«We are working in a network, with institutions in the field that are able to respond both to the spread of Coronavirus and the consequences of the national Declaration of State of Emergency», announces José Carlos Rolo, mayor of Albufeira, referring to the measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of Covid-19 in the municipality.
Prevention and Awareness of behaviors to have, internal management, reorganization of services and teams to ensure responses to citizens.
Preparation of a response, support and reception strategy for the teams that are in the field or for any citizens who need follow-up. Preparation of a package of social support measures that can meet the multiple needs of different strata of local society.
Here are the lines launched by José Carlos Rolo to the different teams of the municipality, in order to combat the current situation.
«In lightning time», the Municipality of Albufeira took a set of measures that have allowed it to respond on all these fronts.
The internal reorganization of the services forced the adoption of new operating methods with privileged recourse to telework, with the exception of civil protection and public health employees, with contacts made available for the most diverse municipal services.
With a street campaign and through digital media, many messages have been launched in order to promote the behaviors to adopt in this pandemic.
In terms of information and awareness, the Municipality developed a campaign with hotel companies operating in Albufeira so that their customers were informed of the situation. For this purpose, it created posters and leaflets with messages in Portuguese, English, French, Spanish and German.
Another of the intervention priorities has been through the cleaning and disinfection of streets and public spaces, after the closure of playgrounds, sports and recreational facilities, as well as buildings for sporting and cultural activities, was decided.
All sporting, recreational and cultural and social organizations promoted or supported by the Municipality were cancelled. In this package of closing measures, the county's markets were included and the flea market was cancelled. School transport was inactive, train and tourist bus stopped running.
To support professionals in the field, namely those linked to Health, Fire, Red Cross and Security Forces, the Municipality raised a grant of 50 apartments in Pateo Village for their accommodation.
The municipality has also collaborated with the local Health Center in order to improve the existing conditions in the infrastructure.
The CPCJ is also in the field with special services for monitoring children at risk.
Through Albucoop – Albufeira Taxi Cooperative – it is already possible to proceed to punctual services related to the need for trips to the supermarket or pharmacy.
In the field of response, the Municipal Pavilion was transformed into a temporary shelter space, also providing for a concentration area to support the population, in this critical phase of Covid-19.
Emphasis on the creation of a Covid-19 Helpline, free of charge, open 24 hours (800 219 289) to respond to a set of needs, such as situations of social vulnerability, economic need, information and clarification, referral to services and institutions and psychological follow-up.
This measure results from a network work that encompasses the most diverse services within the municipality, but also using all our partners in the field, namely Parish Councils, IPSS, associations and civil movements.
The Volunteer Bank «assumes a fundamental role in the various responses that are being implemented, so it is never too much to ask those who can, to make a little of their time available to collaborate», stresses the City Council of Albufeira.
In support of families and companies, it has already been decided to exempt the population from fixed tariffs for water, wastewater and solid waste with effects on the April bill and for a period of 4 months. There will also be no suspensions of water supply, due to non-payment, during this emergency period.
To be finalized, there is still a reinforced support and social response package that “will be released very soon”, announces the municipality.
For President José Carlos Rolo, "these are some measures that illustrate our concern to respond to the challenge we are currently facing."
The mayor emphasizes that "measures are being studied to support families and entrepreneurs, in the certainty that the decisions we will take will be close to everyone's expectations, but sustainable and within our framework of competences".
The mayor of Albufeira, which addressed the population at the beginning of the week in an open letter, concludes, noting that “it is only possible to overcome this extremely difficult period if we unite, if we work in a network, if we are responsible and dynamic in our action”.
He also leaves a word of thanks «to all those who are in the field in some way, because Albufeira will certainly not forget your dedication, commitment and passion for the land».
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