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Portugal´s only registered non-profit crime prevention and civil protection association providing dedicated information and support services to the community
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Newsletter - February 15th 2021
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Welcome
A warm welcome to this Newsletter.
And, when I say ‘warm’ I mean it, with a temperature of 20.2C in our garden in the central Algarve as I write.
A reminder that the new State of Emergency law came into effect midnight Sunday 14th/ Monday 15th February and extends for 15 days until 23:59 hrs 1st March 2021.
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David Thomas, President
Safe Communities Portugal
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It is the same as that has been in place up until yesterday, except the sale of books and school supplies is now permitted in retail establishments that are already in operation.
When the new extension of the State of Emergency was announced by the Prime Minister on Thursday evening, it came as little surprise that the confinement would continue, perhaps through March.
It is clear that these existing measures, the latest border restrictions and the closure of schools has reduced the movement of people and therefore the risk of transmission. In fact, the latest figures show RT [transmissibility ratio] of 0.77. If this is maintained therefore the number of new infections will continue to decrease, thereby placing less pressure on the health service.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Health have both emphasised that, despite the reductions we have seen over the last week or so, the numbers in hospital and ICU remain unacceptably high. The situation is also more complicated than previously, as there are a number of different variants of the coronavirus in circulation and these behave in different ways, so the task facing the health services has become far more complex.
António Costa made it clear that we must maintain the current level of confinement safely for the next 15 days and very realistically we will probably have to maintain it even during the month of March. He made an important point by saying that "in the same way that we should be pleased that the measures are producing good results, no-one should take them as sufficient reason to lighten the measures. We must maintain this effort".
In other words, as he said last year, we cannot take our foot off the brake at this stage, and undo what has been gained recently.
As you can see from this newsletter, there is now some optimism that the transmission of Covid-19 is being contained so the first item I will cover is yesterday’s figures.
This newsletter covers the following topics:
· Safe Communities Portugal bringing you up to date Covid-19 information for over one year
· Covid-19 Statistics
· Government announcement concerning extension of State of Emergency
· DGS Reduces Prophylactic Isolation to 10 days.
· Process to ensure your entitlement to vaccination under Phase One for those over 50 with certain pathologies
· Registration with the SNS to obtain an Número de Utente (health number)
· Vaccinations for those in Portugal who do not have residency and have not applied for it
· Crime prevention and enforcement
Stay safe and healthy
David Thomas
President, Safe Communities Portugal
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Safe Communities Portugal bringing you up to date Covid-19 information for over one year
Yes, it is true! we started producing our information on Covid-19 on 26th January 2020 and now we have become the largest provider to the foreign community in Portugal, through our website and Facebook page on this topic. In fact our Facebook page has now reached 40,000 followers compared with 17,000 a year ago.
Safe Communities Portugal has developed over 30 website pages that provides you with all the main measures in place in English. We update this using official government information when new laws are introduced concerning the State of Emergency.
To find the main measures concerning the State of Emergency law up until 1st March 2021, you can download the information here. Please note that this is for all municipalities regardless of risk.
FAQs
We realise however, it can be very difficult to follow all these new laws so we have, with the help of government information, published a list of FAQs on the current Emergency law that can be downloaded here.
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Covid-19 Statistics
These are the figures published by DGS yesterday. I have commented on these in terms of trends are concerned and I think you will agree it makes very positive reading.
Confirmed Cases: 785,756 (+ 1677 / + 0.21 %)
Number of admitted: 4.826 (-24 /-0.49 %)
Number of ICU admitted: 795 (-8 /-0.99 %)
Deaths: 15,321 (+ 138 / + 0.9 %)
Recovered: 665,316 (+ 3791 / + 0.57 %)
Active: 105,119 (-2252 / -2.09%)
Observations
- Deaths lowest in one day since 11th January (34 days)
- New cases – lowest since 27th December
- Recoveries exceed new cases again
- Number of active cases lowest since 10th January, decreasing for 14th consecutive day and a 42.1% decrease since 31st January (in 13 days)
- Those under surveillance lowest since 14th January
- Another decrease in hospitalisations and a decrease of 2043 in 13 days
- Decrease in ICU cases
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Portugal has the lowest daily average of new cases of contagion with new coronavirus since 31st December
In the weekly indicators on the pandemic, the National Statistics Institute (INE) registered on Wednesday a total of 29,511 cases accumulated in the previous seven days, corresponding to 4216 new cases on average per day, "the lowest value since December 31 2020 ".
The number of new confirmed cases in the previous seven days has been decreasing since January 28th, adds INE.
On February 10th, there was an incidence rate of 903 new cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in the previous 14 days, below the maximum of 1667 new cases per 100 thousand inhabitants reached on January 29th
The death toll between 4th and 31st January was highest in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon and in the Alentejo, with an average 1.8 times above the average for the same period in the years 2015 to 2019.
The INE indicates that between the 4th and the 31st of January, the number of deaths in 270 of the 308 municipalities was above the reference value of the previous five years, without indicating what percentage were deaths of people with Covid-19.
On February 2, 71% of the municipalities were at extremely high risk, with an incidence rate above 960 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in the previous 14 days, five percentage points less than in the previous week.
Of these 71%, 125 had an incidence rate greater than 1500. In 204 municipalities there was a reduction and in 103 there was an increase in this indicator.
All 18 municipalities in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon were in this situation, while in the northern region there were 67 out of 86 at the highest risk level, in the Centro region out of 100 and in Alentejo there were 39 out of 58 municipalities.
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Government announcement concerning extension of State of Emergency
Earlier the Government approved the measures that regulate the new State of Emergency decree, which will be in effect between 00:01 hrs on February 15th, 2021 and 23:59 hrs on March 1st, 2021.
Thus, the Council of Ministers decided to keep the measures of the previous State of Emergency in force, applicable to the entire continental territory.
In view of the state of the pandemic in the country, the Executive determined to maintain the existing measures in order to continue the downward trend. Especially because the numbers of new daily cases, hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths remain high, which is why it is necessary to maintain measures to combat the pandemic.
The confinement decided by the Government on January 15th has brought results to improve the epidemiological situation in Portugal. Thus, and in order to win the third wave at the same time that future waves are prevented, it becomes necessary not to relax the rules and reinforce the fight against the pandemic.
The Government also reinforces the call for the Portuguese to stay at home, leave only for the essentials, comply with the determinations of the Directorate-General for Health and respect the measures in force regarding the State of Emergency.
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DGS Reduces Prophylactic Isolation to 10 days.
The new standard from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) establishes that "a laboratory test for SARS-CoV-2 be carried out on the 10th day after the last high-risk exposure". Therefore, "obtaining a negative result" in this test "allows the anticipated end of prophylactic isolation to be established". That is, the quarantine period is reduced from 14 to 10 days in these cases.
The standard published last night, extends SARS-CoV-2 testing to all contacts, including conducting molecular tests to low risk "at the time of identification" of the contact.
According to the standard for tracking contacts in the context of the pandemic of the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which takes effect at 12:00 am on the 15th, Monday, "low-risk contacts should be tested for SARS-CoV -2 (molecular tests) at the moment of contact identification ".
The document also makes it clear that "in cluster or outbreak situations all contacts" must do "laboratory tests for SARS-CoV-2 (rapid antigen tests) as soon as possible, which can be repeated sequentially, under the coordination of health authorities ".
The extension of testing to all contacts with infected people had already been announced on Wednesday by DGS and the Minister of Health, Marta Temido.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the entity under the supervision of Graça Freitas explained that, "given the current epidemiological situation, whether due to the emergence" of strains detected in other countries and that, meanwhile, they have already spread throughout Portugal, or because of "the decrease in daily incidence "of infections, DGS would update the guidelines.
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Covid-19 Phase One Vaccination
Process to ensure your entitlement to vaccination for those over 50 with certain pathologies
This is applicable for those registered on the SNS system with your Centro de Saúde and already have a Número de Utente, but use private doctors elsewhere.
Those who are already attending their Centro de Saúde will be contacted through SMS ahead of the vaccination.
For those using private doctors it is important that the Centro de Saúde is aware of those who need to be vaccinated in phase one aged over 50 years due to the person’s pathologies:
Those in Phase One are:
From February 2021:
• People aged ≥50 years, with at least one of the following pathologies:
- Cardiac insufficiency
- Coronary heart disease
- Renal failure (Glomerular Filtration Rate <60ml / min)
- (COPD) or chronic respiratory disease under ventilator support and / or long-term oxygen therapy
As well as those 80 years and over with/without pathologies
The Process – though contacting your private doctor
1. You should contact your private doctor to issue an electronic declaration through the Electronic Medical Prescription (PEM) system, attesting that you are over 50 years old and one of the comorbidities that justifies you to be vaccinated in phase 1
2. The private doctor makes a declaration, through the Electronic Medical Prescription, and the user is informed by text message (SMS). This is an upload directly onto the PEM system and you DO NOT have to visit your Centro de Saúde with your updated records. Ensure your doctor has all your up to date contact details and SNS Número de Utente. This is a 9 digit number, not your social security number.
3. Wait until you are contacted in due course for a vaccination appointment in an ACES (Centro de Saúde).
Safe Communities has been liaising with ARS Algarve and we are grateful for their help in describing the full process and the action that those using private doctors and entitled for vaccination under phase one now need to take. This is the process in English here:
To check what phase you are in please enter the details here. This is only indicative.
Please note: This is for Phase One only - Similar arrangements will be for Phase 2 in due course.
PLEASE STUDY - We will try to answer questions where we can
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Vaccinations
You have residency but are not registered with the SNS with a Número de Utente (health number)
We are discussing with the Director of ARS Algarve concerning this topic as it is not easy at this stage to visit your Centro de Saude with the necessary paperwork and apply for one. As such we are pleased to announce that this can be done by email, including those who have applied for residency, but it has not yet be granted.
If you are living here and have residency it is important that you register now in order to ensure your entitlement to a Covid-19 vaccine, as scheduled.
Now it can be done through a simple email as follows to the link below. Please note that we have tried to find the links from other regions, but the following is what we have so far.
ALGARVE
We have received the following information for those resident in Algarve to apply for the number
From ARS Algarve: Through our Department we can assign the user number, for this we request that the following data be sent to the email of the Department of Public Health of ARS Algarve, [email protected]
The following details are required:
• Full name
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Place/town of Birth
• Passport number or residence permit (attach copy)
• Full address
• Phone / mobile number (Portuguese)
Note: For those who have made an application for a residency permit but have yet to receive it:
Send a receipt of a request for residency permit issued by SEF, or a proof of appointment to obtain a residency permit, or other proof of a similar request issued electronically by SEF
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Crime Report & Prevention by our special correspondent, Leanne Turner
The 4th International Drugs Conference was virtually hosted by Europol this year. Delegates from EU and non-EU countries and international organisations attended the 4th Annual Drugs in Europe Conference, enhancing law enforcement responses to high-risk organised crime.
The conference focused on Europe's unprecedented drug situation. As organised crime is increasing, this poses the highest and most diverse risk to EU internal security. Drug trafficking is the cornerstone of the criminal activities of these high-risk organised crime groups and neither the Covid-19 pandemic nor related restrictions have had a decreasing impact on their activities. Europol holds this annual conference to offer a platform for senior law enforcement officials to enhance the situational awareness of drugs and to assess and discuss proper operational future responses.
Europol's Executive Director Catherine De Bolle remarked in her keynote speech: “The fight against drug trafficking is one of the top crime priorities in the European Union and a priority of Europol's strategy 2020+ which led to the establishment of a dedicated Drugs Unit. We will continue to support EU Member States in their investigations, targeting individuals that constitute the highest risk of serious and organised crime threats. Europol contributes to a measurable reduction to the availability of illicit drugs by providing operational and strategic services to law enforcement.”
Five factors that indicate the seriousness of the situation:
1. Supply: the supply of all kinds of drugs is increasing and so are the numbers of substantial seizures. The number of cross-border organised crime investigations supported by Europol has increased between 2018 and 2019. This increasing trend has also continued in 2020 despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, Europol supported an investigation that dismantled an international drug trafficking network, which was responsible for the annual importation of at least 45 tonnes of cocaine into main European seaports, with profits exceeding €100 million in six months. Recent intelligence indicates significant changes in trends of cocaine-related trafficking, with the EU becoming the leading destination.
2. High illicit profits: billions of euros in profits from drug trafficking support a vast underground economy that threatens Europeans’ prosperity, particularly in economic downturn situations such as those created by the current pandemic. High-risk organised crime groups are making extensive profits – at least €110 billion a year. Despite comprehensive money laundering legislation in EU Member States, asset-tracing results in terms of confiscations remain at an extremely low level. Of the billions of euros generated by the illicit drug trade in Europe, a low percentage is confiscated and more needs to be done to address this situation.
3. Drug-related deaths: numbers in Europe are at an all-time high. These mostly affect younger, more vulnerable members of society. This situation looks set to worsen as drug purities increase and an increasing number of hazardous substances reach the market.
4. Violence: the involvement of organised crime groups in the drug supply chain brings violence and security threats to our societies. Europol sees an increase in the number and quality of violent attacks associated with organised crime and, in particular, drug trafficking in the EU over recent months. Contract killings, shootings, bombings and stabbings are used by drug traffickers to intimidate associates, remove competitors and threaten officials and the public.
5. Corruption: drug trafficking is an entire criminal industry that largely relies on corruption to function. Eliminating corruption will go a long way in reducing the supply of drugs in the EU.
Europol organised the annual conference for the fourth year in a row to increase the understanding of the latest trends in illicit drug production and trafficking and to agree on bold law enforcement responses to protect the public from the threats posed by illicit drugs. Given the rapid evolution of both crime trends and operational response measures, Europol hosts this drug conference annually.
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Famalicão man accused of 452 crimes of sexual abuse and rape
The Public Ministry (MP) accused a 44-year-old man from Cruz, Vila Nova de Famalicão, with 452 crimes of sexual abuse and rape, the victims being his two daughters, according to the statement by Lusa.
The defendant, a welder, is also accused of the crime of domestic violence against women.
According to the MP, the main victim of sexual abuse was the eldest daughter of the couple. The abuse started when she was 13, when her father said he was going to "prepare her for the future". The abuse only stopped when their daughter, aged 21, told a friend what was going on and put forward a complaint with the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV).
The abuse was almost always committed at the family home, but also took place on a hill close to the home. As the daughter approached adulthood, the accused started to intensify control over her and later, when the daughter started dating, he would only let her go to her boyfriend if she had sex with him first and controlled her using threats, usually in the form of death threats.
The sexual abuse would occur almost every week.
For his role in relation to the abuse of his eldest daughter, the accused is charged with 52 crimes of aggravated child sexual abuse, 208 crimes of aggravated child abuse and 191 crimes of aggravated rape.
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Do you know what behaviours define stalking? PSP helps you……
It is a "form of violence in which one person persistently imposes a set of harassing behaviours on another". Police units have launched several missions within this framework.
The Public Security Police (PSP) used social networks to explain to the Portuguese what behaviours define stalking. The Authority also took the opportunity to draw attention to the various missions it performs within this framework.
Stalking "is a form of violence in which one person persistently imposes on another set of harassing behaviours that are unwanted and/or intrusive", explains the PSP.
"Persistent harassment," he continues, "can be committed by acquaintances or strangers through a repeated pattern and real threats with the intent of instability of the victim."
But what characterizes stalking?
· 'Hunting' behaviour (waiting, watching);
· The manipulation (sending SMS with threats, apologies, etc.);
· Coercion (through constraints on the victim's social life);
· Invasion of the victim's space (introduction to the victim's residence, chase on foot or by car, appearance in places close to the residence, workplace/study).
Through its Proximity and Victim Support Teams (EPAV), the Public Security Police performs the missions of "carrying out a diagnosis of the security situation" and "aiding and support to victims of crime", as well as advising and maintaining the availability of self-protection methods for the community
PSP also seeks "community collaboration" and "continues with the identification and survey of problems", collaborating "with social support services".
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Covid-19 Waste Crime: Europe-Wide Operation To Tackle Unlawful Sanitary Waste Disposal
Almost 280 000 inspections and 102 arrests to prevent infections spread through waste.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Europol identified the potential growth in unlawful sanitary waste treatment and disposal, as a result Europol launched Operation Retrovirus. Officers carried out inspections and checks on sanitary waste plants and transportation, which were crucial in halting the illegal trafficking, storage, dumping and shipment of waste and document fraud.
Thirty countries took part in Operation Retrovirus, including the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment, the EnviCrime Network, Frontex, INTERPOL, the El PAaCTo project and The European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL).
Around 280 000 Inspections and 102 Arrests so far:
- 278 291 inspections performed
- 102 arrests made
- More than 819 entities and individuals given administrative sanctions
- €800 000 in assets seized
- 22 seizures of waste
20 Arrests in Spain and assets worth €800 000 seized in Portugal
The Spanish Civil Guard’s environmental unit, SEPRONA (Guardia Civil) investigated the activities of an enterprise operating in Barcelona, Madrid, Murcia, Valencia, Tarragona and Zaragosa. The company had links with another organisation operating in Lisbon, Portugal. Spanish officers searched 9 locations and arrested 20 individuals for crimes against the environment, labour rights and public health. The sanitary waste, collected by the company, is normally supposed to be sterilised at high pressure to eliminate all hazardous components. To increase profits, the company reduced the time of treatment. This resulted in the waste not being properly sterilised before disposal; an inadequate treatment which caused high risks for public health.
In Portugal, the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana) inspected more than 2 000 companies, hospitals and health centres. The activities led to administrative violations, 30 arrests and the seizures of assets worth almost € 790 000.
Law enforcement authorities also focused on the transport of sanitary waste across the EU. Authorities from Czechia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia checked cargo and identified illegal shipments, which were then sent back to their country of origin.
Another trend identified during the operation was the possible pollution of urban residual waters. The Spanish Civil Guard launched operation Arcovid to investigate the filtering treatments of the water for pollutants and the possible presence of Covid-19.
First Global Operation of its kind
Europol identified the need for operational activity on this phenomenon early in the pandemic and launched the operation worldwide. Europol supported the operation by providing analytical and operational support and coordination and facilitated a secure instant communication exchange between the participating authorities. Europol also supported investigators with the extraction of encrypted data from mobile devices and operational analysis in real-time during action days.
Thirty Countries involved
This long-term operation has had the involvement of the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.
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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, Leanne 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
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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
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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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IF YOU ARE PLEASED WITH OUR SERVICES PLEASE MAKE A DONATION
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
However we have incurred extra costs through upgrades to website, translation work, printing and administrative costs for example.
Your generosity by making a donation to help maintain and further develop the work of the association and thereby help keep Portugal a safe place to live and visit would be appreciated. Any amount helps.
Three ways to make a donation Please visit our donation page here with all the details and how money is spent
Paypal - If you would like to make a donation through Paypal please visit our donation page and click on the "Paypal donate" button.
By cheque - If you wish to donate by cheque the bank account name is "Associacao SCP Safe Communities Portugal" and cheques can be posted to Caixa 207-Z, Alfontes, Boliqueime, 8100-062, Algarve.
By interbank transfer - If you wish to donate through inter- bank transfer please use the same name with the following account details NIB 0033 0000 4542 9864 44705.
All donations should be marked "Donation for crime prevention". Thank you.
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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
15th February 2021
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Thank you to all of our sponsors:
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