The 16 Algarve municipalities are preparing equipment, such as pavilions, to receive groups of people who may need to be quarantined or need light medical care due to Covid-19.
This is a measure that seeks to “prevent serious situations, such as what happened in Faro», explained António Pina, president of AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community, to the Sul Informação.
In the Algarve capital, the municipality had to quickly transform the School Pavilion EB 2,3 Santo António in a shelter for 74 people who have been in contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19.
“We are all identifying locations and equipment, in case it is necessary to activate that response. We are also defining, together with the Regional Health Administration and the Hospital and University Center of the Algarve, the need to increase the number of non-hospital beds to respond to citizens who, after leaving the hospital, need light and that they have no way to go home», explained the AMAL president.
In other words: the idea also involves welcoming people who, «having a high risk of contagion», do not want – or cannot – return to their homes. The decision on what use to give to the spaces "is made on a case-by-case basis, depending on what is articulated with the health entities".
O Sul Informação sought to know, from all municipalities, what answers are prepared and found that there is already a lot of work done.
In Portimão, the first Algarve municipality to have a case of Covid-19, since March 20, a municipal pavilion is ready to receive up to 18 people.
The equipment was divided into two distinct areas – one for adults, one for children. There is also another pavilion already prepared with capacity for six people, as well as a medical office with 20 spare kits (bed, pillow and sleeping bag). Added to this are four more pavilions ready and the Portimão Arena as a reserve.
As for Albufeira, it also has «several prepared answers», guaranteed José Carlos Rolo, president of the Chamber. The Municipal Pavilion is already equipped with 30 beds and the Francisco Cabrita School Pavilion is «ready to welcome homeless people if necessary».
The Hotel Real Bela Vista has “20 rooms for the elderly” available and the Pateo Village, a tourist development, has 50 apartments for health professionals or security forces. "Seven or eight are already being used," said José Carlos Rolo.
Moving on to Lagoa, the municipality has two school pavilions ready: the Jacinto Correia School and the Secondary School. "They are clean and disinfected, with a total capacity of 140 beds," said Luís Encarnação, mayor, to the Sul Informação.
In Castro Marim, Lar de Altura, a new infrastructure that would be inaugurated shortly, gained a new use, even before it went into operation: it will be the place, already ready, to receive up to 70 people in quarantine, if necessary.
Nearby, in Vila Real de Santo António, the City Council has already identified the Municipal Pavilion, next to the Health Centre, as the best place. The equipment is not ready yet, but as soon as it is needed, it will be equipped.
In Loulé, Vítor Aleixo, mayor of Loulé, told the Sul Informação that the Municipal Pavilion, also close to the Health Center, already has all the material to receive people. In the county there are also other places to be prepared.
The same happens with the neighboring municipality of São Brás de Alportel: the Municipal Pavilion is equipped with 18 beds, which can be increased to 30 beds.
As for Alcoutim, it has two identified points. In the county seat, there is a wing of the Pousada da Juventude already ready and with two zones: one for patients and another for health professionals.
In Martim Longo, the Parish Center Hall will be transformed to be another place ready to receive people. The total capacity of the two spaces is around 60 beds.
Moving on to Silves, he prepared a ZAP at the Health Center of Silves, on the premises of the Piaget Institute. In this first phase, 50 beds were installed, with the possibility of reinforcement. For its full operation, this equipment awaits the arrival of a container for bathing and hygiene, which will be fully supported by the Municipality of Silves. .
This ZAP will be joined by two more, in Silves: one in the Municipal Pavilion and EB1 School of Pêra (50 beds) and another in the Armação de Pêra Pavilion (80 beds).
In Lagos, in turn, there are six prepared places: the Pavilion Municipal (250 beds), the Anchor Motel (120 beds), the Youth Hostel of Lagos (58 beds), the Hotel Sensation Guest House (10 beds), the Messe Militar – Edifício Infante (65 beds) and Edifício D. Sebastião (100 beds), totaling approximately 600 beds.
In other municipalities, such as Aljezur and Olhão, our newspaper also found that efforts are being made to prepare municipal equipment.
Updated at 16:51 pm on March 28th with new information about Silves and Lagos
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