International COVID-19 Megathread

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

Outside masks will no longer be mandatory after 12 September. The two main parties, PS and PSD, have announced that they will not propose an extension of the outside mask mandate and outside masks will no longer be mandatory. However, some Health specialists are saying the decision maybe too early and the Health Authorities (DGS) suggest that people should still wear a mask outside if they meet in gatherings.

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

Outside masks will no longer be mandatory after 12 September. The two main parties, PS and PSD, have announced that they will not propose an extension of the outside mask mandate and outside masks will no longer be mandatory. However, some Health specialists are saying the decision maybe too early and the Health Authorities (DGS) suggest that people should still wear a mask outside if they meet in gatherings.

The Health authorities have published their guidelines for outdoor masks. Masks should be used in exterior events with gatherings, normal exterior gatherings and in school playgrounds.

Azores also announced that they will follow the decision to drop mandatory outdoor masks after next Sunday, 12 September. Madeira, on the other hand, seems that it will maintain the mandatory outdoor mask mandate, but it's not official yet.

[Mike88]

Congratulations for Portugal for the highly efficient vaccination! With more than 85% of the population partially vaccinated, it’s only the 2nd country in the world to surpass that landmark, behind only UAE which is already at more than 91%.

85% is considered by many the target to reach in order to control the pandemic. Good to see countries reaching that number. The world has lots of catching up to do.
Reuters

Our vaccination program was a huge, huge success. It started out badly in January, but since a navy admiral called Gouveia e Melo was nominated to lead the vaccination task force, the vaccination plan really took off with very good organization and massive turnout. Also, today was the last day of mandatory outside masks but Health officials are telling people to be carefull and use a mask when there's a lot of people congregated and so on.

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

Currently, 83.4% of the population is fully vaccinated and it's forecast that by 1 October, that number will reach 85%. Therefore, this afternoon, PM Costa announced that after 1 October many restrictions will be lifted, plus the opening of bars:

- Bars and Night Clubs can reopen, but a digital certificate will be mandatory;
- End of time limits in the operation of businesses;
- Restaurants are freed from having a limit of people in their premise;
- End of the digital certificate in restaurants and hotels;
- No capacity limitations for weddings, christenings, festivals and cultural events;

- Masks for children in playgrounds in schools was also retracted;
- Masks will continue mandatory on public transports, nursing homes, hospitals, mass events and shopping malls;

[Mike88]

Update on Portugal:

The situation here is a bit tense. Cases have been rising in the last two weeks or so, and Health authorities are already saying that all options are on the table, even a possible lockdown. At the same time, the 3rd vaccine shot campaign is not going well, with several delays and bad organization. The former vaccine taskforce leader, Admiral Gouveia e Melo, has already criticized the ongoing 3rd vaccine shot campaign, currently led by the government. PM Costa has also schedule a meeting to discuss the current Covid situation in the country.

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

Madeira regional government has announced new measures:

- Mask mandates will be reintroduced;
- Vaccine certificates will be mandatory in order to enter in any private or public venue;
- Mandatory testing for anyone who goes to public events;
- Anyone arriving in the islands without a vaccine taken will be asked to receive one, however this is not mandatory;

There are already questions if the Madeira government has authority to persue these restrictions. In the mainland, new measures are also expected in the next few days. The expected measures are the following:

- Mask mandates will also be reintroduced;
- Massive testing;
- Remote working could be reintroduced;

At the same time, Health authorities will give an additional shot to people who received the Janssen vaccine. Around 1 million people will be called, myself included, I expect.

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

PM Costa just announced a series of measures for the next 2 months:

- Remote working will be advised after December 1st;
- Mandatory masks in indoor spaces;
- Mandatory certificate in order to enter in Restaurants, Hotels, public events with marked seatings and gyms;
- Mandatory negative test in order to enter in nursing homes, hospitals visits, public events and bars/nightclubs;
- Mandatory negative test in order to enter in Portugal. Airline companies who don't comply with this could face fines or lose their flight permits in Portugal;
- Christmas school holidays will be extended until January 10th;

- On the week of 2 to 9 January 2022, bars and nightclubs will be closed and remote working will be mandatory;
- Increase in testing and Parliament could vote on outside mandatory masks;
- Vaccines for children between 5 and 11 are ready and are wainting for a final decision from Health authorities;

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

PM Costa just announced a series of measures for the next 2 months:

- Mandatory negative test in order to enter in Portugal. Airline companies who don't comply with this could face fines or lose their flight permits in Portugal;

The government has also confirmed that terrestrial and maritime entries to Portugal will also require a negative test in order to enter in the country. These meassures will take effect at midnight, 1 December.

[Mike88]

Portugal suspends flights to and from Mozambique and forces quarantines for passengers from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia e Zimbabwe. Travel to and from Mozambique is suspended after midnight 29 November, while passengers from the other African countries in the list will be forced to quarantine after midnight tonight. Passengers who passed by the countries on the list, will also be forced to quarantine when arriving in Portugal.

[Mike88]

13 cases of the Omicron variant confirmed in Portugal. They are all from Belenenses football club, mainly players. One of the infected made, recently, a trip to South Africa.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1465264419592675332?cxt=HHwWiIC5_b2O1dUoAAAA

The 13 cases of the omicron variant confirmed in Portugal are from Belenenses SAD players

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

The government is expected to announce new measures today. Costa's press conference has been delayed to an unknown hour yet, but the media is already reporting the main measures:

- The "contention week" that was going to start on 2 January, will be anticipated for 27 December and last two weeks until 9 January;
- Mandatory remote working;
- More testing;
- Closure of bars and nightclubs, until 9 January;
- Capacity limitation in shooping malls;

Other measures could also be announced, but only when the PM gives his statement. In the meantime, bars and nightclubs associations are furious with the government and are considering filing a lawsuite against the government.

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

The government is expected to announce new measures today. Costa's press conference has been delayed to an unknown hour yet, but the media is already reporting the main measures:

- The "contention week" that was going to start on 2 January, will be anticipated for 27 December 25 December and last two weeks until 9 January;
- Mandatory remote working;
- More testing;
- Closure of bars and nightclubs, until 9 January;
- Capacity limitation in shooping malls;

Other measures could also be announced, but only when the PM gives his statement. In the meantime, bars and nightclubs associations are furious with the government and are considering filing a lawsuite against the government.

Update:

These measures will start on Christmas day, 25 December. Adding to this, any new year's eve parties in hotels, casinos or restaurants have to have mandatory negative tests. Other public events, sport events, cultural events will continue to be required a negative test, also.

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

Health officials have reduced the number of days of isolation from 10 to 7. Also, people who contacted with an infected person but have already a booster dose of the vaccine don't have to isolate. Those without a booster shot would still have to isolate.

Cases have been growing in Portugal, a record 28,659 new cases today, but testing has been massive, with big lines in testing centers across the country, with some days with more the 300,000 tests conducted. In the last 10 days, more than 2,173,000 tests were conducted. Deaths continue low, as well hospitalizations and ICUs.

[Mike88]

Portugal update:

Cases continue to surge in Portugal, even though hospitalizations, ICUs and deaths remain relatively stable, compared with January 2020. The biggest focus of worry now is the massive increase of infections in children. Just today, 10,053 cases out of more than 58,000, are from children between the ages of 0 and 9.

I actually have a lot of friends isolated because their kids have Covid.

[Mike88]

The situation in China sounds absolutely nuts right now. People in Shanghai being forcibly removed to quarantine areas when they test positive, not allowed to go out to walk your dog or even buy groceries, basically impossible to get food delivered and people with chronic conditions dying because the entire hospital system has been re-oriented towards Covid. And apparently.... "zero deaths"

What as incredible demonstration of the eventual failure of "zero covid".

Plus, factories closed, harbours at half. We know how this will probably end...

[Mike88]

The situation in China sounds absolutely nuts right now. People in Shanghai being forcibly removed to quarantine areas when they test positive, not allowed to go out to walk your dog or even buy groceries, basically impossible to get food delivered and people with chronic conditions dying because the entire hospital system has been re-oriented towards Covid. And apparently.... "zero deaths"

What as incredible demonstration of the eventual failure of "zero covid".

Plus, factories closed, harbours at half. We know how this will probably end...

Well, how?

Probably adding with the current inflation rise due to the war, it could create supply shortages as China isn't exporting goods. Prices could rise even more and pressure for many economies could be unsustainable. China's zero covid strategy is really a massive disaster.

[Mike88]

Portugal is now the worst European country in terms of daily new cases, and PM Costa is already saying that if necessary, the government could bring back some health protection measures.

The Prime Minister said that the government is following the current trend of daily cases and will act in conformity. Costa pressed that the pandemic isn't over and everyone should be cautions, adding he still uses mask and disinfectant gel.

In the last 24 hours, 24,538 new cases were reported. New deaths, however, remain stable with 26 deaths.

[Mike88]

https://twitter.com/SCMPNews/status/1560204869343985664

What???