Portugal with 26 419 new cases and 22 dead in the last 24 hours
Portugal registered another 26 419 cases of covid-19 in the last 24 hours, according to the epidemiological bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) this Sunday (January 9,), no more 22 deaths associated with SARS-CoV infection were reported – two.
In Portuguese hospitals there are now 1449 inpatients (61 more than the day before) due to covid-19, of which 40 are in intensive care units (less 3).
Restrictions that come into effect this Monday
The resolution of the Council of Ministers that changes the measures to contain the pandemic, promoting the reinforcement of testing and vaccination, enters into force at midnight on January 10th.
Assuming that an uncertainty about the evolution of the covid-19 virus and pandemic and about the severity of the Omicron variant requires “caution and prudence”, the document maintains or extends some of the measures that were already in force, even advancing some new ones.
All measures that come into effect
1- Raised imposition of testing in some hypotheses
Citizens who reveal a booster dose of a vaccine against covid-19 for more than 14 days are no longer required to test negative for SARS-CoV-2.
In what he called an “incentive” for people to get vaccinated again, António Costa indicated that those who do not have a booster dose will continue to have to test negative for visits to homes for the elderly or sick in hospitals.
Those vaccinated with a booster dose are also no longer required to test themselves in order to have access to major events, events without marked seats or in improvised venues and sports venues.
2- Mandatory digital certificate for access to restaurants, hotels or cultural events
Access to cultural shows and events with marked places is, from Monday, subject to the presentation of a digital certificate, which includes either an antigen or negative PCR test carried out within the previous 48 or 72 hours, respectively, or the complete vaccination schedule.
Access to restaurants and hotel adapters will also be subject to presentation of the digital certificate.
3- Positive contacts in the work environment are no longer isolated
According to a new norm from the General Directorate of Health, isolation continues to apply “in the case of cohabitants with people who tested positive”, which implies that “a contact in a work environment, as long as it is not cohabiting, does not determine isolation “, specified António Costa.
The new rule, which went into effect on Wednesday, has meant that 267,315 people have terminated or seen their isolation time reduced.
4- Schools reopen on January 10th
The schools will reopen next Monday, with António Costa considering that “they can return to normality, as planned”.
Students are no longer obligated to isolation when there is a positive case in the same class, and in the coming weeks, all teachers, aides, and assistants should be required to take tests.
The testing takes place in parallel with “a vaccination operation that is ongoing until the 9th for all children between the ages of 5 and 11 and for teaching and non-teaching staff”.
5- Telework changes from mandatory to recommended from January 14th
Teleworking will remain mandatory until January 14, being recommended from that date onwards, as part of the measures to combat the covid-19 pandemic.
In December, the executive had determined that telecommuting will be mandatory at least between the 25th of that month and January 9th.
6- Bars and clubs reopen on the mainland but street alcohol is still banned
Discos and Discover in mainland territory, which were forced to close from December 25th, can reopen on the 14th, but whoever enters will continue to have to present a negative test.
The Government continues to prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public roads.
7- Control is maintained at airports until February 9th
Passengers landing at Portuguese airports must continue to present a negative test for SARS-CoV-2 and will be maintained as supported for flights and airlines that contravene this requirement.
Since December 1, 2021, all passengers arriving in Portugal by air are required to present a negative test or recovery certificate upon arrival.
Passengers on domestic flights, children under 12 years old or crew are exempt from having to present these tests.
8- Government works with local authorities to expand early voting in the 30th day legislatures
António Costa said that the expansion of anticipated voting is underway with the local authorities, increasing the number of tables to vote on the 23rd, defending that “legal security is needed and to guarantee the absolute transparency of the electoral act” and the conditions in which people in isolation voted.
The Government asked the Advisory Council of the Attorney General’s Office for an opinion to clarify under what conditions, or if in any condition it is susceptible to the limitation of the right to vote due to the fact that there is prophylactic isolation, whether of cohabitants or of people who attracted infected, “he said.
The executive will also meet with parties with parliamentary representation to debate how to organize the vote and priority will be given to a dose of vaccine booster for those who are part of the polling stations.
9- Interim Insulation Statements Available Without Call
It is no longer necessary to call the SNS24 hotline to obtain a provisional declaration of prophylactic isolation.
It is now possible to automatically issue a provisional isolation declaration for cases of people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus without symptoms or with mild illness, or for high-risk contacts.
10- More than three million inoculated with a booster dose
More than three million Portuguese citizens received a third dose of vaccine against covid-19.
António Costa referred that 89% of the population has already completed the primary vaccination course and for age groups over 65, there is “83% booster dose coverage”.
The daily average of administered doses is 84,000 and can rise to 94,000, said António Costa, who also highlighted the “very fast rise in testing” observed since the beginning of December, the month in which “five million tests were carried out ” , with a record of more than 402,000 tests on December 30th.