COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal | |
---|---|
Disease | COVID-19 |
Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
Location | Portugal |
First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
Index case | Porto |
Arrival date | 2 March 2020 (1 year, 11 months, 2 weeks and 3 days) |
Confirmed cases | 3,163,869[2] |
Active cases | 207,859[1] |
Recovered | 1,207,711[1] |
Deaths | 20,759[2] |
Fatality rate | 0.66% |
Vaccinations | |
Government website | |
covid19 |
The COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal is part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 2 March 2020, the virus was confirmed to have reached the country when it was reported that two men, a 60-year-old doctor who travelled to the north of Italy on vacation and a 33-year-old man working in Spain, tested positive for COVID-19.[3][4] On 16 March 2020, the first death from COVID-19 was reported in Portugal.
On 11 October 2020, the number of confirmed cases in Portugal exceeded the number of confirmed cases in China. On 19 October 2020, the number of confirmed cases in the country crossed the 100,000-mark. The number of confirmed cases in Portugal also crossed the 200,000-mark on 13 November 2020, the 300,000-mark at the beginning of December 2020, the 400,000-mark on 29 December 2020, the 500,000-mark on 13 January 2021, the 600,000-mark on 22 January 2021, the 700,000-mark on 30 January 2021, the 800,000-mark on 22 February 2021, the 900,000-mark on 9 July 2021 and the one-million-mark on 14 August 2021. On 2 March 2021, the first anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country was commemorated. It was six days after the number of confirmed cases in Portugal exceeded 800,000.
As of 24 October 2021, Portugal administered about 16.6 million doses; over 9 million people had received at least 1 dose and over 8.86 million people were fully vaccinated, 87% and 86% of eligible population, respectively.[5]
The country is currently undergoing a fifth wave of the pandemic. That situation was announced by the DGS in November 2021.[6]
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[7][8]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[9][10] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[11][9]
Timeline
2020
March
- March 2: The first two recorded cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Portugal.[12]
- March 12: The Portuguese government declared the highest level of alert because of COVID-19 and said it would be maintained until 9 April.[13] Portugal entered a Mitigation Phase as Community transmission was detected.
- March 18: The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, declared the entirety of the Portuguese territory in a State of Emergency for the following fifteen days, with the possibility of renewal, the first since the Carnation Revolution in 1974.[14]
- March 24: The Portuguese Government admitted that the country could not contain the virus any longer.
- March 26: The country entered the "Mitigation Stage". The health care sites dedicated to fighting the disease started including the Portugal Health centres groups (agrupamentos de centros de saúde, ACES).[15]
April
- April 2: The Parliament approved[16] the extension of the State of Emergency, as requested by the President.[17] The State of Emergency will remain until 17 April, subject to further extensions of similar duration. Under the new regulations, for the Easter traditions, from 9 April (Maundy Thursday) to 13 April (Easter Monday) the Portuguese Government decreed special measures in restricting people movements between municipalities (Portuguese: municípios or concelhos) with very few exceptions, closing all airports to civil transportation and increased control in the national borders.
- April 30: The Portuguese Ministers' Council approved a plan to start releasing the country from the COVID-19 container measures and cancelling the State of Emergency.[18]
May
- May 2: The State of Emergency was canceled.
- May 4: Portugal started the first phase in easing restrictions. Small street stores reopened (see Response, Return to Normal section).[19]
- May 18: Portugal entered the second phase in easing restrictions. Nurseries and the last two years of the secondary school reopened, along with restaurants, cafés, medium-sized street stores and some museums, all with mandatory usage of mask and distance rules.
September
- September 15: "state of alert" to nationwide "state of contingency". The decision is thought to prepare the country for the return of students and teachers for the new academic year, the return of workers into the workplace from months of work-from-home policies and for the possible surge of new cases due to the beginning of fall and winter.[20][21] The following measures were adopted:[22]
- Mandatory domiciliary or hospital confinement for people infected with COVID-19 or subject to active health surveillance.
- Prohibition of gatherings with more than 10 people.
- Prohibition of the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public areas.
- Prohibition of sales of alcoholic beverages in service areas and gas stations.
- General commercial establishments have to be closed at 8 p.m.
- Supermarkets can remain open until 10 p.m, however the sale of alcoholic beverages after 8 p.m is prohibited.
- Restaurants can remain open beyond 8 p.m for local consumption (both in the interior of the commercial establishment or on the outside, where permitted) and for take-away services and home delivery.
- Closing time for the following establishments were not fixed: gas stations (which can remain open 24 hours per day exclusively for the sale of fuel), pharmacies, funeral homes, sports establishments, clinics and medical establishments.
October
2021
January
- January 15 : Government reinstates nationwide lockdown due to a surge in new cases.[25]
- January 17 : Portugal registers the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe per capita over the last seven days, according to Oxford University's ourworldindata.org.[26]
- January 21 : Government declares closure of all schools, kindergartens and universities for at least 15 days.[27][28] The decision was motivated by the increase in infections caused by the UK SARS-CoV-2 variant.[29]
- January 22: Catholic bishops decide to discontinue the public celebration of Masses, Baptisms, Confirmations, marriages, and other pastoral activities, as of January 23. The Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima has been negatively impacted by the pandemic measures.[30]
- January 23: Portugal registers record number of daily cases (15,333) and the highest number of people in intensive care units (720) since the beginning of the pandemic.[31] Death toll passes the 10,000 mark (10,194).[32][33]
- January 26: Portugal registers record number of daily deaths (291).[34]
March
- March 11 : The country launches its second time lockdown for a month. There are now a totaling 813,152 confirmed cases, 16,650 deaths since the pandemic broke out and 793,162 people have taken the vaccination.[35]
April
- Portugal is back to lockdown for the second time since 15 Jan 2021.
- April 22, health authorities reported that the country has a total of 833,397 confirmed cases with 16,957 deaths.[36]
November
- November 29, it was announced 13 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant were detected amongst players and staff of top division Lisbon soccer club Belenenses SAD.[37]
December
- December 1, health authorities ordered all members of Portuguese soccer club C.D. Tondela to go into isolation following a new surge in coronavirus cases in the country.[38]
Response
Information access
Information about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the country is hosted on the DGS home website.[39] However, due to the severity of the pandemic a separate website was created dedicated specifically to coronavirus information and updates under the Portuguese Ministry of Health.[40] Another governmental website was later created to deal with more generic information explaining the emergency status, public information and exceptional measures to help business.[41]
The Ministry of Health provides a web page with information for the public about different areas,[42] including brochures, orientation and guidance for different activity sectors, how to deal with self-isolation, and quarantine games for children. As an example there are several Portuguese food recipes with canned food.[43]
Hospitals for COVID-19
The following is a list of the front line COVID-19 hospitals.[44]
Region | Hospital | Adults | Pediatric |
---|---|---|---|
Northern | Braga | ||
Santo António | |||
São João | |||
Pedro Hispano | |||
Central | CHU Coimbra | ||
ULS Guarda | |||
Lisbon and Tagus Valley |
Santa Maria | ||
Curry Cabral | |||
Dona Estefânia | |||
Algarve | Faro | ||
Madeira | Dr. Nélio Mendonça | ||
Azores | Santo Espírito (Terceira) |
Fiscal Policy Response
In 2020, Portugal allocated €600 million per month to financial support for workers furloughed by their employers.[45] Roughly €1.3 billion were allocated to incentivize a gradual reopening and return to economic activity, and €13 billion in lines of credit were extended to small and mid-size businesses.[45] Tax and Social Security Contribution deferrals totaling €7.9 billion for companies and employees were enacted.[45] The APOIAR Program was introduced, extending €.8 billion in loans to small businesses.[45] As of March 12, an additional €296 million were allocated to improving the capacity of the National Health System.[46]
The 2021 budget includes extension of support for businesses, including assistance with non-housing rents for some firms, with subsidies of up to 50% of rent being granted.[45] Large companies in sectors of the economy hurt by the pandemic, namely the tourism sector, received €750 billion in loans and subsidies.[45] On August 2, 2021, support available for businesses forced to remain closed via the APOIAR program was increased, with small businesses whose income declined by more than 50% being eligible for €41,250 in financial support.[47] Moreover, a moratorium on repayment of business loans lasting six months was enacted, and subsequently extended until September 2021.[48] In April, Portugal presented the Recovery and Resiliency Plan to the European commission, including €14 billion in grants and €2.7 billion in loans.[49] The European Commission approved Portugal's Recovery and Resilience plan, adopting a positive assessment of the plan.[49] As of May, the Portuguese government has announced a €6 billion plan to reactivate the tourism industry.[50]
Return to normal
On April 30, 2020, the Portuguese Ministers' Council approved a plan to start releasing the country from COVID-19 containment measures and cancel the State of Emergency.[18] The plan was divided in three stages, beginning respectively on 4 May, 24 May and 1 June 2020.
The first stage eased some restrictions,[51] such as:
- Barbers and hair salons are open but with health restrictions, mask usage and only by appointment
- Small shops with less than 200m2 can open but cannot have more than 5 customers/100m2 and all must use masks
- People can use public transportation if they are not able to work remotely. Transport vehicles can only be filled to two thirds capacity and all passengers must use a mask
- All public services are open to everyone with an appointment and is an obligation the use of a mask
- Physical exercise can only be done outdoors or at home
- Libraries and Archives are open
- Groups of more than 10 people are not allowed
Impact
Due to movement restrictions imposed by the state of emergency started in March 18 and the adoption of government guidelines on social distancing by the Portuguese people, otherwise highly populated streets and destinations in cities like Lisbon and Porto were completely empty.[52][53]
LGBT+ youth
A study by the Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto (FPCEUP) aimed at “assessing the psychological health and social support networks” of LGBT+ young people who live with their parental figures during the COVID-19 pandemic concluded, based on a survey of 632 young LGBT+ people, who most did not feel comfortable in their families during confinement.[54]
Of the people surveyed, 59% said they were uncomfortable in the family and three out of 10 felt “quite uncomfortable” living at home with parents during social confinement.[54]
In addition, 35% of young people felt “suffocated” because they were unable to express their identity within the family, whereas in the case of young people whose family was aware of their identity, 35% stated that they “deal badly or very badly" thereby.[54]
This study, with a longitudinal and intercultural character, also concluded that six out of 10 participants considered that the pandemic had “greatly” affected their lives.[54]
With regard to social support networks, half of the young people admitted to feeling isolated from their friends and 35% "extremely isolated" from their partners.[54]
“As for the present study, if for some young people the covid-19 pandemic had no impact on their social support networks, an important proportion felt quite isolated from their friends”, says FPCEUP.[54]
Vaccination
Vaccine donations to former colonies
Portugal announced that it would distribute 5% of its vaccine doses to a group of former colonies in Africa and to the nation of East Timor. Portugal is entitled to 35 million vaccine doses in 2021. Donating 5% of its stock means the country would give 1.75 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor. So far, they have committed to donate 1 million doses starting in July 2021.[55]
Statistics
Total confirmed cases | 1,169,003 (+2,216) |
---|---|
Total confirmed deaths | 18,551 (+14) |
Active cases | 62,157 (+794) |
Under surveillance | 77,283 (+1,204) |
Recovered | 1,088,295 (+1,408) |
Currently admitted to hospital | 948 (+37) |
Currently admitted to ICU | 135 (+1) |
Cases per 100 000 (national/continental) | 410.4 / 413.9 |
R(t) (national/continental) | 1.1 / 1.11 |
People with at least one vaccine dose | 9 053 901 (87%) |
---|---|
People completely vaccinated | 8 925 907 (86%) |
Doses received | 23 017 910 |
Doses distributed | 17 211 348 |
At least one vaccine dose | Complete vaccination | |
---|---|---|
0–17 | 562 026 (90%) | 542 632 (87%) |
18–24 | 729 806 (93%) | 709 115 (91%) |
25–49 | 3 203 605 (96%) | 3 142 142 (94%) |
50–64 | 2 171 685 (100%) | 2 153 029 (99%) |
65–79 | 1 689 071 (100%) | 1 683 474 (100%) |
⩾80 | 697 198 (100%) | 695 354 (100%) |
The following graphs show the evolution of the pandemic starting from 2 March 2020, the day the first cases were confirmed in the country.[56]
Total confirmed and recovered cases
New cases per day
Total confirmed cases by age and gender
The following chart displays the proportion of total cases by age and gender on August 20, 2021.[57][58]
Total confirmed deaths
New deaths per day
Total confirmed deaths by age and gender
The following chart displays the proportion of total deaths by age and gender on December 6, 2021.[57][58]
Hospital admitted cases – Stable
Hospital admitted cases – ICU
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Ponto de Situação em Portugal". covid19.min-saude.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ritchie, Hannah; Mathieu, Edouard; Rodés-Guirao, Lucas; Appel, Cameron; Giattino, Charlie; Ortiz-Ospina, Esteban; Hasell, Joe; Macdonald, Bobbie; Beltekian, Diana; Dattani, Saloni; Roser, Max (2020–2021). "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Our World in Data. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ↑ "Ministra confirma primeiro caso positivo de coronavirus em Portugal". Expresso. 2 March 2020.
- ↑ "Confirmados dois primeros casos de contágio pelo novo coronavirus em Portugal". TSF. 2 March 2020.
- ↑ "Portugal está a enfrentar a quinta vaga pandémica, alerta DGS (com áudio)". DGS - O Jornal Económico. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ↑ "Portugal está a enfrentar a quinta vaga pandémica, alerta DGS (com áudio)" (PDF). DGS - Ministério da Saúde. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ↑ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ↑ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- 1 2 "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ↑ "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ↑ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ↑ "Covid-19. Estado de alerta até pelo menos 9 de abril". Expresso. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Mensagem do Presidente da República ao País sobre a declaração do estado de emergência (Palácio de Belém, 18 de março de 2020)" [Message of the President of the Republic to the Country on the declaration of a state of emergency]. Presidency of the Portuguese Republic (in Portuguese). 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ↑ "Portugal em fase de mitigação a partir de quinta-feira". Expresso (in Portuguese). 24 March 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Parlamento aprova prolongamento do estado de emergência até 17 de abril". Sapo (in Portuguese). 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Projeto do Decreto do Presidente da República de Renovação do Estado de Emergência" (PDF). Presidency of the Portuguese Republic (in Portuguese). 1 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- 1 2 "Plano de desconfinamento em Portugal: conheça aqui todas as datas e medidas". Sic Notíicias. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Mitchell, Damon (8 May 2020). "Portugal's ease of restrictions in detail as the country prepares to come out of Covid-19 lockdown". EuroWeekly News. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ↑ "Portugal em situação de contingência a partir de 15 de setembro". Sic Notícias.
- ↑ "Portugal regride para situação de contingência a 15 de setembro". Jornal de Notícias.
- ↑ "O que é a situação de contingência, a aplicar a todo o país a partir de 15 de setembro". Jornal de Notícias.
- ↑ "Portugal entra em estado de calamidade". DGS.
- ↑ "Estado de calamidade: 10 perguntas e respostas sobre o que se pode ou não fazer nos próximos 15 dias". Expresso.
- ↑ "Governo anuncia novas medidas para controlar a pandemia". DGS.
- ↑ "Portugal's health system on brink of collapse as COVID-19 cases surge". Reuters. 17 January 2021.
- ↑ "Aulas interrompidas por 15 dias sem ensino à distância". Público.
- ↑ "Das escolas às lojas do cidadão. O que muda nos próximos 15 dias?". Expresso.
- ↑ "Variante inglesa fecha escolas, creches e ATL". Jornal de Notícias.
- ↑ "Portugal's Catholic bishops suspend public Masses amid rising COVID-19 cases". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ↑ "Boletim. Há 720 doentes em cuidados intensivos, também um novo máximo". Observador.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Boletim. Novos máximos: 274 mortes e 15.333 novos casos nas últimas 24 horas". Observador.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Covid-19 em Portugal. Mais 274 mortes e 15.333 casos confirmados". Público.
- ↑ "Relatório de Situação nº 330 - 26/01/2021" (PDF).
- ↑ "CORONAVIRUS IN THE WORLD AS OF SUNDAY 14 MARCH 2021: LATEST CASE AND DEATH TOLLS IN 24H PER COUNTRY". Sortiraparis. Julie M. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ↑ "Coronavirus in the world: latest case and death tolls in 24h per country". www.sortiraparis.com. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ↑ Demony, Catarina; Khalip, Andrei (29 November 2021). "Portugal finds 13 cases of Omicron variant at Lisbon soccer club". Reuters. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ↑ "Portuguese club Tondela put into isolation because of virus". AP NEWS. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ↑ "DGS website". Direção-Geral da Saúde.
- ↑ "COVID-19 - Página Inicial". covid19.min-saude.pt.
- ↑ Estamos On (We are ON)
- ↑ "Materiais de Divulgação - COVID-19". covid19.min-saude.pt.
- ↑ "Receitas Enlatados Isolamento" (PDF).
- ↑ "Coronavírus: A que hospital pode ir e quais os que aceitam crianças". Impala (in European Portuguese). Worldimpala.net (Impala Capital, Consultadoria de Gestão; Impala.Com - Soc. Gestora de Participações Sociais). 11 March 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Policy Responses to COVID19". IMF. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ↑ "Coronavirus Country Policy Tracker". www.oecd.org. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ↑ "IAPMEI - Programa APOIAR". www.iapmei.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ↑ "Country policy responses (COVID-19 and the world of work)". www.ilo.org. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- 1 2 "NextGenerationEU: European Commission endorses Portugal's €16.6 billion recovery and resilience plan". ec.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021.
- ↑ "Governo apresenta Plano de Ação de 6 mil milhões de euros para reativar o turismo". www.portugal.gov.pt. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ↑ "Isto é tudo o que pode voltar a fazer a partir desta segunda-feira". Jornal Expresso. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020.
- ↑ "Um vírus na cidade chamado silêncio". Jornal de Notícias. 25 March 2020.
- ↑ "Portugal set to quarantine arrivals from abroad as streets empty out". Reuters. 20 March 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Covid-19 trouxe solidão e desconforto aos jovens LGBT+". Notícias U.Porto (in European Portuguese). 18 May 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ↑ These 6 Countries Have Pledged to Donate WHO-Approved COVID-19 Vaccines, Global Citizen, Jaxx Artz, 17.03.2021
- ↑ "Coronavírus: há dois casos confirmados em Portugal". Público. 2 March 2020.
{{cite web}}
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- 1 2 "Ponto de Situação Atual em Portugal – COVID-19". covid19.min-saude.pt.
External links
- COVID-19 - Direção-Geral da Saúde (by the Directorate-General of Health)
- EstamosON - Official Information COVID19 Estamos On (gov.pt) (by the Portuguese government)
- Esri Portugal - Evolution of COVID-19 in Portugal with graphs and data
- "Coronavirus Portugal updates and news" [Latest news and statistics of coronavirus in Portugal.] (in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Estonian, and Russian). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- Worldometers - Coronavirus (Covid-19 Data) - Portugal
- Repositório de dados Covid-19 em Portugal
- Vigilância da Mortalidade - Deaths statistics
- Ana P. Lemos-Paião, Cristiana J. Silva and Delfim F. M. Torres, A New Compartmental Epidemiological Model for COVID-19 with a Case Study of Portugal, Ecological Complexity 44 (2020) Art. 100885, 8 pp.
- F. Ndairou, I. Area, J. J. Nieto, C. J. Silva and D. F. M. Torres, Fractional model of COVID-19 applied to Galicia, Spain and Portugal, Chaos Solitons Fractals 144 (2021), Art. 110652, 7 pp.
- C.J. Silva, C. Cruz, D.F.M. Torres, A.P. Munuzuri, A. Carballosa, I. Area, J.J. Nieto, R. Fonseca-Pinto, R. Passadouro da Fonseca, E. Soares dos Santos, W. Abreu and J. Mira, Optimal control of the COVID-19 pandemic: controlled sanitary deconfinement in Portugal, Scientific Reports 11 (2021), Art. 3451, 15 pp.