Yes, cases are rising, but it is clear that the link between ‘cases’ and ‘hospitalizations and deaths’ has been substantially weakened due to the successful roll out of the vaccine, coupled with the fact we are in summer when respiratory diseases are at their least effective. Cases are also higher because we are testing more people, more often including children that are at very low risk from Covid.
In any event, the way the case figures are calculated skews reality. They take the population size at the base level but add any temporary tourists that test positive into the numbers.
And now we have these new restrictive measures in place that will cripple many businesses as we come into the Algarve’s peak holiday time, for no understandable scientific or public health benefit.
So…restaurants have to close at 10:30pm weekdays and 3.30pm on weekends. Why?
Is Covid really more dangerous after these times? Does the government think we all go crazy and lose control?
These restrictions actually force more people to eat at the same time and will lead to much more packed restaurants surely increasing the chance of transmission?
The impact? Loulé restaurants are forced to close, owners lose desperately needed income, staff lose their tips (and in many cases jobs) for what? If you are on a beach restaurant, you can literally have lunch, walk along the beach to Faro Island and carry on drinking there for the rest of the day and night!
Restaurants have invested heavily in making their premises Covid secure. Give them a break and use common sense for the sake of everyone.
It’s not just restaurants that are effected, it’s retailers and service providers. If a beauty treatment facility is following all Covid protocols, again, why should they have to close at 3:30pm at the weekends? At a time when the rest of Europe is opening up and learning to live with the virus, we need strong politicians to make brave and logical decisions.
Here’s to a safe and wonderful Algarvian summer.
NAME WITHHELD By email
You seriously publish "name withheld" letters HaHa! (Editors note: Although we do not publish a readers name, on request, we do maintain the name of the writer. We never accept anonymous letters)
By Richard Tracy from Lisbon on 09 Jul 2021, 09:38
I wholeheartedly agree with this article. You have to ask yourself why is the government taking this stance? And on the subject of skewed figures, why is no one talking about the recent ruling in a Lisbon court that of the 17,000 alleged deaths "by" Covid in the last 18 months in Portugal, only 152 can actually be attributed to Covid. And the many "variants" now reported with the usual scare tactics are actually side effects of the vaccinated. This was reported by Public Health England at the same time Hancock was caught with his pants down so unsurprisingly it was not the major headline.
By Claire from Algarve on 10 Jul 2021, 06:46
The purpose of restrictions is to safeguard people from catching Covid, some of whom will die. Whilst vaccinations have been happening at pace, so fast only the over 65s are fully vaccinated, so the vast majority of the population are still at risk.
This letter essentially advocates that the government should take risks with people's lives so that the writer can eat in restaurants after 10:30pm. Just how selfish an attitude is that?!
By Paul from Algarve on 10 Jul 2021, 09:54
Name withheld for a reason! I believe you will find just as many, if not more, people who are angry at the selfishness of those who keep trying to force the authorities to relax restrictions for limited short term gain when we are obviously not ready to do so. Three times to date, work hard, follow the rules and then shut down again. How much does that cost the economy? Profits before people is the most cynical form of anti social behavior.
By Stuart W. from Algarve on 10 Jul 2021, 12:25
The people who support government decrees are of the same mindset as those who supported the Nazi's decrees persecuting jews. Today I sat at a table in a super market cafe wearing a mask, the nearest other person 10m away. Manager comes and asks me to leave unless I show my covid vaccination certificate. Portugal is becoming a facist dictatorship. There is no doubt in my mind.
By Roland from UK on 10 Jul 2021, 20:18