“SCP Newsletter – State of Emergency changes, UK – Portugal flights, False Health officials”

Portugal´s only registered non-profit crime prevention and civil protection association providing dedicated information and support services to the community

Newsletter - January 22nd 2021

Welcome

This introduction will be short as it is very busy time with many new laws coming into place.

Certainly as far as the introduction of new laws is concerned, it has been a very busy few days for us at Safe Communities Portugal. First, the extension of the State of Emergency itself Decree 3A/2021, then the amendment published 19^th January (Decree 3B/2021) and the latest Decree 3C/2021 published today 22^nd January concerning the closure of schools – not to mention of course an order covering the ban of flights to and from the UK.

Anyway, we are pleased to highlight the important changes so you are aware. More details of course on our website, with links as indicated.

David Thomas, MBE

President

Safe Communities Portugal

It is very important indeed that everyone complies with the law and “Stays at Home” unless your journey is really necessary. If we do not then the situation will get much worse.

To help reinforce this message KissFm invited me to give a message on radio which I did. Thank you very much. What I said can also be found in this newsletter.

Stay safe and healthy

David Thomas

President, Safe Communities Portugal

Editors Note:

Once again, enormous thanks to David and the other members of our voluntary team who have worked day (and night) to get this information to you. Please remember, our aim is to bring you important information and facts about the current situation as accurately, and as soon, as we are able.

We would be grateful if you would read all of the details available before asking any individual questions, and please refrain from making negative or provocative comments, especially on our Facebook page.

Thank you.

Stay At Home and Stay Safe

Jennie Kelly, Newsletter Editor

Ban of travelling between municipalities now in place – 8pm Friday 22^nd and 5am Monday 25^th January

Please be reminded these measures are starting tonight at 8pm

Article 4a Decree 3B/2021

Limitation on movement between municipalities

Circulation outside the municipality of the domicile is prohibited in the period between 8pm on Friday and 5am on Monday, without prejudice to the exceptions provided for in article 11 of Decree no. 9/2020, of November 21st, which are applicable with the necessary adaptations, and travel is also allowed for the purposes of participation, in any capacity, within the scope of the electoral campaign or the election of the President of the Republic, under the terms of Decree-Law 319-A/76, of May 3rd, in its current wording, namely for the purposes of exercising the right to vote.

Reference Decree 9/2020 Article 11 extracted here:

1 – Citizens cannot travel outside the municipality of the domicile in these periods, except for health reasons or other reasons of imperative urgency.

Exceptions here as previously

KissFm message from David Thomas

This was broadcast on KissFm on 20^th January 2021 - an update from an earlier one on 15^th January.

“Good morning

The new State of Emergency law is now in force until 2:359 hours on 30^th January.

This is a return to general confinement, similar to that we experienced in March and April.

There is a clear “Stay at Home” message here, but with some exceptions.

This replaces the four different tiers of restrictions that have been in place for some two months. Instead, there is one set of general measures applicable to all municipalities on the mainland.

As such this should be easier to understand.

The important message now is to STAY AT HOME unless your journey is really necessary and in accordance with the exemptions under the law.

Our mind set should be to focus on the rules, NOT the exemptions.

Our lifestyles will change as a result of this – if they do not, then we are failing to comply with these measures

The Covid-19 situation at present is far more serious than it was in March and April.

Unless everyone strictly complies with the measures, we will not beat this disease and the situation could get far worse, as forecast by experts

The entire SNS hospital system has now been upgraded to maximum contingency level.

In order to avoid overwhelming the health care system, we must therefore help all the doctors and nurses, in other words ‘the front line’ by following the rules

Ensure social distancing, undertake good hygiene, wear facemasks and be aware of the risks and how to reduce these”.

Thank you to KissFm.

State of Emergency Schools, Citizens Stores, Sports

DECREE 3C/2021 published 22nd January 2021

Decree 3C/2021 published this morning sets out the measures concerning the suspension of schools for 15 days, the arrangement concerning citizen’s stores and closure of sports facilities.

We published the announcement on our Facebook page yesterday.

Decree law published this morning provides more details for those who require this.

For your ease of reference we have highlighted in BOLD in the link the following articles and other measures we have found where changes have been made (near the start) namely:

Article 31 - Citizens stores

Article 31a - Suspension of academic activities

Article 31b - Essential service workers

Article 31c - Suspension of training activities

Article 4 and Annex 1 - Closure sports activities

Please note this is an informal translation into English to help non-Portuguese readers

Original version in Portuguese here

Informal translation into English here

New measures announced by the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Communique

The Council of Ministers approved the decree that makes a series of changes with regard to the measures that regulate the extension of the State of Emergency decreed by the President of the Republic.

In view of the worsening situation in the Covid-19 disease pandemic, and after analysing the information shared by epidemiologists and public health specialists, the Government determines a number of measures:

Please see the communique translated into English here

On leaving the Council of Ministers meeting this Thursday, the Prime Minister began by stating that there is a "sharp growth" in cases and an increase in the prevalence of the UK coronavirus strain in Portugal.

"Yesterday, the National Institute of Public Health Ricardo Jorge provided new data on the prevalence of the new strain in Portuguese society, having been referred to as the ‘UK strain’, which indicated a very sharp rise in the presence of this strain since last week," he explained.

"Last week we had 8% prevalence. This week we have 20% prevalence and prospective studies indicate that it may have a very significant growth, it may even reach 60% prevalence in the coming weeks".

In view of this new reality, Costa said, "we need to change a number of measures that were adopted last week".

Suspension of flights between Portugal and UK as announced by the Prime Minister António Costa

The Prime Minister announced this Thursday that, starting on Saturday midnight 22^nd/23^rd January, there will be a total suspension of flights between Portugal and the United Kingdom, with the exception of those that are of a humanitarian nature to repatriate Portuguese and British citizens.

António Costa announced this measure after having participated by videoconference in an informal summit of European Union leaders aimed at coordinating measures to combat Covid-19 among the 27 Member States.

"The Government has decided to completely stop flights to the United Kingdom and from the United Kingdom to Portugal as of 00:00 hrs Saturday (midnight 22nd/23rd January) in order to reduce the risk of contagion based on the new variant" of the coronavirus, said the Portuguese Prime Minister.

António Costa said that, as of Saturday, "only flights with a humanitarian nature will be carried out to ensure the repatriation of Portuguese who wish to return to Portugal, or of British citizens who wish to return to the United Kingdom".

According to the Prime Minister, during this informal meeting of leaders of the European Union, there was, globally, "a manifestation of great concern regarding the development of the pandemic, namely with regard to the growth driven by the new UK variant, especially in countries that have closer relations with the United Kingdom, as in Portugal ".

In terms of borders, António Costa considered that the "most important" decision taken at the informal summit was precisely related to the end of flights to the United Kingdom, or from the United Kingdom to Portugal.

At the informal summit of heads of state and government of the European Union, the Prime Minister stressed that it was decided to "keep the borders open" between the different member states.

"Regarding third countries, the decision was to maintain the existing measures to control the pandemic," he added.

Comment:

No further details at present nor a timeline. We await further details and the decree.

In effect there is already a ban in place as set out in an earlier Decree. The difference is that this appears to allow expatriation for humanitarian reasons. In effect there are very few if any fights between the UK and Portugal at present. Those wishing to travel should consider doing this indirectly where possible.

False health professionals call on people

DGS warns of false health professionals knocking on doors to schedule vaccination

Suspected cases of approaches by false health professionals should be reported to the police

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) alerts, through social networks, to false health professionals who go to people's homes to schedule vaccination against Covid-19 and recommends that cases be reported to the police." There are people knocking at the door and posing as health professionals who are going to schedule the vaccination," writes DGS on its Twitter account. "Don't open the door and report the case to the police." DGS stresses that "the vaccine is not scheduled at home".

Comment

The schedule can be found here

Prime Ministers Speaks concerning Vaccinations

The Prime Minister said today that the national vaccination plan is in line with the objectives of the European Commission and that, without incidents or unforeseen events, by the end of the summer, Portugal will have 70% of the adult population vaccinated.

This objective was assumed by António Costa at a press conference, at the end of a summit of European leaders, which took place by videoconference, after being confronted with the vaccination goals present in the plan of the European Commission.

"The European Commission's proposals are in line with our own vaccination plan and the doses that Portugal receives weekly result from the contracts defined by the European Commission itself. Therefore, the objectives are fixed taking into account the doses and the pace of their distribution", he started by declaring.

In this context, according to the Prime Minister, "if there is no problem in the process of distribution of vaccines, which are contracted and scheduled, Portugal will arrive at the end of the summer with conditions to have 70% of the population properly immunized".

However, António Costa immediately wanted to highlight the following warning: "There are several conditions that do not depend on us," he said, giving as examples changes in Pfizer factories or the recent road accident on the A2 motorway.

"Nobody knows if we are going to have other incidents. If there are no incidents, with the timetable defined and contracted between the European Commission and the different companies, as well as with the distribution calendar established for the different countries, this will allow everyone, and also in Portugal, 70% of the population is properly vaccinated and immunized ", he stressed.

Regarding the national vaccination plan, the Prime Minister said that, until today, a total of 202,150 vaccines have been administered and reiterated that Portugal "remains prepared to ensure vaccination at the expected rate, namely with vaccination of all users and collaborators of homes - an operation that is expected to be completed by the end of next week ".

Thank You

I thank our volunteer team members, who are involved with the Covid-19 work namely: Clare, Daniel, Elise, Eliana, Fernanda, Jane, Jennie, Jenny, Louise, Mike, and Sven, plus our key players who help keep the association running: Carlos, Colin, Jim, Lilia, Peter and Raoul.

Stay Safe everyone.

David Thomas

President

Safe Communities Portugal

A Reminder - Social distancing, hygiene and the wearing of face masks are the best ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

If you know others who would like to obtain our newsletter free of charge click here

Lastly we thank all our sponsors (listed at the end of this newsletter) who help keep Safe Communities going and developing.

David Thomas

President

Safe Communities Portugal

Volunteers needed to help our team with Covid-19

Monitor the news in Portugal and give us reports. Would you like to help us?

SCP can only publish correct and confirmed information. This means that we have great demands on both our sources and our volunteers.

Lastly we are looking for volunteers who have experience in either analysis or research type work who are used to valuing news and facts, to supplement our team during this period of crisis.

Precisely we need help in supplementing our team providing short daily situation reports for events happening in Portugal

You must also be able to write good English. If you feel you are the right person and want to contribute under Covid-19, send us a message here please with a brief description of your experience.

Together we can help keep the community in Portugal up to date!

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During the coronavirus our team of volunteers have worked 7 days a week to provide you with the best news and advice.

We do not receive or expect payment of these services as that is the nature of our work as a non-profit volunteer association

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How your friends can obtain up to date Crime Prevention advice

Please pass on details of Safe Communities Portugal to neighbours and friends so they to can benefit from the up to date crime prevention advice. Simply ask them to click on this link to obtain the latest newsletter: This is a free service.

David Thomas, MBE

President

Safe Communities Portugal

22nd January 2021