing a lot in the region and it is an aspect about which I wanted to reassure the Algarvians, passing on this message “, he stressed.
As for vaccination, 2,000 health professionals have already been vaccinated, in addition to 2,000 home users and integrated long-term care units in the region.
“In the eastern counties, this process is finished and is now taking place in the central and western Algarve counties, continuing over the next few days. It is flowing smoothly, without serious side effects of the vaccine, without complications”, underlined the president of ARS, Algarve.
The official also stressed that the line of psychological support provided by health centres in the Algarve region is helping a total of 263 people.
“There has been an increase in requests in recent weeks. It is an important service, because the pandemic has psychological consequences. They are there, there are those, in the population and professionals, who have been under great pressure in recent months,” said Paulo Morgado.

Covid.19: More personal protection material on the way to the Algarve
The District Civil Protection Commission of the Algarve reported that the municipality of Olhão, through its Municipal Civil Protection Service, the fire brigade, and the company TPO – Transportes e Logística, are launching a logistical operation for the transport of protective equipment Individual, (EPI’s) from the Military Laboratory of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products, in Lisbon, to the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve.
The operation involves 3 semi-trailers and 8 firefighters, with the support of the company TPO – Transportes e Logística, which provided two containers.
The goods were loaded this morning in Lisbon, and are expected to arrive at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve this afternoon.
PPE’s will later be distributed throughout the region.

VRSA Municipality closes walkways, playgrounds and sports equipment
The municipality of VRSA prohibited the access walkways to the municipality’s beaches, in order to avoid the crowding of people in public spaces in order to stop the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement issued this Friday, the municipality informs that it has also determined the ban on the use of garden benches, playgrounds and public equipment for sports.
In the case of walkways, access was restricted at the entrances, through the placement of signs and stalls, which will also imply a ban on movement in these structures. In the remaining equipment, signs and boundary tape were placed.
Only owners and employees of restaurants located in these areas or customers who need to go to said commercial establishments can access the walkways, in strict compliance with the applicable legal regulations, namely for the collection of meals in restaurants that are operating in take away regime.
The municipality recalls that this measure follows the provisions of Article 35-A of Decree No. 3-A / 2021, of January 14th, in its most recent version, as well as the recommendations made by the Government of the Republic regarding the closure of public spaces due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19: CHUA or ABC who will ask for the refund of the 30 broken ventilators?
The administration of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) told Lusa that it is up to the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC) to request the reimbursement of the 30 broken ventilators, but this entity discards responsibilities and refers the process to CHUA.
The devices were purchased by ABC in April 2020, with money donated by the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), but they did not pass the tests carried out by the Hospital Common Use Services (SUCH), with the mayors claiming a refund of 1.3 million euros.
“ABC is 50% CHUA and 50% from the University of Algarve, two respected public entities and knowing that there was a damage, in which he interfered in that damage, he just has to resolve the matter and quickly” said Lusa Paulo Neves, executive member of the CHUA board of directors.
The official defends that “whoever negotiated, knows the manufacturer, the intermediary and paid them”, and they should “execute the guarantees if what they bought is deficient”.
“I do not see how we, who do not have the invoice, who do not know the manufacturer or the intermediary, are going to pursue those who did not pay, it is meaningless”, he maintained.
ABC’s president, Nuno Marques, has another position, stating that CHUA should request the refund since it’s “the legitimate owner of the equipment”, claiming that “there cannot be another entity asking for a refund” of devices from which is owner.
“We are not the owner, we have no legal standing to interfere in the process”, he defended
The official revealed that he was unaware of any decision on a refund request and added that the invoice was issued in the name of ABC but “is in CHUA” since the donation and “as soon as any equipment is donated, the other becomes the owner”.
Nuno Marques stressed that after ABC had “made available to support” and send the supplier’s contacts to CHUA and only learned that the company’s technicians came to Portugal and worked on the ventilators, but from then on he does not know “what the evolution of the process”.
As a financing entity, AMAL revealed to Lusa that, in an analysis with CHUA and ABC, “they understood that one should ask for a refund of the money”, advancing its president that “a commission will be created with one member of each entity”. “I already talked to them and they know about our position,” said António Pina.

Safe Communities Comment
A disturbing situation as 30 ventilators is a large number which may well be needed with the large vast increases we are seeing in the Algarve at present.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/covid-19-chua-ou-abc-quem-vai-pedir-o-reembolso-dos-30-ventiladores-avariados-/36409-1

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 20th January 2021

Covid-19: Outbreak in the GNR of Albufeira with 10 infected soldiers

Ten military personnel belonging to the GNR of Albufeira Territorial Sub-Detachment, have Covid-19.

The news released by CMTV confirms that two of the infected professionals belong to the Criminal Investigation Nucleus and for the four of them are part of the territorial post of Olhos de Água.

The same source says that the majority of the military has symptoms of the disease, namely “loss of taste and smell”. At the moment there are more than 30 professionals performing insolation at home.

It is known that more tests are being carried out in order to understand the scale of the outbreak

Municipality of Silves articulated a strong response in combating Covid-19

The municipality of Silves, in conjunction with the Delegate of Health and other entities, reported having created conditions for rapid testing of a large number of people, if necessary, allowing to mitigate the Covid-19 disease in the municipality.

In this context, the municipality points out in a statement that within the scope of the Civil Protection Subcommittee for exclusive monitoring of Covid, in addition to creating logistical support and adequate conditions for testing a large number of people, it has been monitoring cases that test positive.

The council also highlights the provision of social and psychological support, the maintenance of municipal transport to support the community, support for the creation of the screening centre for Covid, the availability of FISSUL for the installation of the test centre and the activation of the Emergency Fund Social.

The specific case of testing about 250 students, which took place on January 16th, at EB2 3 Dr. António da Costa Contreiras School, in Armação de Pêra, was one of these measures, resulting in the identification of five students with positive results and two students with inconclusive results.

Deliveries will be made by Rotáxi.
The municipality of Faro has announced the creation of a home delivery service for meals and food as a way to support the local economy during the period of confinement decreed by the government.

The City Council will fully support the deliveries, returning to a measure that had been triggered at the end of November (when the mandatory curfew was decreed, preventing the restoration and other food establishments in the municipality from exercising its normal activity for the purposes of week).

The activation of this service has immediate effects and must be arranged directly between the establishments and the delivery service provider, in this case, Rotáxi.

All catering and food products establishments that can continue to operate in accordance with the measures implemented by the government (Decree 3-A / 2021) can benefit from this service, with the service being operated by participating merchants and not by customers.

More details

Algarve Situation Report Saturday 16th January 2021

Covid-19
In the Algarve there are more than 328 confirmed cases since Tuesday bringing the total of 11,710 since the start of the pandemic. There are 10 more deaths, the highest daily total, bringing the total to 111.

New Covid-19 strain detected in Tavira and Faro
The new strain of Covid-19, originating in the South of England, and which has a greater transmissibility, was detected in the municipalities of Faro and Tavira.
The South Information found that the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge detected the new variant of Covid-19 in three samples collected in the municipality of Faro and one in the municipality of Tavira.
Two of the samples from the municipality of Faro were collected on the 21st of December and another on the 22nd.

The testing in the municipality of Tavira took place on December 20, according to the data consulted by our newspaper.
Last Friday, at the press conference to update the epidemiological situation in the Algarve , Ana Cristina Guerreiro, regional health delegate, revealed that, in view of the «rapid and large» increase in cases in the municipality of Tavira, the authorities suspected the presence of the new strain of the virus in the municipality, adding that samples had been sent to INSA.

To clarify doubts, samples from the municipality of Tavira followed to INSA and confirmation has now arrived, after that institute released, last Tuesday, a new update on the genetic analysis of the new coronavirus. In addition to Tavira, the new strain is also present in Faro.
Paulo Morgado, president of ARS Algarve, contacted by Sul Informação , stressed that the emergence of the new strain in the Algarve “was something that was expected, given that it has a greater ease of propagation” and that there is in the region “an Airport and a very large English community”.
https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2021/01/nova-estirpe-da-covid-19-detetada-em-tavira-e-faro/

In general confinement Albufeira municipality extends free take-away service

Following the new general confinement, in effect since midnight this Friday, and the general duty to remain at home, except for authorized trips, the municipality of Albufeira decided to extend support to the take-away service, under the Program “Present Municipality – Vale Restauração”. The service will operate daily, starting tomorrow (Saturday), January 16, and may accompany any renewals of the State of Emergency.
In a note issued to the media, the municipality speaks of a “very simple” process that can be used by all people, regardless of the area of the municipality where they are located.
The first thing to do is consult the list of participating establishments at: https://www.cm-albufeira.pt/content/vale-restauracao , choose the restaurant or similar, check if the service is available, call and make yours order. You must leave your name, contact and postal address, agreeing the payment method. Then, the establishment from which the meal was ordered, should contact Albucoop on 289 58 32 30, which will designate the nearest transport to arrange delivery. Upon delivery, there will be no payment. The service will operate in compliance with the government’s opening hours. The service operates using the “Bolsa de Quilómetros” recently filed with Albucoop – Cooperativa de Rádio Táxis de Albufeira and is valid for all orders at participating establishments, during all days during the mandatory confinement period.

Lagoa among the safest tourist destinations in Europe

European Best Destinations, an organization based in Brussels, which aims to promote culture and tourism in Europe, recently launched the list of the safest European destinations to visit in pandemic times, taking into account respect for current health conditions and restrictions. Lagoa is one of the four Portuguese destinations that punctuate the list of thirteen suggestions in Europe.

In a statement, the municipality points out that among the criteria on which European Best Destinations was based to choose the destinations announced, is the number of active cases of Covid-19 per 100 thousand inhabitants, the number of deaths, the sanitary measures adopted, the recommendations from local authorities to tourists in hotels, local accommodations, shops and restaurants, and average health standards.
In addition to Lagoa, Alentejo, the Azores and Madeira are the other Portuguese destinations considered among the safest in Europe. The list also includes Monte-Carlo, in Monaco; Martinique, in the Lesser Antilles; Tahiti, French Polynesia; Asos, Corfu, Kokkari, Meteora, Ikaria and Cavtat, in Greece, said the municipality.

In the text published by European Best Destinations, which justifies the inclusion of Lagoa in the group of safer tourist destinations, it can be read: “Lagoa implemented measures from an early start to protect the local population and reduce the spread of Covid-19. Bringing together some of the most beautiful jewels in the Algarve such as the beaches of Cova Redonda or Praia Nova and its famous chapel, Praia da Marinha, the villages of Carvoeiro, Ferragudo, Porches (…) Lagoa is probably one of the most beautiful and safe destinations”

Covid.19: JSD Loulé proposes measures to support companies and families in the municipality

The Social Democratic Youth of Loulé considers that in this time of pandemic, local commerce and entrepreneurs “have been left behind despite being the backbone and the engine of the local economy”.
In a statement, JSD Loulé confirms that it has sent today, to the Mayor of Loulé and to the Mayor of the Municipal Assembly, a proposal with measures to support companies and families.
The creation of a fund to support local companies; the exemption from payment of sanitation fees for waste water and urban waste in water billing for families and companies and the exemption from paying parking meters in areas surrounding traditional / local commerce, are measures contained in the proposal issued, as made known.