Algarve Situation Report, Saturday 27th February 2021
The number of hospitalisations in Algarve hospitals, resulting from Covid-19, decreased over the week of 16th to 19th February, according to data from the Regional Health Authority, which has just been released by the District Civil Protection Commission.
There were 99 patients hospitalized in the Algarve a week ago, with regional data indicating that at 00:01 on this Friday, the 26th, there were 58 hospitalizations, that is, 41 less.
There was also a decrease in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (there are now 16, less 2 than a week ago), and ventilated (8, that is, less 4).
In the last eight days, there was also a slowdown in the addition of new infections, since, in this timeframe, there were 331 more cases across the Algarve region, while in the previous week there had been another 456 cases.
As for deaths, there are 13 more to regret since the 19th. Faro was the municipality where, during this last week, there were more deaths by Covid-19 (5), while there were still 2 in Lagos, Albufeira and Loulé, and 1 in Olhão and São Brás de Alportel. The good news is that, this Friday, there was no death in the Algarve due to the pandemic.
The municipality of Aljezur was the only one where no new infection or death was reported.
For the new cases of the week, the municipality that contributed most was Portimão (+56), followed by Faro (+47), Loulé (+44), Olhão (+35), Vila Real de Santo António (+26), Silves (+23), Lagoa (+20), Tavira (+18); Lagos (+12), Monchique (+6), Castro Marim (+5), Vila do Bispo (+4), São Brás de Alportel (+3), and Alcoutim (+1).

Loulé informs companies and workers about support for the economy
The Municipality of Loulé is organizing an information and clarification session on the measures to support the economy in force in this period of confinement and crisis, aimed at entrepreneurs and workers.
The session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2nd, at 17:00.
This is another online initiative promoted by the Municipality of Loulé, with the involvement of IAPMEI, IEFP and Social Security, broadcast live on the municipality’s Facebook page.
The participation of some associations of businessmen in the municipality is foreseen and the general public will also be able to send questions later to the various organizations to clarify any doubts that may arise.

Celebrations planned in 2022 to mark arrival of railway line in Lagos
The Lagos Municipal Assembly unanimously approved a proposal for the commemoration of the centenary of the train’s arrival in Lagos – 1922-2022.
The proposal was approved at the first regular meeting in February / 2021, held on February 22nd.
Thus, following the decision, a Municipal Commission will be created for the Commemorations of the Centenary of the Arrival of the Train to Lagos, with the participation of the Municipality of Lagos and the Parish Councils of the municipality, together with the Permanent Commission of the Municipal Assembly.
There will soon be a first meeting to establish the calendar and schedule for the celebrations.
Lagos has a heritage attached to the National Railway Museum that rusts away.
A carriage and steam locomotives from the end of the 19th century are among the assets of the Núcleo Ferroviário de Lagos that could be of interest to the city and the region, and which have remained without an exhibition solution for years.
In 2022, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first train in Lagos and the festivities that accompanied the inauguration of the Portimão-Lagos railway branch that completed the Algarve Line.

Algarve Situation Report, Wednesday 24th February
Covid-19: From 3rd to 16th February, only one municipality in the Algarve was at “extreme risk”.
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) on Monday released the usual epidemiological situation regarding Portuguese municipalities, from 3rd to 16th February.
In the Algarve, at extreme risk (over 960 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) was Monchique with a rate of 1064.
At very high risk (+ 480 to 960), were Vila Real de Stº António – 901 and Castro Marim – 722.
At high risk (+240 to 480) there were 10 municipalities: Albufeira – 445, Alcoutim – 417, Faro – 408, Silves – 406, Loulé – 396, Portimão – 380, Lagos – 346, Olhão – 320 and São Brás de Alportel and Lagoa both with 250.
At moderate risk, (less than 240), there were Tavira – 208, Aljezur – 89 and Vila do Bispo – 78.
Also according to DGS data, in the last 24 hours, 22 new cases and 2 deaths were registered in the Algarve.

Tourism “has a future” and Algarve business people must be resilient – Associação
The President of the Business Association of the Algarve Region (NERA) said today that tourism “has a future”, despite the pandemic of Covid-19, arguing that businessmen should “resist” and maintain activity until the recovery arrives.
Speaking to Lusa, Vítor Neto said that the most optimistic recovery scenarios have not been verified and companies should take into account the different scenarios on the prospects of economic recovery to ensure that their companies remain active until then.
The former Secretary of State for Tourism of the socialist party, António Guterres, summarized in this way the content of a statement that the Algarve business association released yesterday to “signal, on the one hand, that it believes in the recovery and recovery of tourism”, but warning that there are multiple factors that can delay the most optimistic recovery scenarios.
Vítor Neto considered that the crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic is “quite serious and has not only affected companies more directly related to tourism, such as accommodation and restaurants”, also affecting “a group of companies that also provide goods and services accommodation and catering services”.
That person gave as examples the “thousands” of companies of “food equipment, drinks or ‘software’” that were “strongly affected” by the break in activity and considered that entrepreneurs should be “very careful and cool-headed” to be able to reach the phase of recovery with the businesses in activity.
“The question that arises is that there are very large conditions and factors of uncertainty. And the main one is the evolution of the pandemic. It is clear that we have to fight the pandemic in our region and country and generate this perception at national and international level. But it also depends on the pandemic in the other issuing markets”, he argued.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/turismo-tem-futuro-e-empresarios-do-algarve-tem-de-ser-resilientes-associacao/36910-4

Jamila Madeira promotes hearing on resumption of tourist activity
Concerned about the effects of the public health crisis on the economy and tourism, socialist MP Jamila Madeira holds an online public hearing on the resumption of tourism activity with the various entities in the sector.
The meeting, which will be held by videoconference on Thursday, February 25th, between 5 pm and 7 pm, aims to make an assessment of the economic situation of this activity, which has been almost totally stopped for more than a year, and to know the ways appointed by the entities in this area for the recovery process and the new framework of the sector.
From an economic point of view, namely in the tourism sector, the stop was abrupt and, as far as the Algarve is concerned, practically total.
“We know that the limitations will not disappear overnight, but the ongoing vaccination campaign brings an opportunity for the resumption of tourism activity so important for the country’s economy”, points out the deputy elected by the Faro circle in the invitation sector institutions.
Recalling that the government put the Recovery and Resilience Plan in public discussion, with a European contribution of 13 billion euros for the economic and social recovery of Portugal, Jamila Madeira argues that it is necessary to “combine the opportunities for advancing vaccination with this financial instrument to program the reactivation of the activity of our companies and the economy”.
https://barlavento.sapo.pt/politica/jamila-madeira-promove-audicao-sobre-retoma-da-atividade-turistica

Algarve Situation Report, Saturday 20th February 2021.
Covid-19: Algarve with less than a hundred admissions
The District Civil Protection Commission of Faros reported on the epidemiological situation in the Algarve with 1,441 active cases of Covid-19.
According to data from the regional health delegate of the Algarve, 19,242 infected were registered until yesterday, 54 more in the last 24 hours and 17,485 recovered (cumulative).
There are 1,342 patients recovering at home, plus 99 hospitalized, 18 in the Intensive Care Units and 12 ventilated. The same source said that since the beginning of the pandemic, 315 deaths have been registered in the region.
At the moment 1,444 people are under active surveillance.
Compared to last week’s bulletin, 958 fewer active cases and 456 new cases are confirmed. Another 1,351 people are recovered.
There are less 86 people hospitalised, 12 less patients in intensive care, maintaining the number of ventilated patients (12). There are fewer than 1,070 people under active surveillance.
According to the same source, the Algarve firefighters’ decontamination brigade carried out, in the last week, 2 decontamination actions, namely, at the MAPS Association – Movement to Support the Problem of AIDS in Faro, and at the Lar da Santa Casa da Misericórdia from Monchique.

Vila Real de Santo António PS says city council executive does not mass-test the population for lack of money
The Municipality of the Socialist Party of Vila Real de Stº António, says in a statement, that the mayor did not accept the proposal to test the population en masse, “because the municipality is plunged into debt, bankrupt and pledged for the next decades, a result of the executive PSD’s wasteful and ruinous management”.
Socialists criticize that the situation does not allow helping families and honouring urgent commitments, “the council is unable to invest in the health and well-being of its residents, in companies, schools and tourism, which remains stagnant”.
In the same communiqué, the PS regrets that the executive does not have the money to join a massive test of the population, as is happening in Castro Marim and in many municipalities at national level. He stresses that a large percentage of the active population of that municipality (Castro Marim) works in VRSA, “sharing the same territorial space, which can seriously jeopardize the effectiveness of the massive testing process they are undertaking”.
In a letter addressed to the mayor of the municipality, the party speaks of a “responsible and considered proposal, defended by specialists and those responsible for health at national level and that can be materialized in complete harmony with all health authorities at local and regional level”.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/ps-de-vila-real-de-santo-antonio-diz-que-executivo-camarario-nao-faz-testagem-em-massa-a-populacao-por-falta-de-dinheiro-/36867-82

Most infractions in the first month of the new motorhome law occurred in the Algarve
The National Republican Guard (GNR) detected 60 violations under the scope of environmental legislation, namely, by caravanning and occasional camping outside the indicated places, in the first month of the entry into force of the new legislation, the authority revealed to Lusa.
Between January 9th and February 9th, GNR imposed fines in the global amount of 3,540 euros, with the vast majority of violations detected in Faro (55), three in Odemira (district of Beja) and two in Moita (district of Setúbal).
The targets were from several countries, namely Luxembourg, Germany, France, England, Poland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland and also Portugal, according to the GNR.
“With the recent legislative change, the GNR is carrying out awareness and inspection actions in a progressive way, through an adaptation to the new regulations, in conjunction with the local authorities”, pointed out the entity.

Lagos Local Housing Strategy for 399 households
The Lagos City Council approved the Local Housing Strategy, an instrument legally required for the purposes of applying for state financial support, provided for in the New Generation of Housing Policies under the 1st Law Program.
This program aims to ensure access to adequate housing for people living in precarious, unsanitary and insecure conditions, overcrowding or inadequacy, and who do not have the financial capacity to access an adequate housing solution.
The document presents the updated diagnosis of the housing needs of the municipality and the proposed housing solutions, which represent an investment of approximately 19.2 million euros, of which 18 million euros refer to solutions to be implemented by the municipality and 1.2 million euros intended for direct beneficiaries, that is, families with their own permanent housing but without economic conditions to carry out the necessary rehabilitation works.
Based on the housing requests registered in the City Council, the homeless population identified by the Social Network of Lagos and the survey of municipal housing in need of repairs, the diagnosis revealed that there was a universe of 399 households (corresponding to 851 people) living in unworthy conditions and, as such, eligible for support under the 1st Law Program.
The most significant needs are related to precarious situations related to homeless people, victims of domestic violence, families with eviction orders, lawsuits and situations of sharing or transferring housing with / from family and friends. 198 aggregates are in this condition.

Algarve Situation Report, Wednesday 17th February 2021
Municipality of Vila Real de Santo António provides Youth Support Line
The Municipal Council of Vila Real de Santo Antonio will launch the line “Question, which we answer”, a resource that aims to provide support and information to the young people of the municipality.
In a press release, the municipality says that the service will allow, for example, young people to get help to develop a curriculum, to know the mechanisms for access to youth leasing or to know the requirements for applying to higher education.
Going to meet the platforms used by young people, Valencia will be available through WhatsApp (911 006 978) or through an electronic form, accessible at www.cm-vrsa.pt, where all doubts and questions can be raised.
The line will be promoted by the Division of Education, Youth and Health of the Municipality of VRSA and is one of ten activities aimed at young people in the municipality, which are being prepared for the year 2021, and which focus on areas such as artistic expression, urban art, sport, professional training or volunteering, highlights the municipality.
Taking into account the current pandemic situation, the chamber notes that many of these actions will only be implemented as soon as the health authorities allow.
In parallel, the municipality is also organizing the Youth Forum, a project that aims to debate ideas and exchange opinions on themes and issues identified by young people, which will be promoted – in this pandemic phase – through digital platforms.
The theme of the first forum will be chosen through online voting, soon to be posted on the social networks of the Vila Real de Santo António City Council.

Covid-19: 114 users and employees of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of São Brás de Alportel were vaccinated.
In compliance with the National Vaccination Plan against Covid-19, 114 users and employees of Santa Casa da Misericórdia of São Brás de Alportel received this Monday, the first dose of the vaccine.
According to the municipality, the vaccination took place at the premises of Santa Casa da Misericórdia and was administered by professionals from the Algarve Regional Health Administration.
The municipality recalls that 24 firefighters from the Voluntary Firefighters Corporation and all users and employees of the São Brás House of Health and Rest are already vaccinated with the first dose of vaccination.
Regarding the next steps, namely the extension of vaccination to seniors and the population, the municipality has already made available to the health entities in the region all its spaces, logistics and human resources, if they can be useful in this operation.
https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/covid19-114-utentes-e-funcionarios-da-santa-casa-da-misericordia-de-sao-bras-de-alportel-foram-vacinados-/36808-1

New Cardiology Service at the Hospital and University Centre of the Algarve (CHUA) after requalification works at the Hospital Unit in Faro.
The inauguration of the rehabilitation works of the Cardiology Service at the Faro Hospital Unit of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) takes place today, Wednesday, February 17th, at 11 am.
The works allowed the expansion of the Electrophysiology area and the creation of an Echocardiography Room and a Recovery Room, next to the Coronary Unit, with the objective of supporting these two areas. In terms of comfort and improvement of facilities, the general intervention in the entire service also covered the painting of spaces, replacement of ceilings, lighting and electrical installation, modernization of patient call systems and fire detection, air conditioning installation in corridor and replacement of the floor, in a total remodelling area of ​​780 square meters.
As explained by the Clinical Director, Horácio Guerreiro, “with these works, the global logistics of the service have improved, especially the functionality in the areas of Hemodynamics and Electrophysiology, therefore in the intervention procedures, where the service, traditionally, is very strong. It can be said that it is a work that increases the safety and comfort conditions of users and professionals who work there “.

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