Albufeira and Loulé municipalities on deconfinement alert

Minister of State and Presidency, Mariana Vieira da Silva has confirmed that Portugal will remain in a state of calamity until June 27th and that certain municipalities will not advance to the next phase of deconfinement before a new reassessment of the epidemiological situation. 

“We are at a time of growing pandemic and this implies that we all have to continue to comply with collective and individual measures. Despite everyone’s fatigue, the need to continue to control the pandemic is evident,” said the official at a press conference.

Admitting that there is “difficulty in reducing cases in Lisbon”, Mariana Vieira da Silva, underlined that the situation is “worrying” in several municipalities in the region and with a “higher incidence in younger generations”, but with a “very diverse” origin . “It is important to continue to increase testing,” she insisted.

Lisbon, Braga, Odemira and Vale de Cambra are the only four municipalities that are not moving towards the new stage of deconfinement that starts next Monday in most of the country. But there are 10 other municipalities on alert: Albufeira, Alcanena, Arruda dos Vinhos, Cascais, Loulé, Paredes, Santarém, Sertã, Sesimbra and Sintra.

Mariana Vieira da Silva recalled the rules that come into force from next Monday for most of the country: citizen offices no longer have mandatory service by appointment, family parties maintain the 50% reduction in space capacity, the amateur sports activities can now have spectators (with distanced seating and a maximum capacity of 33%), and catering establishments can opening until 1am. Telecommuting, on the other hand, remains mandatory in high-risk municipalities, such as Lisbon, but is no longer mandatory at national level.

The increase in cases in LIsbon leads to a change in the testing strategy: it becomes mandatory for companies with more than 150 workers and for sporting, cultural or family events. The General Directorate of Health (DGS) is responsible for providing the respective guidelines.

Asked about the plan, the Mariana Vieira da Silva explained that the strategy involves testing on a regular basis and preventing further outbreaks. “There is a diversified set of tests and great availability for testing. Whenever there are gatherings of significant size, we must all, as a precaution, be tested at the entrance to avoid new outbreaks”, she stressed.

As for the risk matrix, the Minister of State and Presidency considered that this will not need to be changed, “taking into account several indicators”.  She claims the pressure on the national health system (SNS) is not comparable to that seen in January, the worst phase of the pandemic. “There are signs of a greater number of hospitalisations, especially in the region of Lisbon and Tagus Valley, but that situation is very far from the situation we are now experiencing”, she assured.

In Funchal, the António Costa also admitted that Lisbon can not be treated differently and that despite the increase in the number of cases there is no reason to be alarmed about the response of the SNS. “Obviously we have a risk matrix and the steps will be taken as the position of each municipality is in that risk matrix and this has to be applied without exceptions. It is true that we are not having hospital pressure, which indicates that the cases these are not very serious cases, but there are cases, there are people who are getting sick, this is a reason that should concern us“, said the president in statements to RTP upon arrival to Madeira, to participate in the celebrations of the Day of Portugal.

From next week onwards, councils with more than 120 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (240 in low-density councils) in two consecutive weeks will have moderate rules, with greater restrictions for those that exceed twice the 240 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (480 in low-density municipalities).

Original article available in Portuguese at http://postal.pt/