News from afpop - Friday 8th of April 2022 - Update
Michael Reeve - 11-04-2022
News from afpop - Friday 8th of April 2022 - Update
Included in this briefing:
1. Situation of Alert
2. Travel
3. Free Rapid Antigen Tests
4. Satellite office dates
5. NCA 'King's Day' celebration
--Excuses, geen Nederlandse vertaling beschikbaar --
Good afternoon to you all, and once again there is little in the way of COVID news to tell you about, but for new Members we continue to include the links to the measures in force and the travel situation. A reminder also that the AUTOVoucher increase of €20 is still in operation for April.
It seems that we are moving towards the eventual lifting of restrictions, hopefully, and I’ve been thinking about the need to continue with these weekly Briefings. It seems likely that this current Alert situation will end on the 18th, but even if it remains in force, the changes to restrictions are negligible and there seems to be little point in simply repeating the same unchanged information and filling up your inboxes unnecessarily. However, this actually causes some sadness in the office, because the team and I have genuinely enjoyed the chance to mail you each week. It has felt like a genuine contact between us that we have enjoyed and actually will be a little sad to see end.
In the past we have sent our News from afpop (NfA) mailings as and when we thought necessary, but there were often quite long gaps between them when there was nothing to tell you that couldn’t wait until the next UPDATE magazine. Of course I don’t want to send mailings that you don’t want and we had complaints in the past about sending out NfA mailings just about internal matters, with some Members saying they’re not interested in such things, which of course I understand completely. However, the thought of losing this regular contact with Members really doesn’t sit well with me, particularly after meeting so many Members who have told me, and the rest of the team, how much they enjoy receiving the Briefings.
Before the end of April, I intend to include a link in a weekly Briefing to a very short survey. It won’t take long to complete and will help me to decide how to proceed with our News from afpop mailings. Please don’t send any thoughts about this ahead of time, because we just don’t have the facility to record potentially hundreds, or even thousands, of responses and put them in some format that we can use. There will be the option on the survey to add comments and we can use the software to present them in a way that we can process.
Next Friday (15th) is Good Friday and the office will be closed for Easter. The next Member Briefing therefore will be sent on Monday 18th April. Without further ado, here are some highlights for this week and let’s hope that next week’s mailing has good news about the lifting of the Alert.
Situation of Alert
As previously mentioned, the Situation of Alert throughout mainland Portugal remains in force until 23h59 on the 18th of April 2022 with no alterations.
The measures that are in force are HERE: https://afpop.com/en/afpop-latest-news-1?aid=173&bx=1
Travel
No new travel law has been published yet and therefore it will remain unaltered until further notice.
You can find more information HERE: https://afpop.com/en/afpop-latest-news-1?aid=179&bx=1
Free Rapid antigen tests (TRAg)
A reminder that the rapid antigen tests (TRAg) carried out in pharmacies and laboratories that are part of the exceptional reimbursement scheme will continue to be free of charge in April 2022 for residents in Portugal. Rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 will be reimbursed at 100% for residents in Portugal. The contribution is limited to a maximum of two tests per month (max. 1 a week per user).
Satellite offices
The April Satellite Office in Almancil will be on Tuesday 26th of April in the MEDAL office. The Satellite will be open between 10h00 and 12h30 for Members who would like to speak with a staff member in person. There is a coffee shop across the road from the MEDAL office if the reception area is full when you arrive.
The April Lagos satellite will be on Thursday Thursday 28th of April between 10h00 and 12h30 at the premises of MediLagos on R. José Ferreira Canelas, which is behind the Câmara building.
As the offices have limited waiting space, please reserve a time in advance and we ask that you arrive promptly to avoid congestion.
Please contact the afpop office to reserve an appointment.
NCA King’s Day
On a lighter and cross-cultural note, we thought Members might be interested in joining our Dutch colleagues from the Nederlandse Club Algarve (NCA) as they celebrate their annual King’s Day (Koningsdag) at Krazy World in Algoz on the 30th of April. It’s an annual celebration which is open to anyone and more information can be found on the afpop website https://afpop.com/en/afpop-latest-news-1?aid=183&bx=1
It seems that we are moving towards the eventual lifting of restrictions, hopefully, and I’ve been thinking about the need to continue with these weekly Briefings. It seems likely that this current Alert situation will end on the 18th, but even if it remains in force, the changes to restrictions are negligible and there seems to be little point in simply repeating the same unchanged information and filling up your inboxes unnecessarily. However, this actually causes some sadness in the office, because the team and I have genuinely enjoyed the chance to mail you each week. It has felt like a genuine contact between us that we have enjoyed and actually will be a little sad to see end.
In the past we have sent our News from afpop (NfA) mailings as and when we thought necessary, but there were often quite long gaps between them when there was nothing to tell you that couldn’t wait until the next UPDATE magazine. Of course I don’t want to send mailings that you don’t want and we had complaints in the past about sending out NfA mailings just about internal matters, with some Members saying they’re not interested in such things, which of course I understand completely. However, the thought of losing this regular contact with Members really doesn’t sit well with me, particularly after meeting so many Members who have told me, and the rest of the team, how much they enjoy receiving the Briefings.
Before the end of April, I intend to include a link in a weekly Briefing to a very short survey. It won’t take long to complete and will help me to decide how to proceed with our News from afpop mailings. Please don’t send any thoughts about this ahead of time, because we just don’t have the facility to record potentially hundreds, or even thousands, of responses and put them in some format that we can use. There will be the option on the survey to add comments and we can use the software to present them in a way that we can process.
Next Friday (15th) is Good Friday and the office will be closed for Easter. The next Member Briefing therefore will be sent on Monday 18th April. Without further ado, here are some highlights for this week and let’s hope that next week’s mailing has good news about the lifting of the Alert.
Situation of Alert
As previously mentioned, the Situation of Alert throughout mainland Portugal remains in force until 23h59 on the 18th of April 2022 with no alterations.
The measures that are in force are HERE: https://afpop.com/en/afpop-latest-news-1?aid=173&bx=1
Travel
No new travel law has been published yet and therefore it will remain unaltered until further notice.
You can find more information HERE: https://afpop.com/en/afpop-latest-news-1?aid=179&bx=1
Free Rapid antigen tests (TRAg)
A reminder that the rapid antigen tests (TRAg) carried out in pharmacies and laboratories that are part of the exceptional reimbursement scheme will continue to be free of charge in April 2022 for residents in Portugal. Rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 will be reimbursed at 100% for residents in Portugal. The contribution is limited to a maximum of two tests per month (max. 1 a week per user).
Satellite offices
The April Satellite Office in Almancil will be on Tuesday 26th of April in the MEDAL office. The Satellite will be open between 10h00 and 12h30 for Members who would like to speak with a staff member in person. There is a coffee shop across the road from the MEDAL office if the reception area is full when you arrive.
The April Lagos satellite will be on Thursday Thursday 28th of April between 10h00 and 12h30 at the premises of MediLagos on R. José Ferreira Canelas, which is behind the Câmara building.
As the offices have limited waiting space, please reserve a time in advance and we ask that you arrive promptly to avoid congestion.
Please contact the afpop office to reserve an appointment.
NCA King’s Day
On a lighter and cross-cultural note, we thought Members might be interested in joining our Dutch colleagues from the Nederlandse Club Algarve (NCA) as they celebrate their annual King’s Day (Koningsdag) at Krazy World in Algoz on the 30th of April. It’s an annual celebration which is open to anyone and more information can be found on the afpop website https://afpop.com/en/afpop-latest-news-1?aid=183&bx=1
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