News from afpop - Friday 19th July 2024

Good afternoon and I hope that you are coping with the heat as the summer starts to take a hold, with temperatures apparently about to get into the 40s. Please remember to stay hydrated and, to continue the message from Drª Clarisse Rebelo at our skin care presentation last month, remember to use sunscreen, often. Apply it before you leave the house and reapply frequently, particularly important if you will have visitors from cooler countries visiting you and bringing children. Please do take care, wear the broad brimmed hats and use a parasol. When asked by a Member if they could still safely use sunscreen left over from last year, Drª Rebelo’s view was that if you have sunscreen left over it’s because you didn’t use enough last year.  
 
There is also the issue of fire risk levels to consider and please do keep an eye on the IPMA website (link below). Please be vigilant – the heat and continuing drought conditions will make firefighting even more difficult than usual and if you see a fire or smoke, dial 112.    
 
So, with heat warnings in mind, here’s this week’s information;
 
Train strikes
Several Portuguese Railway Unions are preparing strikes for the period between 00h00 and 24h00 on 22nd and 24^th of July 2024, and traffic disruptions are expected. More information is available on the CP website:
Strike - Rail disruptions on 22 and 24 July | CP update ... called off on 24th of July, but still some disruptions
https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/pt/consultar-horarios/avisos/desconvocada-greve-24-julho

 
Nurses and doctors set strike
Nurses in both public and social sectors will be on strike on the 2^nd of August 2024, which will affect most people who have exams or appointments on that day, so please bear this in mind if you have appointments scheduled.
 
The National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) has also called for a national strike for 23rd and 24^th of July and they also scheduled a stoppage of overtime work in primary health care from 23^rd of July until 31^st of August.
 
Beaches with red flags
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) reported that Falésia Açoteias beach, in the municipality of Albufeira Algarve, is closed for bathing after water quality analyses revealed microbiological values ??above the reference parameters, making the water unsuitable for bathing. The warning has already been placed and red flags have already been raised signalling the water ban. This ban will remain in place until the results of new water quality analyses indicate better quality.
 
The warning that was issued for two beaches in the Almada area (Praia do Norte e Praia de São João) has been lifted and the beaches are open again.
 
Rural fire risk
This is the time of year when the risk of fire increases dramatically and every second counts towards reporting an emergency situation. This dry and hot environment and the lack of water require increased vigilance during the fire season. Members can check more detailed information HERE.
 
IMI – reminder
As you know if the amount of your Municipal Property Tax (IMI) is between 100 and 500 euros it is divided into two instalments paid in May and November. If you exceed 500 euros, it is divided into three instalments to be paid in May, August and November.
 
TVDE portal
The Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT), in conjunction with the individual passenger transport platforms of unmarked vehicles (TVDE) operating in Portugal, Uber and Bolt, has developed a portal that will allow information on driving licences, TVDE driver certificates, TVDE operator licences and vehicle characteristics to be compared and shared with the data contained in the IMT databases.
 
The purpose of the portal is to promote the integrity of the sector, ensuring compliance with legal standards and preventing the falsification of necessary legal documents related to the activity.
 
The new data sharing and communication tool will be available to any other platform that will operate in Portugal and will verify whether drivers, operators and vehicles are legally qualified to carry out activity and thus ensure compliance with all legal standards in force.
After completion of the implementation phase, the portal should soon start operating.
 
Golf date
A reminder for the golfers that the fifteenth annual Golf Tournament with MEDAL Insurance will take place at Penina (Alvor) on Wednesday 11th of September. As usual it will be a shotgun start at 8h45 and we will confirm all details in the August edition of UPDATE. Any Member wishing to take part in the tournament can register their interest by contacting the afpop office on info@afpop.com.
 
Badminton Silves
The weekly afpop Badminton in Silves had their last evening before their summer break on Monday the 15^th of July and will start again on Monday the 9^th of September.
The regular Monday Badminton is arranged for Members at the pavilion of the Escola EB 2,3 Dr. Garcia Domingues in Silves between 19h30 and 21h30. Badminton players will need to bring their own racquets and pay a fee to cover costs. Anybody interested in participating can contact Sue on suesharman9@gmail.com or call 910 108 730.
 
New Alentejo Hospital
We mentioned in our briefing of 23rd of June last year that the new Alentejo Central Hospital is being built, to respond to the needs of patients in the region and to improve the conditions for patients and the health care professionals.

The new hospital will have a broad healthcare profile and will be equipped with modern and differentiated medical technology equipment, as can be seen in the document “ Profile and Characterization of HCA.pdf  (from page 5 also in English)”.  
 
You can follow the progress of the Alentejo Central Hospital here in the Video.
 
Statistical Yearbook
The Statistical Yearbook of Portugal - 2023 (Portuguese/English) is now available. Anyone who would like to obtain a complete statistical portrait of Portugal in a single volume, in various fields of analysis, can do so via the links below.
Publication: https://shorturl.at/uhIil
 
Satellite Offices
There will be no Satellite Offices in July and August.
We will return in the month of September.