Portugal’s vaccination programme has moved into the old people’s home sector today, with the first shots to be administered to seniors at Social Solidarity institutions (IPSS) and homes run by the União das Misericórdias (UMP).
After a night in which news channels focused on outbreaks, and deaths, in old people’s homes up and down the country, the president of the national confederation of IPSS institutions told reporters: “We are all very anxious for the vaccines to arrive. We just hope there will be enough for everyone. We just want to get to the point where everyone is protected”.
Explain reports, once IPSS and UMP homes are covered, the vaccine programme will move on to privately-run homes.
But for now the 417 IPSS and UMP establishments where Covid outbreaks are ‘active’ will not be receiving the vaccine.
Tabloid Correio da Manhã adds that institutions within the 25 boroughs still listed as being under ‘extreme risk’ of contagion should all have had their inmates vaccinated by Friday.
Meantime, the country’s latest data shows another critical spike in the number of hospital admissions, and another sizable increase in new infections (+4,369).
A further 127 people were interned with serious complications caused by the virus in the last 24-hour period. ICUs are now up to 510 patients needing critical care.
Deaths too have increased by 78, the majority (+33) in the Lisbon area.
For the complete picture of Portugal’s latest situation click here.
In the Algarve, as schools return following the Christmas holidays, Tavira town council has taken the decision to move secondary school teaching online after two outbreaks in the borough have seen the number of local infections skyrocket.
The Algarve has been registering new infections in three digit figures since December 29.
