Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 7th April 2021

Introduction

Good morning – Yesterday was highlighted by statements concerning Covid-19 mainly from the Prime Minister, but also from the Minister of Internal Administration Eduarda Cabrita. In fact they occupied most of the media headlines throughout the day.

Turning to that of Eduardo Cabrita – He made it very clear being asked by journalists that there are no plans to relax border controls with Spain soon. This is as well, because it was reported that yesterday Spain had registered 6623 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. This is approximately 20 times more than Portugal (allowing for the lack of reporting over the weekend) with a population approximately four times the size!

This brings me to the subject of a few reports on social media of the “sudden emergence” (as one person put it) of foreign plated cars, over fears of an influx of tourists who may be infected. This is not been backed up by any evidence. Yes there was more movement of people and cars over the Easter period and also as a result of the easing of lockdown measures, but there is nothing to suggest that people are crossing the land border other than in accordance with the exemptions under the law. It is very clear that a priority for government is ensuring the integrity of the border, backed up by the extensive enforcement action we have seen, to avoid the risk of imported cases especially the variants that have been reported recently.

Yesterday the Prime Minister gave a long briefing to journalists following video calls with the Mayors of Alandroal, Carregal do Sal, Moura, Odemira, Portimão, Ribeira da Pena and Rio Maior. These are the counties that are at the top of the list of incidence rates in mainland Portugal.

Of particular concern is the fact that twenty-five municipalities of the Regional Health Administration of the North (ARS-N) recorded a growth of more than 50% of new cases of infection by SARS-CoV-2 between the penultimate and the last week of March.

He made it very clear that measures will be stepped up in these areas through inspections by security forces in the municipalities with the highest incidence of cases of Covid-19 will be reinforced and inspections of the health conditions of temporary housing intensified. The situation is being monitored daily.

At this point we should all give a thought to the immense pressure on the security forces who undertake this work, plus border controls and many other duties related to Covid-19 they are undertaking, in addition to their normal duties!

He also expressed his concern about the speed of transmission of Covid-19 infections in schools, which he associated with the British variant (discovered in the UK), and emphasising that further testing and expansion of surveillance is underway.

The main focus however was the appeal the Prime Minister made to citizens who “are enjoying the reopening of various activities”, such as the terraces. He stated “It is very good that they can do it, but it would be very good that we can continue to do it”. He said this yesterday after images of terraces full of people on terraces were disseminated by the media. It is, therefore, “essential”, he says, “that we can live this moment of reopening but with all cautions”.

In other words de-confinement will give us greater freedom to enjoy activities, but with this comes individual responsibility – to abide by the rules, such as social distancing, facemasks and hygiene. There can be no relaxation of these measures because if we do we will see cases rise, increased hospitalisations and serious cases and those in ICU.

Portugal has done so well over the last 6 weeks. We are at a crucial time and we cannot let all the sacrifice that people have made fail.

Yesterday there was confusion over an employee of the European Medicines Agency, who stated that “a link” had been established between AstraZeneca and the formation of thromboembolisms. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) however subsequently denied on Tuesday that a causal connection between the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare blood clot formation has already been established.

The vaccine review process “is currently underway,” EMA said in a statement to the agency France-Presse. In the same note, he adds that the conclusions of the agency’s security committee should be made known this Wednesday or Thursday

Yesterday was Civil Protection Day and a vastly reduced ceremony was held at the ANEPC Headquarters. The ceremony began with a tribute to all those who lost their lives in the service of Civil Protection. Included was the presentation of the Civil Protection Merit Medal (posthumously) to the family of the pilot Jorge Manuel Santana Jardim, who died in the fire in Ourense and was granted by the Government of the Kingdom of Spain by order of the Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez.

We thank the ANEPC and all its agents which includes the Bombeiros, GNR, PSP and INEM to name but a few, who put their lives on the line in dealing with various emergencies on a daily basis, and major incidents such as rural fires.

Please have a Safe Day.

Headlines

Covid-19: António Costa announces “massive testing actions” in the most critical areas.

The Prime Minister, António Costa, met this Tuesday with the mayors of councils with more than 120 cases of Covid-19 per 100 thousand inhabitants.

António Costa announced “massive testing actions” in the most critical areas, namely aimed at workers in large works, industry and agriculture.

The meeting took place by video call and joined the Prime Minister to the mayors of Alandroal, Carregal do Sal, Moura, Odemira, Portimão, Ribeira da Pena and Rio Maior. These are the counties that are at the top of the list of incidence rates in mainland Portugal.

At the end of the meeting, António Costa admits that “in agriculture the issue is critical”, leaving an appeal to employers to reinforce the protection of workers and employees so that they do not neglect the use of a mask during break times. In addition, the Prime Minister also announced the “reinforcement of the GNR and PSP in all municipalities with more than 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, with a view to reinforcing the inspection actions”.

The Government has been warning that the incidence may be a criterion to curb the lack of deconfinement, the third phase of which is scheduled for April 19th. Municipalities above the risk threshold – which is defined in the 120 new cases per 100 thousand inhabitants – may not advance on reopening.

The mayors argue that this criterion, in isolation, is unfair and harms the municipalities with the least population. Some experts agree. Luís Cadinha, President of the college of the Public Health specialty, considers that it would be a good measure to analyze the number of new cases with the number of active transmission chains in order to have a more complete and more real analysis.

Covid-19: Costa concerned about speed of contagion in schools and promises to reinforce surveillance.

Lisbon, 06 Apr 2021 (Lusa) – The Prime Minister expressed his concern today about the speed of transmission of Covid-19 infections in schools, which he associated with the British variant (discovered in the UK), and said that further testing and enlargement of surveillance is underway.

António Costa was speaking at a press conference in São Bento, after meeting with mayors of the seven municipalities by videoconference who registered more than 240 cases of Covid-19 per hundred thousand inhabitants in the last 15 days: Alandroal, Carregal do Sal , Moura, Odemira, Portimão, Ribeira de Pena and Rio Maior.

Faced with data that indicate an increase in contagions among children, especially since the schools reopened on March 15th, the leader of the executive acknowledged he was apprehensive.

“We have been following the situation very closely. As you recall, there was a testing of all teaching and non-teaching staff before the opening of day care centers, pre-school and primary school. And, to reinforce the grade for protection, massive vaccination of all teaching and non-teaching staff in educational establishments is underway, he said.

However, according to the Prime Minister, there is now new data.

“Contrary to what happened in the first period [of this academic year], it is that, now, as a result of this new [British] variant, which has greater transmissibility, as a rule, when a case is reported and when generalized testing is done, there are other cases soon, “revealed António Costa.

In that sense, according to the Prime Minister, after the identification of a case with a child in a school, “the respective families are also being tested”.

“We have to broaden the scope of surveillance because, in fact, this variant, as we had already realized in late December, increases transmission risks very significantly,” he added.

Covid-19.

This Tuesday’s bulletin from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) records two deaths and 874 new cases of Covid-19 in Portugal in the last 24 hours. The main statistics are as follows:

Confirmed Cases: 824,368 (+ 874 / + 0.16 %)

Number of admitted: 504 (-32 / -5.9 %)

Number of ICU admitted: 113 (+1 / +0.8 %)

Deaths: 16,887 (+ 2 / + 0.02 %)

Recovered: 781,537 (+ 894 / + 0.11 %)

Active cases: 25,944 (-22 /-0.08%)

DGS reported that the new cases data presented yesterday reflect the delay in the integration of 599 positive laboratory reports that report over the weekend, “in other words, only 275 refer to the last day”.

Safe Communities comparisons/trends: show that deaths lowest since 2nd September, those- In hospital are the lowest since 19th September -6365 less compared to number in hospital 1st February and in ICU a marginal increase. – Active cases – Lowest since 2nd October, decrease of 155,679 since 31st January 2021

IMPORTANT NOTE: Despite all this good news it is important not to let our guard down at this crucial time. Those in hospital and ICU remain high. This means complying with the rules in place, – wearing face masks, social distancing, hygiene and no social gatherings.

Norte has 25 municipalities with growth of more than 50% of new cases.

Twenty-five counties of the Regional Health Administration of the North (ARS-N) recorded a growth of more than 50% of new cases of infection by SARS-CoV-2 between the penultimate and the last week of March.

The ARS-N document, which Lusa had access to today, shows that 25 of the 85 municipalities under the tutelage accounted for a growth of more than 50% in new cases of infection between the penultimate (21 to 27 March) and the last week of March (28th to 3rd of April).

Of the 18 municipalities in the district of Porto, eight increased the number of new cases, with the highest growth being registered in Santo Tirso (467%), which went from six to 34 new cases.

The municipality of Valongo increased 177%, from 22 to 61 new cases, as well as Vila do Conde, which went from seven to 17 new cases, and Maia, which went from 17 to 39 new cases.

In Marco de Canaveses, Matosinhos, Paredes and Trofa the increase in new cases varied between 50% and 82%, with the same counties going from two to three new cases, from 38 to 58, from 24 to 41 and from 11 to 20 new cases, respectively.

In the district of Braga, the highest growth in new cases of infection by SARS-CoV-2 was registered in Amares (300%), which went from one to four new cases.

In the counties of Guimarães, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Braga the growth of new cases of infection varied between 58% and 75%, with the same counties increasing from 12 to 19 new cases, 38 to 63 and from 24 to 42 new cases, respectively.

The municipality of Esposende increased 133%, from three to seven new cases, as did Fafe, which increased from five to 11 new cases, and Vieira do Minho, which increased from two to four.

Of the 12 municipalities in the district of Bragança, three followed this growth trend, namely, Vimioso with 500% growth (increasing from one to six new cases), Mirandela with 300% (increasing from one to four) and Bragança with 100% (from three to six).

Health

Risk thresholds serve as a “warning sign for everyone”.

The Prime Minister said that a biweekly assessment is carried out to assess the state of the epidemic in Portugal and that, last week, the decision was taken to move forward with the lack of confinement. “This assessment has to be carried out every day”, he warns, saying that these thresholds “are very demanding and exist to serve as a warning sign for everyone”.

“If a municipality is evolving in a negative direction, this requires particular care. If these precautions do not produce the effects that we all want, we will have to take the measures that we do not want to take and that no one wants us to take ”, said António Costa. And he appealed to individual responsibility: “It is good that we all strive for things to go well. We are going to mobilise the authorities, we are going to increase the testing, but it is essential that each one is responsible for their own behaviour. ”

“From the beginning, it is foreseen” that the municipalities may show changes in numbers of cases at different speeds – except in the case of schools, whose measures are “national in scope”, emphasized the Prime Minister.

Costa admits that “cocktails” with AstraZeneca may make vaccination more time consuming.

The Prime Minister admitted today that, if the EMA confirms the existence of a “thromboembolism” with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, there will be inevitable consequences in the slowness of the European Union’s vaccination plans.

António Costa took this position at a press conference in São Bento, at the end of a videoconference meeting with mayors of the seven municipalities that recorded more than 240 cases of Covid-19 per hundred thousand inhabitants in the last 15 days: Alandroal, Carregal do Sal, Moura, Odemira, Portimão, Ribeira de Pena and Rio Maior.

Faced with the fact that the person responsible for the vaccination strategy at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Marco Cavaleri, assumed the existence of a “link” between AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine and the cases of thromboembolism after it António Costa said that it is necessary to wait for the official position of the EMA on the same matter.

“Within the framework of the European Union, we believe that it is essential that there is a uniform position in relation to the recommendations and indications set by the EMA with respect to each of the vaccines. If there is a snag, then this will have inevitable consequences in the vaccination process”, he pointed out the Prime Minister.

At this point, António Costa said that the vaccination process in Europe has been “strongly conditioned by the upstream production capacity”, namely “by the failure of AstraZeneca to fulfill its contractual obligations”.

“If there are increased restrictions, this will inevitably translate into a greater delay in the form of development of the vaccination plan”, reinforced the Prime Minister.

António Costa later observed that, at the moment, in the European Union, there are no alternative vaccines to immediately replace those from AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca. Infarmed and task force maintain vaccination until EMA conclusions.

Infarmed rejects taking any unilateral stance on the alleged linkage of the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 and the formation of thromboembolisms in vaccinated persons before the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announces a conclusion.

“Infarmed’s position is one of alignment with the European regulator. The EMA’s [Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee] meeting is taking place and a conclusion will be released as soon as it is over. We are waiting, said an official source from the National Medicines Authority to the Lusa agency.

The meeting of the European agency’s committee, which has representatives from Infarmed, started today and is expected to last until Friday, but issues surrounding the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the AstraZeneca laboratory should be at the top of the agenda, after the declaration of the person in charge of the EMA vaccination strategy, Marco Cavaleri, confirming “a link” between the vaccine and the occurrence of blood clots.

“Obviously, this is a priority issue at the meeting and the committee will analyze the new data that has arrived from the different countries,” added the same source.

The task force that coordinates the vaccination plan against Covid-19 will also keep the AstraZeneca vaccine in the process until an official position emerges from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and the Infarmed.

“We will wait for the official position of EMA and DGS. For now, the AstraZeneca vaccine remains in the vaccination program ”, said a source from the coordination of the National Vaccination Plan against Covid-19.

Almost half of the Portuguese spent Easter away from home.

From Friday to Easter Sunday, 54% of Portuguese remained at home, according to data released this Tuesday by the consultancy PSE, which specializes in data science. This means that there were 27% fewer people at home at Easter compared to 2020. The day with the greatest confinement since the beginning of the pandemic was Easter Sunday last year, when 79% of people were confined at home.

Last Saturday, the confinement was 49.2% and, on Easter Sunday, it was 56.5%, according to these data for 2021. The company statement said that “this year’s confinement was halfway” than was the Easter period last year.

The ban on movement between municipalities was in effect between 00:00 on March 26th and 23:59 on Monday, April 5th. Before the ban between municipalities for the Easter period came into force, the PSE revealed that about 10.7% had spent the night more than 100 kms from their usual residence on 25 March. In the week of 22 to 26 March, the level of deflation was “stable” and 38% of the Portuguese had stayed at home – almost the same value recorded before the start of the second confinement, in January.

These figures are collected by monitoring the location and means of travel of a panel of 4992 individuals representing the population over 15 years of age residing in mainland Portugal, says the PSE.

Border with Spain.

Carnaxide, Oeiras, 06 Apr 2021 (Lusa) – The Minister of Internal Administration said today that the control of people at the land and river borders between Portugal and Spain will continue as long as it is “strictly necessary”, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, without advancing dates.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) confirmed that the borders with Spain will remain closed until April 15 and today Minister Eduardo Cabrita said that, as long as necessary, the measure is to be maintained.

“Borders will be subject to control as long as this is strictly necessary”, underlined Eduardo Cabrita, speaking to journalists following the commemorative session of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) Day.

Asked if it was already possible to set a date for the lifting of controls, the government official preferred not to take any chances, referring to a new assessment of the epidemiological situation in both countries.

“We all want to be able to regain normality, but what we do is a bi-weekly evaluation and here we will not run the imprudence that is making a projection that is contradicted by reality”, he explained.

The borders with Spain have been closed since January 31 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with circulation only allowed between the two countries at the 18 authorized crossing points (PPA).

According to MAI, the limitations do not prevent the entry into Portugal of national citizens and holders of residence permits in Portugal, but those from the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and countries with an equal Covid-19 incidence rate or more than 500 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, who enter Portugal by land, must comply with a period of prophylactic isolation of 14 days, at home or in a place indicated by the health authorities.

Situation in Spain.

Spain registered 6623 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected people in the country to 3,317,948 so far, with contagions rising, according to data released by the Spanish Ministry of Health. Health services also accounted for 128 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 75,911.

The incidence of the disease (number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days) rose from 163 (Monday) to 165 (Tuesday).

In the last 24 hours, 1126 people were admitted to hospitals across the country, of which 276 in Madrid, 236 in Catalonia and 199 in Andalusia. There are now 9463 people hospitalized with Covid-19, 1990 of these in intensive care units.

The Spanish Prime Minister anticipated this Tuesday that, taking into account a “prudent and conservative” scenario, the rate of vaccination will increase so that, at the end of August, 70% of the population, 33 million people, will be immunized.

International Travel

WHO does not agree with vaccination passports for now.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that it does not support, for now, the request for “vaccination passports” to allow circulation between countries. At stake is the uncertainty related to the transmission of the virus in vaccinated people – a vaccinated person is protected against the serious form of the disease, but can become infected and transmit the virus to it – and also unequal access to vaccines, justified this Tuesday. WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris was quoted by Reuters.

The spokeswoman also said that the WHO will debate the approval of Chinese Covid-19 vaccines by Sinopharm and Sinovac for emergency use, possibly in late April – but, for now, more data on these vaccines is needed.

Social Support for workers extended.

Extraordinary Support for Workers’ Income will be extended to include situations with declines in income recorded in the first quarter of this year, the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security announced in parliament today.

The Extraordinary Support for Workers’ Income (AERT) will be extended, to include situations with falls in income recorded in the first quarter of this year, announced today the minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, in parliament.

Minister Ana Mendes Godinho was speaking in parliament at a joint hearing with the Minister of State, Economy and Digital Transition, Pedro Siza Vieira, about the economic and social response to the Covid-19 pandemic, carried out at the request of the PSD.

The official said that the AERT, support that came into force with the State Budget for 2021 (OE2021), will be changed “to extend and ensure that the calculation of the loss of revenue with reference to the first quarter of 2021 is already taken into account coverage of workers “. The objective is to guarantee that the breaks felt in the confinement “will be taken into account when defining the support”, explained the minister.

“We want to ensure that the breaches felt in the confinement in 2020/2021 will be taken into account when defining support and with retroactive payments, to ensure that those who requested in January and saw the request not granted for not having a breach in the last quarter of 2020 in the face of 2019 it is covered and also that those who do not have activity in 2019 have a way of being covered “, said Ana Mendes Godinho.

The AERT covers workers in situations of economic protection and provides support between 50 euros and 501.16 euros, subject to the condition of resources, in most situations.

At the hearing, the minister also said that the Government is preparing a new mechanism for “simplifying instalment plans for settling debts to Social Security”, no longer requiring guarantees, and there is now “tacit approval” for there to be a response fast.

Vaccination

Covid-19. Porto and São João Hospital sign agreement to create “drive-thru” vaccination centre

The Porto Council approved this Monday the memorandum of understanding with the Centro Hospitalar de São João, for the creation of Covid-19 Vaccination Centre under Drive-Thru regime, in Queimódromo.

At the executive’s meeting, the mayor, the independent Rui Moreira, indicated that the mass vaccination plan in the city of Porto has been articulated with the task force, governing council of the Northern Regional Health Administration (ARS Norte), Carlos Nunes and Secretary of State Eduardo Pinheiro, appointed by the Government to coordinate the plan to combat Covid-19 in the Northern Region.

In a note published on its official page, the municipality says that at that meeting it made known the steps that Porto has taken to prepare for large-scale vaccination, starting with the drive-thru vaccination centre, ready to operate at Queimódromo do Parque da Cidade about two months ago, which was formalized today with the approval of the proposal at the meeting of the municipal executive.

Civil Service Teleworking Performance

Completion of a study by DGAEP.

The productivity and quality of work of public servants working in teleworking has remained the same or improved compared to that registered when they are in person, according to the results of a study carried out by the Directorate-General for Administration and Public Employment (DGAEP).

According to the study “The adaptation of work organization models in central public administration during the Covid-19 pandemic: difficulties and opportunities”, which is presented today, most of the directors of the 29 direct and indirect central government entities participating , gives a positive note to the quality of the work.

“About 60 percent of the respondent managers evaluate the quality of work as being the same, regardless of whether their workers are working in person or in teleworking” says the study, specifying that “27.27 percent of the managers think that the quality of work has improved or improved a lot when performed in teleworking regime ”.

Only 12.41 percent of managers gave a negative score when asked about the quality of the work developed in teleworking.

This study, to which Lusa had access and which was presented today in a session attended by the Minister of Modernization of the State and Public Administration, Alexandra Leitão, and the Secretary of State for Public Administration, José Couto, counted on the participation of 4,445 workers from a universe of more than 42,000 that integrate those 29 entities.

The study also reveals that the majority of managers (66.61 percent) did not find resistance to teleworking by workers, while 52 percent also reported that there was never or almost never resistance when conditions allowed them to return to face-to-face work.

“Nevertheless, 37.41 percent say that this resistance [of returning to face-to-face work] was manifested at times and 9.79 percent admit that it was always or almost always noticed”, says the study.

It is recalled that following the first general confinement, in 2020, about 68,000 civil servants were telecommuting. In the current confinement, that number was 60,000, according to Minister Alexandra Leitão, told Lusa.

University of Aveiro starts testing in the academic community.

The University of Aveiro (UA) will start this Tuesday, the 6th, the first phase of testing for Covid-19 screening in the academic community, according to a source from the higher education institution.

In the first phase, “all members of the academic community who carry out on-site activity on campuses (sets of academic buildings) will be tested. The tests will take place between 8 am and 8 pm, at the Artistides Hall Pavilion, for those who work at the Santiago Campus and the Crasto Campus, taking place at the same time at the Escola Superior Aveiro Norte (ESAN) and Escola Superior de Tecnologia and Águeda Management, for those who are active there.

Enforcement

GNR intercepts bus with 50 foreigners who entered Portugal at an unauthorized point.

GNR intercepted this Monday a bus with 50 foreign passengers that entered Portugal through the border of Marco, in the municipality of Arronches, district of Portalegre, at an unauthorized crossing point, said a source from that security force.

According to the same source, the bus, with two drivers, also foreign, was sent in the early afternoon to the border of Caia, in Elvas, also in the district of Portalegre, to be inspected by elements of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), due to the control of people on the borders between Portugal and Spain, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A police source indicated to the Lusa agency that 48 passengers stayed at the border, in the territory of Spain, for their situation to be analysed by the Spanish police, SEF was responsible for verifying the situation of two people and two others were allowed to remain in Portugal.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Sunday that the control of people at land and river borders between Portugal and Spain will continue until April 15 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Circulation between Portugal and Spain at the 18 authorized crossing points (PPA) is limited to the international transport of goods, duly documented cross-border and seasonal workers, and emergency and emergency vehicles and emergency services.

Youth unemployment.

February will have seen slight improvements in youth employment, according to provisional estimates released yesterday by INE, which account for more than 9700 young people aged up to 24 in the labour market compared to the previous month. National employment still remained 1.7% below the pre-pandemic level, with 79 thousand fewer people working.

In what was, in 2021, the first full month of activity restrictions adopted by the government in response to the new wave of the pandemic, the monthly evolution of employment contrasts with that of a year ago, in April, during the first month of confinement in the country.

In the first month entirely marked by restrictions in 2020, almost 70 thousand jobs will have been lost, according to the current data from INE. The first full month of confinement imposed this year, February, witnesses a slight gain in employment, with nine thousand more people working than in January, reflecting improvements in youth employment data.

According to INE, the employed population increased by 0.2% in February, to 4.67 million people. The two tenths of earnings are largely achieved in the 16 to 24 age group, where the number of those in employment has increased from 240.6 thousand to 250.3 thousand. Among the older population, employment continued to decline, as did women.

Poll: Marcelo and Costa’s popularity rising, but 71% of Portuguese people want the President to be more demanding with the Government.

Both the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister saw their performance assessment rise compared to February and Rui Rio takes over from André Ventura, indicates a study carried out for DN, JN and TSF

Most Portuguese continue to trust the President of the Republic more than the Prime Minister. However, when asked about their assessment of the performance of the two politicians at the head of these two positions, the appreciation is not only positive in relation to both, but has improved compared to the month of February.

According to the barometer carried out by Aximage for DN, JN and TSF, 72% of respondents give Marcelo a good or very good performance, four percentage points more than what they reported in the same study in February. António Costa has had a positive performance for 61% of Portuguese, against 22% of negative responses.

And despite some moments of disagreement between the two leaders (the last episode around the promulgation of social support by the PR and sent to the Constitutional Court by António Costa was after this survey was carried out), the majority of Portuguese (71%) understand that Marcelo should be “more demanding with the Government”.

Women, the elderly, the poorest and the socialist voters are the groups that most appreciate Marcelo and Costa, according to the analysis made by JN.

The Aximage barometer also questions the perception of the performance of the Government and the opposition as a whole and the balance is clearly favourable for the socialist executive , with 55% positive evaluations (plus five percentage points) and 24% (minus nine percentage points) ) of negative appraisals.

Covid-19. In 2020 there were 71 people who died in Portugal waiting for a transplant.

The 21% reduction in organ transplants last year, compared to 2019, portrays the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in this area. 24 more people died while waiting for a transplant

In 2020, 696 organs were transplanted in Portugal, 183 fewer than in 2019. The rate of use of the organs increased, which represents a positive aspect, but which was still insufficient to compensate for the decrease in transplants performed in the country. At the end of 2020, there were still 2196 people waiting for a transplant, according to the annual report of the Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST), and 71 even ended up losing their lives while waiting for surgery, 24 more than in 2019.

Kidney transplants (minus 274) and liver transplants (minus 185) were those where the greatest breaks were felt, while heart transplants (four more) and pancreas transplants (two more) registered slight increases. There were even fewer six lungs transplanted. But the decreases were felt in the number of referenced donors, effective donors, harvested organs and transplanted organs. Until December 2020, there were 253 deceased donors, 94 less than in 2019. The decrease in living donors was 46%.

Despite the difficulties, the report from the National Coordination of Transplantation emphasizes the adaptability of Portuguese hospitals and the commitment of the teams to try to overcome the constraints caused by the pandemic, an effort that was reflected in the increased rate of use of organs harvested from deceased donors. . Of the 750 organs harvested (197 fewer than in 2019), 87% ended up being able to be used, which represents a growth compared to the 84% recorded in 2019.

Other news

Minister of Internal Administration highlights resilience of the Civil Protection System.

The Minister of Internal Administration thanked the operatives who are part of the National Civil Protection System, in a particularly demanding year marked by the pandemic.

During the commemorative session of the Day of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), Eduardo Cabrita highlighted the work carried out both by those who are directly part of the ANEPC and by all those who are part of the system, leaving them with words of “deep recognition”.

“This system involves all those who, in the fire brigades, in the security forces and services, in the armed forces, in institutions of various governmental areas, in the local authorities, are partners in responding to multiple challenges”, said Eduardo Cabrita.

“If the challenge of responding to rural fires is the one that the greatest visibility, sometimes for tragic reasons, takes on in the Authority’s response, I would like here to give a very special word to those who, in all this structure, in more than a hundred meetings from the civil protection subcommittee, responded to what is an exchange of concerns and, above all, operational responses that involved everyone, “he added.

The Minister also considered that the experience of the 14 years of ANEPC, and the last in particular, made the country “more resilient, more cohesive and more determined”, ensuring that Civil Protection will be ready “for the challenges of the future”.

Portugal Situation Report Saturday 3rd April 2021

Introduction

Good morning – Phase 2 of de-confinement is going ahead in al municipalities as from Monday 5th April. This eagerly awaited step will allow us to enjoy many activities: for instance going to restaurants (terraces only) and visiting certain shops that have been closed for some time, although there will of course be certain limitations in place.

We outlined the details of the de-confinement plan on our website, as well as publishing this on our Facebook page on Thursday night, upon the conclusion of the Council of Ministers meeting. Clearly of interest it reached around 28,000 people.

There was also however a condition in this as set out by the Prime Minister, as there were 19 municipalities where the incidence rate was 120 and above i.e. ‘over the government red line’ announced in mid-March. More details are expected to be set out in the decree law expected to be published today or in the next day or so.

The Prime Minister warned that the next stages of deflation i.e. Phase 3 due for 19th April and beyond, would be dependent on the risk assessment of each municipality. If any municipality registers, in two consecutive evaluations, a transmissibility index greater than 1 and an incidence of new cases per 100 thousand inhabitants greater than 120, it will not advance in the next phase of deflation. There is concern however of the increasing R (t) rate which is reported as over 1 in some areas – linking this to the first phase of de-confinement.

This is a very clear message and incentive for all of us to redouble our efforts to contain this disease. With every stage of de-confinement comes an increase in movement and with that an increase in risk. If that risk materialises into higher cases and increased hospitalisations for instance, we can expect government to apply the brake quickly.

Being under confinement for such a long time, it is natural and human nature that people will venture out more and we will see on Monday many more people around on the streets. In the desire to make use of our new found freedom we must play by the rules and not exploit them.

This means the wearing of facemasks where required, avoid gatherings except in accordance with the law, respect social distancing and ensure compliance with hygiene requirements. For instance at restaurants, cafés and snack bars for food service on terraces, there is a limit of four people per table – this means no dragging of tables and chairs together thereby increasing these numbers. This would increase the risk and of course the likelihood of the owner being fined if caught.

If everyone follows the rules then this will mean we can progress to Phase 3 on time on 19th April as scheduled. It is in our hands.

As we have stated in our previous morning reports, people should read information only provided by trusted sources and of course this includes Safe Communities Portugal. It came as a surprise therefore yesterday that some people still thought that the travel ban between municipalities finishes at 5am on 5th April – which is incorrect. Irrespective of the fact we have published the correct time i.e. 23:59 hrs on 5th April, people were quoting media sources as stating something else. This is why it is important to follow our page so you are correctly informed.

We take as much care as we can to provide the correct information from official sources and that includes the decree laws themselves. No one is immune to mistakes but if we make one we correct it immediately

Believe or not there are still people around who think there is a weekend curfew starting at 13:00 hrs even though this was discontinued in January!

Lastly, I would like to thank our Safe Communities volunteers who, over the last few days, answered many of your question and spent many hours identifying, researching, verifying and translating various articles, laws and other information often working very late at night. I can assure from personal experience this results in disruption to their family lives: so thank you Fernanda Gonçalves, Eliana Taveras, Mike Evans, Jennie Kelly and others for your work. I also thank John Cobby, a statistician by profession, for the weekly Covid-19 tables he is producing and Mark Fielding, the former Defence Attaché to the British Embassy in Madrid, for the weekly Vaccine report.

With that have a Very safe weekend.

Headlines

Second phase of the de-confinement plan advances next Monday.

Portugal can “take the step forward” with the measures of deflation planned for next Monday, April 5, said the Prime Minister on Thursday at the end of the Council of Ministers. António Costa explained that “the combined application of the two criteria” – incidence and transmission rate of Covid-19 – keeps Portugal “clearly in the green quadrant”.

On Monday, stores with doors to the street with less than 200 square meters no longer have to sell at the entrance and are now able to have their doors open to the public, for, according to the rotation and the rules of the Directorate- General of Health, to be able to provide face-to-face assistance.

Restaurants, pastry shops and cafes with a terrace can reopen, with groups limited to four people.

As of Monday, it will be possible to buy clothes and other goods whose sale was prohibited in hypermarkets, due to competition reasons, since it will also be possible to buy them in street stores that have up to 200 m2.

In this second phase of de-confinement, the gymnasiums will also reopen, but still without authorization for group classes. Low-risk sports are now permitted, while sporting events will continue to take place without the presence of an audience.

Covid-19 Situation Report

This Friday Portugal counts another 9 deaths and 548 new cases of Covid-19, according to the daily report of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). The detailed figures are:

Confirmed Cases: 822.862 (+ 548 / + 0.07 %)

Number of admitted: 513 (-25 /-4.65 %)

Number of ICU admitted: 131 (+ 2 / + 1.55 %)

Deaths: 16.868 (+ 9 / + 0.05 %)

Recovered: 779.655 (+ 743 / + 0.10 %)

Active cases: 26,339 (-204 /-0.7%)

Safe Communities comparisons/trends: show that deaths lower than yesterday; new cases were slightly below recorded the day before, but above the average of the last seven days (419) and that recoveries were more than new cases

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital is the lowest since 20th September, 6,459 less compared to number in hospital on 1st February, although the number in ICU grew very slightly but is still the second lowest since 12th October 2020. Active cases is the lowest since 2nd October, decreasing by 155,284 cases since 31st January 2021, and those under surveillance is the lowest since August 2020.

Despite all this good news it is important not to let our guard down at this crucial time. Those in hospital and ICU remain high. This means complying with the rules in place, – wearing face masks, social distancing, hygiene and no social gatherings.

Health

Covid-19: Transmissibility and incidence index increases compared to Wednesday.

Lisbon, April 2, 2021 (Lusa) – The transmissibility index of the new coronavirus in Portugal yesterday rose to 0.97, with the incidence also rising to 65.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, according to official data.

In the last two joint bulletins from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), the transmissibility index (Rt) in Portugal had remained at 0.94.

As for the incidence, the average national value of infection cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days is now 65.6, after having dropped from 70 to 65.3 in the last bulletin.

Looking only at Mainland, the incidence is 62.9 cases, also rising compared to Wednesday, when that figure was 62.4.

These indicators are the criteria defined by the Government for the continuous assessment of the deflationary process started on March 15.

However, the transmissibility index of SARS-CoV-2 (Rt) is increasing and the National Institute of Health Ricardo Jorge (INSA) even estimates that it will reach 1.02 on Sunday, the highest value since January. Various regions such as the Algarve are higher.

The data appears in the situation report published this Friday, which reads that “the average value of Rt for the days from 24/03/2021 to 03/28/2021 was 0.97, and its true value may be between 0.96 and 0.99”.

Also this Friday’s report from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) pointed to an increase in the transmission rate: from 0.94 on Wednesday to 0.97 in today’s bulletin.

Óscar Felgueiras , a mathematician who has supported the Government in monitoring the epidemic, estimates that next Monday’s bulletin may even report an Rt above 1, admitting that this could be a result of two weeks of de-confinement Phase 1.

Covid-19: 150,000 teaching and non-teaching workers will be tested between April 5 and 9.

The information was announced today by the Government shortly after António Costa confirmed that the “dropper” deflation (de-confinement plan) will continue next Monday, April 5.

“About 150 thousand teaching and non-teaching workers will be tested between April 5th and 9th, continuing the implementation of the National Test Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 and according to the well-known joint guidance from last March “, can be read in the note sent to the newsrooms.

The statement emphasizes that the information already transmitted to schools, underlining “that all teaching staff (DP) and non-teaching staff (PND) from the 2nd and 3rd cycles of basic education (from 5th to 9th will be tested) .the year) of establishments in all municipalities “.

The note adds that the “totality of DP and PND of Pre-School Education, 1st cycle of basic education, as well as all the workers of Activities of Animation and Support to the Family (AAAF), Activities of Curriculum Enrichment (AEC) and Family Support Component in the 1st cycle of Basic Education in municipalities with an incidence rate greater than 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in the last 14 days”.

Covid-19. Netherlands suspend AstraZeneca vaccine in people under 60.

The Netherlands has suspended injections of the AstraZeneca vaccine into people under the age of 60, after cases of blood clots have occurred, according to health authorities. “The immediate cause for this decision is the notification of cases of thrombosis associated with low platelet count after vaccinations”, justified the public health service.

“We have to be careful, so it is advisable to press the pause button as a precautionary measure”, considered the Minister of Health, Hugo de Jonge.

As a result, some 10,000 vaccinations, which were scheduled for next week, to members of the Dutch health services under the age of 60 were postponed.

The suspension is expected to last until 7 April, when the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will give further guidance on the matter.

Earlier in the week, Germany made a similar decision. In France, the family of a 38-year-old woman who died of a thrombosis after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine demanded an investigation, her lawyer told Agence France-Presse.

“It is a complaint against X, because we have no evidence against an identified person for manslaughter,” explained Étienne Boittin, adding that this qualification can “evolve according to the elements of the file”.

The lawyer said that the family “is not in the process of claiming or charging for liabilities, it just wants clarification” about what happened “.

The young woman had been vaccinated in mid-March, as she worked at a medical-educational institute for the disabled, and did not suffer from any specific health problems, she added.

Minister criticizes “perverse and unjust effect” of altering social support.

The Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, said this Friday that the change to social support made by parliament and promulgated by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has a “perverse and unfair effect”.

“The amendment that was approved in the context of parliamentary appreciation, what it does, essentially, is to change in a way and with a perverse and unfair effect the support system and the protection system within the scope of Social Security”, said Ana Mendes Godinho in press conference on the balance of social support, which took place this Friday at the Ministry of Labour, in Lisbon.

According to the official, the amendment will “index the support to the value of the worker’s billing and not to the relevant income for Social Security”, becoming “completely disconnected from contributions made in the past to Social Security”.

“It establishes an equal amount of the benefit for people who discounted over 70% or for people who discounted over 20% of the billing they had”, with no changes in the population of people covered, said the minister.

Ana Mendes Godinho believes that “there hasn’t been a perception yet, and people haven’t realized exactly what is on the table”.

According to the statement, the impact on Social Security accounts when changing the method of accounting for support will be 40.4 million euros.

Rate of organ damage increased in infected is high.

Researchers suggest that the weight of Covid-19-related diseases in hospitals and healthcare systems will increase in the long term.

People infected with Covid-19 and discharged from the hospital appear to have increased rates of organ damage (multiorgan dysfunction) compared to the general population, according to a study published Thursday by the British medical journal BMJ.

The increased risk, according to the study, was not limited to older people nor was it uniform across ethnic groups, leading researchers to suggest that the weight of Covid-19- related illnesses in hospitals and in the long term will increase.

Although Covid-19, a disease caused by a new coronavirus, is best known for causing severe respiratory problems it can also affect other systems and organs in the body, including the heart, kidneys and liver.

Those responsible for the study indicate the existence of several unexplained symptoms that persist for more than three months after the disease, but also say that the long-term pattern of organ damage after infection is still unclear.

To investigate the issue, British researchers from the National Institute of Statistics and the universities of London (“College London”) and Leicester sought to compare the rates of organ dysfunction in people with several months of hospital discharge after the disease, with a control group, corresponding to the general population.

The conclusions are based on 47,780 people, with an average age of 65 years and 55% of whom are men, who were hospitalised and were discharged up until August 31 of last year.

During the average 140-day follow-up, almost a third of individuals discharged after acute Covid-19 were readmitted to the hospital (14,060 out of 47,780) and more than one in 10 (5,875) died after discharge. Values ​​four and eight times higher, respectively, than in the control group.

The rates of respiratory, cardiovascular and diabetes diseases also increased significantly in patients with Covid-19, which were also higher than in the control group, especially in the case of respiratory diseases.

Differences in rates of multi-organ dysfunction between Covid-19 patients and combined controls were greater for individuals under 70 than those aged 70 or over, and in ethnic minority groups compared to the white population, with the biggest differences observed for respiratory diseases.

Other news

Eurovision – Canção de Portugal is in the highest place so far in bookmakers.

Love Is on My Side’, the Black Mamba song that represents Portugal at the Eurovision Festival, reached the highest place in the bookmakers’ ranking since it won the national competition.

Less than two months before the grand final of Eurovision, ‘Love Is on My SIde’, a song by the Black Mamba that will represent Portugal, reached the highest place in the ranking of bookmakers.

According to the Eurovisionworld website, which compiles the results of 17 bookmakers, Portugal is the 25th among 39 competitors, having remained there since 28 March.

Since winning the Song Festival, the Portuguese representation has occupied in this ranking the places in the second half of the table, between the 22nd (on the day of victory in the national competition, a place that is not indicative, since a good part of the songs competitors was not yet known) and 29th place (on March 15th)).

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 31st March 2021

Introduction

Good morning – Let’s start with three pieces of good news.

The first of these were that yesterday Portugal recorded the lowest number of deaths from Covid-19 (two cases) since 6th September 2020. Two deaths too many of course. Figures continue to fall with the numbers in hospital the lowest since 23rd September and ICU 12th October. This reduces the considerable strain on the health services with active cases reducing by over 150,000 in just 8 weeks.

Secondly, that the German laboratory BioNTech announced yesterday that it plans to manufacture this year up to 2.5 billion doses of its vaccine developed with the American company Pfizer, 25% more than the one initially announced, as well as the authorization to withdraw six doses from a bottle, the company explained in a statement. This should make a considerable difference

The third piece of good news concerns crime. Violent and serious crime had a reduction of more than 13% during the year 2020, the Minister of Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita, announced yesterday and the crime of domestic violence, so common in Portugal, saw a 6% reduction in 2020, compared to 2019.

In the last few days there have been plenty of developments concerning the extension of the current State of Emergency measures until 23.59 hrs 5th April as well as air travel laws.

We emphasise concerning the State of Emergency – this is a simple extension taking effect with the same measures that are currently in place effective midnight tonight 31st March/1st April 2021.

However, having posted this we received in the region of around 200 questions concerning the existing laws which have been published over two weeks ago. The answers to many of these questions have been available since then through our website page here which contains the various measures in English.

Questions we received included: “Is the curfew still in place at 1pm on weekends?” Our reply “No it was last in place 2 months ago”!

This is of some concern as it may indicate that either some people are not keeping up to date with essential information, which affects daily activities, or they have been reading information from social media which is incorrect – there is much misinformation around. A cursory glance at news headliners or “one liners” on social media every other day or so, is not sufficient. We would encourage people to take more time in reading, in order to obtain a fuller understanding of the situation, so when government decisions and changes are made it is easier the understand the reasons and context.

Also, I wish to emphasise that, although we do our best to answer your questions regarding individual circumstances this is not always possible. We do not make the laws so generally the information available to us, does not go beyond what is contained in the laws themselves.

There were also several questions we received regarding vacations and travelling to Portugal at this time and asking whether or not they should travel. We cannot give an opinion on this only relay the facts. However, it is important to understand that any overseas travel involves a high degree of risk at present. Not necessarily the risk of catching Covid-19, but the fact that the situation can change any time. Each country is monitoring their own situation closely and clearly should the situation change for the worse, and in order to protect its own citizens, the country concerned may introduce greater restrictions. These can range from travel bans, the requirement for negative testing and/or entering into quarantine on arrival. So if you book a holiday or travel for any other reason, then do it on the understanding that it may well have to change.

As I mentioned in my last comment on Saturday, we act almost as a bridge between the little information that is available on the Government Estamos On site and the Decrees themselves, a situation more complicated by the fact that our volunteers provide this in English.

It is important therefore that everyone keeps up to date with the information by visiting our website. This is of particular importance over the next two days or so as government meets tomorrow to finalise the next stage of the de-confinement plan.

Lastly, I wish to emphasise the warning given by DGS concerning poor air quality which has occurred on the mainland starting Sunday. This situation is due to the intrusion of a mass of air coming from the deserts of North Africa. This pollutant (inhalable particles – PM10) has effects on human health, mainly in the most sensitive population, namely in children and the elderly, whose health care must be redoubled during the occurrence of these situations. We published this twice on Monday night when the warning was issued and again on Tuesday morning.

We thank all those 208 of you who shared this important safety information reaching so far over 35,000.

The prompt sharing of information when there is a threat to health and public safety is essential in order to get key official messages and advice across. It is in everyone’s interests, so please help others by doing so. This is where social media plays a vital role.

With that please have a Safe Day.

Headlines

Costa among world leaders who want an international treaty to combat future pandemics

“Together, we must be prepared to predict, prevent, detect, evaluate and respond effectively to pandemics in a coordinated manner”, reads the document signed by several world leaders, including the Portuguese Prime Minister

World leaders called for the cooperation of the “international community” in the framework of a new international treaty to prepare for and respond to future pandemics, in a document published this Tuesday in several newspapers and also released by the World Health Organization (WHO).

For the more than 20 signatories, including Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, the new treaty may signal “high-level political measures” needed to protect the world from future health crises.

“There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No government or official departments can face this threat alone,” say world political leaders, mostly heads of state and government.

“Together, we must be prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and respond effectively to pandemics in a coordinated manner. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown severely that no one is safe until everyone is safe,” adds the document.

“We will have other pandemics and other major health emergencies. The question is not whether, but when”

“Today, we continue with the same hope that if we fight together to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, we will be able to build a more robust international health architecture that will protect future generations,” argue world leaders.

Covid-19 DGS Situation Report

On Tuesday Portugal reported two deaths and 388 new cases of Covid-19, according to the daily report of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). Daily figures compared to the previous day were as follows:

Confirmed Cases: 821,104 (+ 388 / + 0.04 %)

Number of admitted: 584 (-39 /- 6.16 %)

Number of ICU admitted: 129 (-6 /-5.1 %)

Deaths: 16,845 (+ 2 / + 0.01 %)

Recovered: 777,503 (+ 1654 / +0.2 %)

Active cases: 26,756 (-1268 /4.5%)

Safe Communities comparisons/trends showed that deaths were lowest since 6th September 2020; new cases – 4th lowest since 7th September 2020; recoveries were more than 4 times new cases and active cases were the lowest since 3rd October, decreasing 154,867 cases since 31st January 2021

Those in hospital were the second lowest since 2nd September and 6285 less compared to number in hospital 1st Feb and those in ICU lowest since 12th October 2020

Covid-19: MAI says there has been a “significant reduction in circulation” since Friday

The Minister of Internal Affairs said yesterday that there has been a “significant reduction in the circulation” of cars since Friday and “generalized compliance” with the rules of the State of Emergency due to the pandemic.

“Since Friday, there has been a significant reduction in circulation and general compliance by citizens with what are the rules resulting from the period of State of Emergency”, said Eduardo Cabrita, at the press conference presenting the general data of the 2020 Annual Homeland Security Report (ISAR).

The minister was asked about the restrictive measures during this Easter period, namely the ban on movement between municipalities since Friday and until April 5th.

The government official reiterated the importance of complying with the measures in order for the de-confinement plan to be carried out.

“Today we have the lowest contagion results in the entire European Union, which proves that the measures adopted in the past two months are producing good results, which translate into easing the pressure on the National Health Service, but we must continue and consolidate these results and it is up to everyone that next week is marked by compliance” he said.

In Portugal, 16,845 people died from 821,104 confirmed cases of infection, according to the most recent bulletin from the Directorate-General for Health.

Portugal is in a State of Emergency until April 15.

Teleworking

Telework until the end of the year, but the rules change.

Over the next few weeks, the government plans to keep everything as it is, but the parties want to regulate remote work and BE and PCP have already presented proposals in parliament.

Teleworking will remain mandatory until the end of this year, but the rules for this mandatory work may vary over time. Without a State of Emergency, or others that overlap, teleworking is imposed only in areas of the country that are defined by the government according to the epidemiological risk, employers are called upon to justify cases where functions are incompatible with telework and also changes the universe of the excluded from the possibility of remote functions.

Last Thursday, the government extended until the end of 2021 the validity of the legislation that, since November last year, imposed a time lag in workplaces with a minimum of 50 workers and mandatory teleworking, whenever possible, in high-risk counties according to the incidence of cases of infections with the new coronavirus.

This exceptional and transitional regime for reorganizing work and minimizing the risk of transmitting the infection of the Covid-19 disease, within the scope of labour relations, was the one that was in force until January, but this overlapped the State of Emergency, which generalized the rules of telecommuting and reorganization of schedules throughout the country and to employers of all sizes.

Prison guards

Covid-19: All prison guards in the country are vaccinated.

Lisbon, 30 March 2021 (Lusa) – All prison guards on the mainland of Portugal have already been vaccinated against the Covid-19, for a total of 8,800 vaccines applied in prison services, the Minister of Justice announced today.

“The vaccination process underway in the area of ​​Justice, namely in prison services, is going very well. At the moment there are already about 8,800 vaccines applied, which means that, at country-level, prison guards are all vaccinated, there are 4,000 people who have already taken a second dose, ”Francisca Van Dunem told reporters.

The minister was asked about the vaccination process against Covid-19 in the justice area at the press conference to present the general data of the 2020 Annual Internal Security Report (RASI).

Francisca Van Dunem also said that, in the prison system, “all non-credible citizens are already vaccinated and now a second phase has started for inmates with health problems”.

Also present at the press conference, the Minister of Internal Administration took stock of vaccination in the area of ​​internal security.

Eduardo Cabrita said that 16,000 firefighters and 20,000 members of the security forces were vaccinated against the Covid-19, 10,000 in the GNR and 10,000 in the PSP.

The minister stressed that the priorities defined were associated “exactly with the operational dimension”, having given priority to “those who are on the street” and have “a role as a patrolman or guarantor of the verification of compliance with the rules on the State of Emergency”.

Covid-19: Police feel “exhausted” one year after successive inspections.

Lisbon, March 30, 2021 (Lusa) – The Association of Police Professionals (ASPP / PSP) warned today of the situation in which the policemen who monitor the rules of the State of Emergency find themselves, saying that they feel “exhausted” and “mistreated ”.

Speaking to Lusa news agency, ASPP president Paulo Santos said that in recent times several complaints have been coming to the union that are at the forefront of monitoring the State of Emergency to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, showing outrage at the way they are being treated.

A year after the successive inspections began, Paulo Santos says that the police are “exhausted”, reaching “a limit situation” and feel “unfairly treated”, claiming that the Covid-19 is serving as an excuse not to be applied the law, as is the case of the impossibility of elements of the PSP to leave for the pre-retirement after having reached the maximum age limit, the 60 years.

The ASPP also reports on the policemen who were in the operational support and who have now been integrated into the Covid inspection teams, but who are not receiving the supplement that exists for this purpose, being paid “illegally” a subsidy in the amount of 1.80 euros per day.

According to Paulo Santos, the policemen who were in the operational support (secretarial work) should receive the picket supplement, just as they receive the agents who walk on the street, which has a value of around 140 euros per month.

Another of the concerns expressed by the PSP staff, according to the largest union of the Public Security Police, is related to vaccination against the Covid-19, in which about half of the policemen who walk on the street are still to be vaccinated.

As an example, ASPP mentions that half of the traffic division of PSP do Porto is not vaccinated and police commands where the number of vaccinated policemen does not exceed 60%.

According to the union, the operational support officers who have been integrated into Covid inspection teams and are “working on the ground extensively” have not yet been vaccinated, which translates to “irresponsibility in the management of these human resources”.

Education

Families helped students in online classes but lacked rest at home.

Most students had family support during distance learning in the first confinement, but for many it was difficult to find a quiet place to study at home or have equipment to attend classes online.

These are some of the conclusions of the study released by the Institute for Educational Assessment (IAVE), which attempted to identify learning failures during the suspension of face-to-face education, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but also to understand the conditions in which primary school students managed to follow the classes.

More than 23,000 3rd, 6th and 9th grade students responded to a survey in January and most admitted that there was a lot of effort at home in wanting to know if they were doing their schoolwork.

This concern was registered in more than 76 percent of the homes of boys in the 3rd and 6th years and dropped to 62.6 percent among students in the 3rd cycle, reveals the “Study Diagnostic Apprenticeships”.

“Families considered it very important to accompany their children”, stressed the president of IAVE, Luís Santos, during the presentation of the preliminary data.

Realizing whether they were learning was a constant in the homes of families with students at the three different levels of education (69.6 percent in the 3rd year said they received support, 72 percent in the 6th year and 57.4 percent in the 9th year).

Economy

Food and specialty retail sales fell 1.5 percent last year.

In 2019, the total sales volume of the retail sector had reached 22,996 million euros, according to the Barometer of Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED).

Food retail sales increased by 8.1 percent last year, compared to 2019, to 15,621 million euros, while specialised retail fell by almost 18 percent (17.7 percent) to 7,032 million euros.

“The restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic had a strong impact on the different specialized retail markets”, stresses APED.

In food retail, the product category that recorded the greatest growth was frozen, which increased its sales by 17.6 percent, followed by the light snacks which rose 16.6 percent, and grocery, with 11.6 percent.

Sales in the perishable category increased by 11.5 percent and beverages by 10.9 percent. The dairy category increased by 5.7 percent and hygiene and cleaning 4.2 percent.

“In 2020, the private label market share was 35.1 percent, having increased by 1.4 percentage points” compared to the previous year, according to APED.

By distribution channel market share, hypermarkets increased by 0.2 percentage points to 23.6 percent, while supermarkets recorded a decrease of 1.4 percentage points to 57.7 percent.

The hard discounter’s channels and other locations recorded increases of 0.6 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively, to 11.2 percent and 7.5 percent, in the same order.

With regard to specialised retail, the computer market was the one that “grew the most” in 2020, with a 23.1 percent increase in sales volume to 671 million euros, while the one that recorded the greatest decline was clothing, with a decrease of 32.5 percent to 1,405 million euros.

Other news

Portugal will send 60 military personnel to Mozambique. Contingent leaves in the first half of April.

The sending of this contingent of 60 Portuguese military personnel of the Special Forces, is framed by the new framework agreement for bilateral cooperation that is being finalized by the Portuguese and Mozambican ministries, said the source.

In an interview with Lusa released on February 17, the Portuguese minister, João Gomes Cravinho, estimated the contingent of “special forces” to be deployed in Mozambique to around 60 military personnel, assisting through the training and preparation of the African country in the combating terrorism.

“What we are going to highlight are trainers to train marines and commandos. They are military personnel who have these skills, Special Forces”, said Gomes Cravinho at the time, stressing that the planning with the Mozambican authorities is underway.

The Mozambican defence minister had already indicated to the Portuguese government the intention to visit Portugal, but there are no dates yet, according to the same source.

Regarding the new framework agreement for technical-military co-operation between Portugal and Mozambique, to take effect in the next three years, Gomes Cravinho stated that he does not contemplate major changes in content, but represents an “intensification” of cooperation with this country, following the current threat context.

Portugal Situation Report Saturday 27th March 2021

Introduction

Good morning – If ever a title was needed for this morning report it would be “Don’t shoot the Messenger” – please read on!

Yesterday, the Council of Ministers, approved electronically the decree that regulates the renewal of the State of Emergency, which will be in force until 23:59 on April 5th. There was initially some confusion concerning this, since the Assembly of the Republic had approved the President’s proposal which extended the State of Emergency until 15th April. Hence we queried this with government before publishing.

The reason was explained by the Minister of State and the Presidency who stated that “The government decided to extend the current decree until April 5th and decided to evaluate what the rules are from April 5th on the next meeting on April 1st”, that is, “we will decide with more current data and closer to reality on that day”. This means that the measures currently in place will remain until 5th when the de- confinement measures are confirmed (or changed). This seems a sensible approach making use of updated data closer to the time.

The council of Ministers also announced, “the extension of the ban on movement outside the municipality of the home, daily, starting at 00:00 on March 26th until 23:59 on April 5th, without prejudice to the exceptions provided for.”

I have to say, given that we have been monitoring this for over a year, the timings concerning the start and finish of the travel ban over the Easter period, were to say the least unclear. The Government website “Estamos On” did not give timings and many people, the media and indeed ourselves initially were under the impression from interpreting the law, that that the start was 8pm as usual finishing on 5am on 5th – again as usual. The government then yesterday published a rectification decree stating the start date was 00.00 on 26th meaning midnight 25/26th which we quickly published, but this did not clarify the finishing time. As early as yesterday morning, many media were reporting this as 05:00 hrs 5th but clearly this was not correct. The Council of Ministers finally clarified this. To date Estamos On has not been updated with the timings. This would make matters very clear and is a recommendation we have made to government.

I mention this at length because we often get people complaining as though it is somehow our fault. I can assure you that the reverse is true and if something is unclear we approach government at a senior level to ask them to explain.

The problem is that there is, in our opinion, a gap in government written communication – “Estamos On” which is our view is too brief and does not provide essential information, compared with the decree laws which are most detailed but so lengthy people do not have time to read albeit understand. Safe Communities therefore acts as a bridge to try and give more detail that people should be aware off – doing this in English of course makes this even more difficult.

We turn now to transmission rates which will have a bearing on the de- confinement phased implementation. According to INSA data on the epidemic curve of infection by SARS-CoV-2 released today, for the five-day period between 17th and 21st March, the Algarve has an Rt of 1.19, the Alentejo of 1.02, the Azores 1.04 and Madeira 1.05. The remaining regions of the country have a virus transmissibility index below 1: North 0.95, Centre 0.85 and Lisbon and Tagus Valley 0.89. It would seem from the press briefings yesterday that the increasing rates are a matter that government is monitoring very closely and another reason why the reason to defer a decision concerning the de- confinement plan. We will keep you up to date accordingly.

Both the GNR and PSP have made it very clear that they are stepping up enforcement over the Easter period staring 26th March. Since 00:00 this Friday (yesterday) it is forbidden to move between municipalities. The measure will run until April 5th to avoid gatherings at Easter time. For the PSP the “Easter at Home” operation is in force, during which the PSP (who police the larger cities) promises to be attentive to all travel, whether on foot or by car.

With the warmer and continuing dry weather, we again need to remind us all to avoid starting a rural fire. Yesterday there were two in the Algarve, one in Tavira brought under control in less than 30 minutes with the rapid deployment of a helicopter and the other in Boliqueime, also brought under control.

Yesterday the ANEPC issued a notification to the population warning of the risk of rural fires. In addition the fire-fighting program has been strengthened in 5 districts in the north of the country. Comparing with the reports of rural fires in 2020 from the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), it was concluded that this year the fires more than doubled in relation to March 2020 and the burnt area is almost seven times larger.

In the next few days the fire risk will be increasing especially in the Algarve, so if you are burning debris or scrubland ensure you obtain authorization beforehand and that you take the necessary safety precautions. The GNR are enforcing these measures and if you have not taken these steps you can expect a hefty fine.

Stay Safe and have a good day

Headlines

Covid-19: Costa warns that next week is “very critical” and calls for “completely different” Easter.

The Prime Minister, António Costa, warned today that the next week is “very critical” for the process of deflation and called on the Portuguese to have a “completely different” Easter from usual.

At the end of the inauguration of the requalification of the Monte de Caparica Secondary School, in Almada, António Costa reiterated the warning made also by the Minister of Education, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, who accompanied him on the visit.

“We are in a week that is very critical, but that is absolutely decisive, particularly for the future of this school”, said Costa.

The Prime Minister recalled that the Government’s de-confinement plan provides that, on April 5th, they can return to face-to-face classes in the second and third cycles and, two weeks later, the secondary.

“For this to happen, it is absolutely essential that we are able to continue to keep the pandemic in check,” he said, referring that, if the incidence of cases continues to fall, the rate of transmission has been rising.

In a reference to the matrix presented two weeks ago and which will guide the advance, stop or retreat in the deflation, Costa warned that “in that square, the dot will move”.

“On the one hand, in a good way, but on the other, in a dangerous sense, towards the yellow side”, he warned.

The Prime Minister defended that the country “cannot lose what it has achieved in the last two weeks”, but warned that “nothing is yet won” and Portugal “cannot go back”, leaving a request.

“Let us all assume that Easter is going to be completely different from the Passover of our lives, so that our lives can be resumed as they used to be and we can have, in the future, the Passover that we all wish everyone, with those loved ones that we want to be here to spend other Easters’ with us”, he said.

Costa expressed his confidence that “the sense of responsibility that the Portuguese have expressed throughout this year, will once again fully assert itself this week”.

Government decides to extend current decree law until 5th April.

On April 1st, the Government decides whether there will be changes to the de-confinement plan, announced the Minister of the Presidency, recommending the Portuguese to “be cautious” at Easter.

This Friday, Mariana Vieira da Silva left two central messages after the Council of Ministers meeting: “caution” and “fulfilling the duty to stay at home” during Easter week are needed and the Government will re-evaluate the restrictions in effective April 1st.

The Minister of State and the Presidency referred that, on March 11th, there were 105 cases of Covid-19 per hundred thousand inhabitants in 14 days and the risk of transmission – R (t) – was 78 and currently there are 67.7 cases and an R (t) of 0.81. In other words, the R (t) is increasing and approaching 1. But “the incidence has been reduced, which is a factor of contentment in this first phase of deflation”, he acknowledged.

“The path we have taken shows that we are able to continue the de-confinement plan but it also shows that we have come very close to R (t) 1 and we need to be cautious in the continuation of the de-confinement process”, said Mariana Vieira da Silva, referring to the two lines identified to re-evaluate the averages: 120 cases per hundred thousand inhabitants and R (t) equal to 1.

“Although we remain in the green zone of this matrix, it does not mean that we are free to do all things,” he warned. “It means that we are in a position to continue the de-confinement plan”.

“The government decided to extend the current decree until April 5th and decided to evaluate what the rules are from April 5th on April 1st “, that is, “we will decide with more current data and closer to reality on that day “, she announced.

“It is a decision of caution and warning,” she stressed. “The rules up until April 5th will be the same as today,” she stated, highlighting the ban on movement between municipalities and the duty to stay at home.

Covid-19 Situation.

On Friday Portugal recorded 5 deaths and 488 new cases of Covid-19 according to the daily report of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). The statistics were as follows.

Confirmed Cases: 819,698 (+ 488 / + 0.05 %)

Number of admitted: 669 (-26 /-3.7 %)

Number of ICU admitted: 155 (+1 /- 0.6 %)

Deaths: 16,819 (+ 5 / + 0.02 %)

Recovered: 771,339 (+891 / +1.1 %)

Active cases: 31,540 (-408 /-1.2%)

Safe Communities comparisons/trends show that: deaths are lowest since 10th October 2020; new cases – 2nd highest in 6 days; recoveries were double new cases. The number in hospital has decreased to the lowest since 4th October and those in ICU the lowest since 17th October 2020 – Active cases: Lowest since 11th October, decrease of 150 083 since 31st January. There are no deaths in Algarve, Alentejo, north and Azores.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Despite all this good news it is important not to let our guard down at this crucial time. Those in hospital and ICU remain high. This means complying with the rules in place – wearing face masks, social distancing, hygiene and no social gatherings.

Health

Testing.

Portugal is expected to receive about 12 million tests for Covid-19 in the coming weeks. The mass testing plan is being adapted and plans to cover everyone, without exception.

“The concept is to prevent, test and diagnose” confirmed Fernando Almeida, coordinator of the task force for the mass testing plan and President of the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge.

This morning, at a press conference, the Minister of State and the Presidency confirmed “the strategy of very significant enlargement of the tests “.

In an interview with SIC Notícias, the task force coordinator said that the objective is to promote testing, as a “move of anticipation with some criteria”. However, he stressed that testing “just for testing” is the criterion that they do not want to use.

Vaccinations.

Portugal yesterday (Friday) surpassed one million vaccinees with the first dose of one of the vaccines against Covid-19.

And, at the same time, 500 thousand second doses will be reached, according to a source in the vaccination plan’s task force.

“The barrier of one million first doses of vaccines administered against Covid-19 is already surpassed in Portugal today,” the source of the task force coordinated by Vice Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo told the Lusa agency.

The same source added that “at the same time, the value of about half a million second inoculated doses will be reached”, with Thursday being “the day with the highest volume of doses administered: 50 thousand”.

Portugal started vaccinating the population on December 27th, 2020

Vaccines – AstraZeneca.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said this Thursday night, at a press conference just after the meeting with the leaders of the 27, that AstraZeneca has to ensure its commitments to supply vaccines to the EU before to be able to export doses outside the European space.

“We must guarantee our citizens that they have access to what is due to them and that is why we agreed that pharmaceutical companies must honour contracts with the EU before they can export to other regions in the world – and this is, of course, the case for AstraZeneca”, said von der Leyen, adding that this is also “evident” for the company itself.

Data released this afternoon by the official reveal that 18.2 million adults out of nearly 400 million EU citizens have already received the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, thus leading to only 4.1% of the European population being fully immunized. “We would have been much faster in delivering vaccines if the pharmaceutical companies had fulfilled the agreement. AstraZeneca delivered fewer doses than those contracted by the contractor required,” said von der Leyen.

With the number of cases of Covid19 rising again in Europe, the 27 repeat that it is necessary to accelerate the production of vaccines and to ensure that the pharmaceutical companies, with whom contracts were closed, fulfill the deliveries even if it is necessary to resort ” to all instruments, including a ban on exports if necessary, “said António Costa. However, he adds that it is essential to safeguard “always the supply chains that are essential to ensure the smooth functioning of the industry, both in Europe and abroad”.

Vaccine Production.

Friday 1:37 pm – EMA approves new vaccine production site for AstraZeneca in the Netherlands.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) today approved a new vaccine production site for AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine in the Netherlands, a pharmaceutical involved in controversy due to delays in the delivery of vaccines to the European Union (EU).

“A new manufacturing site has been approved for the production of the active substance [of Covid-19 vaccine] from AstraZeneca. The Halix site is located in Leiden, the Netherlands, and will bring to four the total number of licensed manufacturing sites for the production of the active substance in the vaccine”, informs the EMA in a press release.

Also approved today by the EMA was a new production site (both active substance and final product) for the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine in Marburg, Germany, stating in Stella Kyriakides’ note that this “is very good news”, which reveals that the EU is “working at full speed to increase the capacity to produce vaccines against Covid-19”.

Like any medicine in the EU, vaccines against Covid-19 can only be manufactured in places approved by the European regulator.

INE Covid-19 Statistics.

Friday 11:39 am – Daily average in the last seven days has dropped to last September levels.

The daily average in the last seven days of new infections by SARS-CoV-2 has dropped this week to values ​​that have not occurred since September 2020, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) released today (Friday).

According to the INE figures, on March 24th, there was a daily average of 451 cases of infection in the previous seven days (3,155 cases in total), the “lowest value since September 9th, 2020”, continuing the “sharp decrease” of the number of new confirmed cases in the last seven days “starting on January 28th.

The incidence rate of contagions at 14 days was, last Wednesday, 64 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, well below the maximum of 1,667 cases verified on January 29th.

Vaccination of teachers starts this weekend.

The Minister of Health said this Friday that the vaccination process is going on as planned. “We are moving forward with good pace” despite the various challenges, “namely we will move forward this weekend with the vaccination of a significant part of the teachers”.

Marta Temido also said that Portugal will overcome the challenge of vaccinating 80 percent of people over 80 in the first quarter.

Covid-19: Students lose the most if de-confinement is not won – minister.

Lisbon, 26th March 2021 (Lusa) – The Minister of Education today considered the success of the de-confinement process “crucial”, warned that nothing is gained in the containment of the Covid-19 and defended that the students will be the ones who lose the most if the situation gets complicated.

These warnings were transmitted by Tiago Brandão Rodrigues at the opening of the expansion works to the 2nd and 3rd cycles of the Basic School of Parque das Nações, a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister, António Costa, and the Mayor of Lisbon, Fernando Medina .

In his brief speech, the Minister of Education began by recalling the times when he was a student at the University of Coimbra and when he was at Expo 98 as a volunteer, at a time when Parque das Nações was being launched and did not yet have school infrastructure or of health.

“Today, a series of school facilities is closed here. A legacy is left for all future generations who will pass through here,” he said, before referring to the country’s current epidemiological situation.

“We are at a crucial moment with the end of the second school term, already with teaching activities in kindergartens and in the 1st cycle. I want to say something about this process of deflation: The country is going through a complex period and nothing is gained”, he declared.

Tiago Brandão Rodrigues then said that he has spoken with teachers and mayors and that everyone knows that “the ones who have more to lose, if things do not go as they wish, are children and young people”.

Police Enforcement

Covid-19: About 300 vehicles inspected by the PSP on the 25 de Abril Bridge, only one without justification.

Almada, 26th March 2021 (Lusa) – Of the approximately 300 vehicles inspected this morning by the PSP at Ponte 25 de Abril, south-north direction, within the scope of the ban on driving between municipalities in mainland Portugal, to combat the pandemic of Covid- 19, only one circulated without justification.

“During the morning of today we were inspecting the vehicles that were circulating between south/north to enter the municipality of Lisbon, to check if they are complying with the prohibition of driving between municipalities and with the general duty of home collection”, he explained in statements to Lusa the PSP sub-commissioner Cátia Brás.

Circulation between municipalities in mainland Portugal has been banned since 00:00 today and 05:00 on April 5th (since amended to 23:59 on April 5th), the Monday after Easter, under the State of Emergency to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ban on driving between the 278 municipalities on the continent will be applied this Easter period daily, according to the deconfinement plan presented by the Government on March 11th and which came into effect last week.

According to Cátia Brás, of those inspected in Almada, “only one driver was not complying” with the rules, as he was unaware that the driving ban schedule had been brought forward one day, having been assessed by the authorities.

Covid-19: GNR closes two restaurants in Amarante with nine people inside.

Amarante, Porto, 26th March 2021 (Lusa) – GNR closed, in Vila Meã, municipality of Amarante, Porto district, two restaurants operating with nine people in the interior, in violation of restrictions to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the official indicated that the action took place on Thursday, after a complaint “that accounted for the holding of lunches inside two restaurants”.

The military went to the locations, verifying that nine people were having lunch inside the two food and beverage establishments, disregarding the current regulations regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to that police force, the nine people were identified and the administrative offense records were drawn up for failure to observe the duty to remain in the interior of catering establishments and for non-compliance with the general duty of home collection.

Tourism economy.

Tourism’s contribution to world GDP falls more than 49% in 2020.

The contribution of the tourism sector to the global economy has dropped to a “devastating” level.

The contribution of the tourism sector to the global economy fell to four billion euros ($ 4.7 billion) in 2020, 49.1 percent less than in 2020, due to the “devastating” impact of the pandemic, it was today announced.

The World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ) stated that in 2019 the contribution of the tourism sector to the global economy was 7.8 billion euros (9.2 billion dollars).

After this decline, which contrasts with that of the global economy, which contracted by 3.7 percent, tourism now represents 5.5 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), against 10.4 percent in 2019, according to the WTTC’s annual economic impact report.

Tourism employment declined less, by 18.5 percent, to lose 62 million jobs, from 334 million (10.6 percent of the global total or one in 10) in 2019 to 272 million in 2020.

WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara stressed that, without prompt action by governments around the world by implementing measures to save jobs at risk, “today’s numbers would be much worse.”

However, the threat “persists” as many of these jobs are currently supported by state schemes for job retention and short-term work and, without a full recovery in the sector, could be lost, warned the WTTC.

The report also reveals a “shocking” loss in international travel expenses, which decreased 69.4 percent last year from 2019, while the drop in domestic tourist travel was less than 45 percent.

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