Where did you hear this? Nothing I can see as being reported locally.

However Albufeira council has already announced closures of schools, museums and other public spaces, all local sport is suspended and early this morning the national government announced a further series of precautionary measures including a ban on cruise ships landing passengers.

https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/03/canadiano-que-passava-ferias-em-albufeira-e-o-primeiro-turista-com-covid-19-em-portugal/" rel="nofollow - https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2020/03/canadiano-que-passava-ferias-em-albufeira-e-o-primeiro-turista-com-covid-19-em-portugal/

Sorry to hear it has arrived in Albufeira but I expect it was inevitable.  I was due to travel over on 30 March but rearranged the booking for 25 October a couple of days ago. My age and health put me squarely in the sites of covid-19. Jet2 charged me £75 but I expected that. It's in the T&Cs.

Got an email from Easyjet yesterday (with whom I have no bookings) to say they are waiving the charge for changing a flight online. Perhaps others will follow.

it clears up ... so we may be talking autumn for europe ...

Yellow daffy Forte do Vale is part of a large group called MGM they have have four at least other hotels in the vicinity. Maybe call and voice your concern adding you have underlying health conditions and could you be moved. Or as soon as you arrive ask at reception. I know for a fact two of the hotels are not full and very unlikely that will change in present climate...Good luck.

`observed` as health authority dont believe any big problem .. the number of cases in Algarve remains at 6 today according to the national site    https://covid19.min-saude.pt/" rel="nofollow - https://covid19.min-saude.pt/

As you say.  Edinburgh airport is having talks with unions presumably about staff layoffs due to plunging passenger numbers. I'm sure this will be happening everywhere.

Don't panic Mr Mainwaring!

best of luck to everyone for the forseeable ...

Well said Col.

We are in the same boat and have also cancelled out trip on 5th April to the Tropical Sol. 

We have consoled ourselves with the promise that we will come over for a month in October. 

Stay safe folks

Once the dust has settled, whenever that is, how many businesses will have survived From airlines, travel companies to small bars and cafes?  Airlines and rail companies are already joining the queue for government help.

I have a package through Jet2 for late October. Will Jet2 still be there? ATOL will refund me if not so no great drama but I like my breaks in the warm.

looks like the link isn't direct for some reason so need to copy/paste into browser.

[edited to make link work. That is the next step. Madeira and the Azores have already done this.]

'Nuno's' in Páteo is closed until further notice 'for reasons of public health'.

Jorge at Páteo Mar is still open.

Might be the last. The council has announced today that, among other things, translated :

"In this sense, all terraces must be dismantled so as not to allow their use and all exhibitors  (displays?) removed from the public space"

Went to Continente in town early to get back before the rain. Just made it.

Very few customers. All the other shops there are closed except, rather oddly, the key cutting shop was open.

People have obviously been buying up cheap own brand stuff. Some shelves were pretty empty, but they left the more expensive options next to them. But there are no obvious shortages. I was able to get everything I wanted.

There's very little traffic. I saw painters working, although they won't be now in this rain.

Why toilet paper? I am mystified.

The main Avenida dos Descobrimentos just after 9am this morning

https://postimg.cc/kRcV5HzR" rel="nofollow">

Albufeira council has announced that it will suspend the fixed charges for water supply, sewerage and general waste disposal as from April's bills. Water consumption must still be paid for.

In addition, no-one will be cut off for not paying their bills - many people still pay in cash which of course they cannot for the time being with the council offices closed.

I also read that 50 apartments at Páteo Village are to be used to house essential workers who are 'self isolating' from their families during the emergency.

Well done to Portugal, France, China, etc for spotting that right away ... not any UK government`s finest hour ..

some German Supermarkets have started to charge a multiple for the second item of the same product. One Supermarket chain now sells the first pack of toilet paper at a regular price, but the second pack involves a mandatory 5€ "donation" which will be forwarded to health organizations.

"How would you control the supermarkets?. "

Rationing, which European governments are loath to do even if the logistics were within reason. Unfortunately selfishness and greed will always rise to the top. I hope they choke on it.

Portugal did nothing special to control food shopping.

I wonder what people are going to do with all that fresh food in a few days, when it starts to go off?

As for Lobo's question sorry I cannot help, but if it's only you that uses the phone you shouldn't have too much to worry about. You can try the big stores like Continente and Pingo Doce for example, but from what I saw here on Friday they have none. Supplies are being diverted to hospitals etc. Continente have a limit of two items per person for hand gels, if they have any to sell that is.

You could try a very weak bleach solution, but even that's probably a bit risky.

In an national emergency you need ORGANISATION ... and that is what is missing most in UK .. and in Scotland .. these `governments` are simply rock-bottom incompetent ..

https://www.webcamtaxi.com/en/spain/alicante/playa-de-levante-benidorm.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.webcamtaxi.com/en/spain/alicante/playa-de-levante-benidorm.html

Now it seems that barbers and hairdressers are not essential services. A crisis for ladies no doubt.

Any advice for us who live alone on how to cut your own (men's) hair without ending up with a disaster?

I knew something like this would be coming, so I went to the barber ten days ago even there was still no desperate need for it.

Maybe there are some barbers offering home service, I wouldn't be scared to use such a service if the barber wears a mask.

another essential need for those with no washing mashine at their place:

The lavanderia near here is open again. They were closed and the owners posted a msg on googlemaps that they were not sure they are allowed to open.

I just walked past the place on my way to LIDL (were I could enter immediately without having to wait - surprisingly quiet) and saw they re-opened, changed opening hours with two hours in the morning now exclusively for 65+ folks only. But that's Portimao, not Albufeira

All camping and caravan sites will be closed to non residents by this Friday.

This creates obvious problems for those who think they can drive back to UK or wherever.

http://www.portugalresident.com/free-wheeling-motorhomers-reach-end-of-the-road/" rel="nofollow - https://www.portugalresident.com/free-wheeling-motorhomers-reach-end-of-the-road/

Note that this a decree and here in Portugal does not need specific legislation to back it up.

Unfortunately for the UK there is no specific background legislation on states of emergency.  Albufeira council closed all pubic spaces, restaurants and bars etc several days before the official state of emergency. UK town councils etc do not have the legal backup to do this.

Anyway if stupid, ignorant, selfish people want to flout whatever laws are put in place, how do you stop them? At least there is nowhere to go now.

France, Spain and Portugal would jail them.  UK, you will be told go home and stop being naughty?

Is it me or is there much more traffic today than there has been lately? Certainly sounds busier by what's going past me.

Continente (supermarket) has announced that if queuing is needed outside stores, it will be giving priority to those over 70 along with essential workers, the disabled etc.

They do not intend to reduce hours. They are putting up protective screens around tills and counters.

Albufeira Council has published useful lists of home delivery operations including supermarkets large and small, bakeries, takeaways and other possibly useful services.

It's at http://www.cm-albufeira.pt/content/municipio-angaria-contactos-para-entregas-domiciliarias-e-tem-equipa-de-atendimento" rel="nofollow - https://www.cm-albufeira.pt/content/municipio-angaria-contactos-para-entregas-domiciliarias-e-tem-equipa-de-atendimento

click on the pictures at the bottom using the arrows to move from one to the next.

Cards can now be used contactless for transactions up to €50 rather than the previous €20 limit. But keep an even closer eye on yours!

http://www.portugalresident.com/bank-card-commissions-and-limits-suspended-as-government-seeks-to-discourage-use-of-cash/" rel="nofollow - https://www.portugalresident.com/bank-card-commissions-and-limits-suspended-as-government-seeks-to-discourage-use-of-cash/

Anyone who's ever worked in a bar knows how dirty and nasty money can be.

The town council has pulled together all its relevant information under this page

http://www.cm-albufeira.pt/content/pagina-de-informacao-sobre-o-covid-19%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.cm-albufeira.pt/content/pagina-de-informacao-sobre-o-covid-19

Although the headings are in Portuguese and English, the content is only in Portuguese. You can run it through an on-line translator easily enough, for example http://translate.google.pt/" rel="nofollow - https://translate.google.pt/

I will throw these thoughts into the mixer.

1. The relative ease by which governments world wide have put much of their populations under virtual house arrest for a period of weeks. How might this mechanism be used in future and not just when people sneeze and cough?

2. How long will the populations and the economy put up with the restrictions? Education, sports, tourism and entertainment at a standstill. Much normal production also. As an infamous news headline of the past said 'not many dead.'

3. To what extent will people re-evaluate the trivial aspects of their lifestyles while they have time to think about things? Do we really need 150 different types of cover for mobile phones?

I've been to Continente this morning. Absolutely no sign of shortages and several discount promotions available as per usual.

Have a nice day.

Tom

In answer I think that we are a living history lesson. Certainly in the  longer term in this context the pressure created by Covid in a liberal western style democracy could have calamitous results. While the initial horror and fear created by situations such as in Italy and Spain may allow lockdown to be observed getting through the exit phase could be all together more difficult. With a indications of the epidemic coming under control I fear the control methods will be even more hard to enforce given that they will still be essential.

BTW thanks for the pics you posted.

The Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 and 1919 killed an estimated 50 million people around the world. OK so there weren't modern medicines and treatments etc, but that's an epidemic.

On a positive note I received a text from Worten last night. Their electrical and computer goods stores stores have been granted 'essential' status and will be open, subject to the now customary rules about limited numbers, not handling goods except what you buy etc etc.

Just seen reports of hoards of Lisbonese/ Northern Portuguese heading to their holiday homes on the Algarve.

The virus is far worse in their  home areas so no doubt will bring the virus with them

What about isolation ?

Watch our infection rates go up

I hope the GNR send them back until this is over

indeed the Police is doing their best to stop them

https://www.publico.pt/2020/03/28/sociedade/noticia/coronavirus-ja-matou-25-mil-pessoas-contagiou-600-mil-mundo-1909924

I understand from friend at a complex in Albufeira plenty of northern Portuguese have already arrived for Easter . Great - they will no doubt be out spreading their germs. Selfish arrogant a---s .

Here's an interesting example - http://www.portugalresident.com/couple-travel-by-bus-from-lisbon-to-portimao-while-awaiting-coronavirus-test-results/" rel="nofollow - https://www.portugalresident.com/couple-travel-by-bus-from-lisbon-to-portimao-while-awaiting-coronavirus-test-results/

I still don't know how to make links clickable (or clinks lickable for that matter). Copy and paste into your browser.  As was said of Lunchtime O'Booze "New technology baffles pissed old hack."

Jock and others, wait one for a visual guide to the short process to make a link clickable.

Will upload asap, my picture host site is currently 'under maintenance'.

As of yesterday, these beach car parks are closed "...estão interditados os parques que dão acesso às praias Galé Oeste, Galé (estrada de acesso à praia), Evaristo, Castelo, S. Rafael, Arrifes, Stª Eulália, Maria Luísa Olhos de Água e Barranco."

I can see no mention that the beaches themselves are closed. The main town beach certainly wasn't yesterday. Some pictures later.

And the result was positive so they are amongst us . Take care everyone

I hope they are enjoying Portimão's jail

Here it is about clickable links. Highlight website address to link. Check there are no extra spaces at start or end.

https://postimg.cc/RNKzygpc" rel="nofollow">

Sorry text images is a bit small. If the link text does not include http:// or https:// select from the address drop down. Otherwise it's automatic.

Click Ok down at the bottom right hand corner

End product

Submit post

has anybody been successful buying disinfection wipes, disinfection liquid (for the hands) and simple face masks here in the Algarve in the past few days? where should you best look for it? would pharmacies stock something like that too?

But at what cost?

This is Plague no. 10 - Death of the Firstborn (Exodus 11.5), or damn close!

You might say that Mark, I couldn't possibly comment... 

The big stores like Continente or Pingo Doce are your best best. Continente had some last week but they are rationed. Bleach, suitably diluted of course, is a reasonable alternative for many situations.

The theory is,if you shut the press down for 90 days,most of the worlds problems go away.

That is a distinct possibility mate... 

I make my own shaving cream with soap and moisturiser ... yes ... cheapskate ...

Pal who worked with me in ICI labs has a good business making industrial cleaning stuff ...

in his garage ...  not rocket science ..

Portugal News has 14 April as their peak and Trump is now saying next few weeks there its going to ramp up big time, their forecast of deaths for 15 April is grim reading.

Stay in doors folks, stay safe, look after each other. 

We still can’t believe the number of folks that don’t understand and are walking round in groups of several more than two! Idiots!!!

World Health Organisation : "Annual influenza epidemics are estimated to affect 5–15% of the global population. Although most cases are mild, these epidemics still cause severe illness in 3–5 million people and 290,000–650,000 deaths worldwide"

We should therefore expect for several months every year, if not an almost permanent, imposition of current measures, if governments don't want to be accused of standing back and letting people die.

Life as we have known it will cease. No schools or University, no sports, no theatre or cinema, no eating out, no pubs, no travel, no holidays and no work for many.

And it is not a great leap to think what that could lead to.

Most are closed, except a very few housing essential workers etc. All the long stay winter visitors have gone now. I had a quick look at some websites the other day. I spotted none taking any bookings until at least May.

Faro airport is to all intents and purposes closed. Over Easter there is a complete travel ban, so there will be nobody coming down from Lisbon or from Spain for a long weekend.

The state of emergency is in force until at least 17th April and almost certainly for some time after that. Normal life as we knew it is on indefinite hold.

Maybe a small consolation for those expecting to be here is that skies are grey, it is windy and there is rain in the air.

Earlier today.

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lucyr wrote: So, so deserted, of course the way it should be, thanks for the update

Well, there is nothing open so nowhere to go. And it's raining.

Those expecting to be here would not be enjoying the wet weather, that's for sure.

17 workers in a house near Inatel beach are being isolated as some have proved positive. The GNR are stationed outside to ensure no one leaves.

Stay safe everyone

The law here is enforced by men (and women) with guns. There is a crime of 'disobedience' under the emergency laws.  If somewhere like a beach or promenade is roped off by the local council, you do not go there and face arrest if you do.

Should the UK forcibly ban people from beaches etc? Is there the legislation to enable this? I doubt it, given prevailing 'civil liberties'.

This was reported in local media as being near Tavira, the second such incident involving large groups of migrant farm workers living in very poor conditions. Together these two incidents account for about 10% of the positive cases in the Algarve.

Andrew, I said "routinely".  An important difference.

I know about Airport cops, Nuclear Installation cops and the police vehicles that carry weapons in a locked box for a quick response. In the UK our police work through co-operation with the public, not by implied threat. Big difference from continental paramilitary police.

Look at those police in Albufeira. Built like Arnie and armed.

It's not the British way. But then, we've been a democracy for a long time.

This maybe a different incident - the Tavira story was people living in a factory. Picture I saw showed the Albufeira GNR parked on hill by car park top of escalators. Either way need to keep distance when out otherwise stay at home and hopefully we will be out of this soon (that's more in hope than expectation)

Noted, but the armed cops I’ve seen were “routinely” at work, just out and about town, patrolling, nothing out of the ordinary going on.

So, as my original answer in my daily experiences, before being put on 12 weeks isolation anyway.

I have had a quick look a round local news media and find no mention of a 'mass incident' in Albufeira. These people, who are virtual slaves, are prime targets though for any kind of disease or other affliction living as they do.

Also, it appears there was a mass exodus from Lisbon last night despite attempts to control it. I hope they enjoy their few days in the rain.

Just received my April water bill with, as promised by the council, a rebate on some of the standing charges. Reduces my bill by €8,51.

Also, the GIRO buses are still not taking fares, so another €11 a month saved.

Your beer fund is growing quickly.

https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/portugal-state-of-emergency-extended-until-may-1/53717

Also this publication today  in the Portugal Resident newspaper: https://www.portugalresident.com/pm-costa-preparing-to-reopen-portugal-for-business/ 

Indeed, but where to spend it?

State of emergency indeed will be extended until May 1st (The current one expires on April17th) and after that, it is being said, that there would then be a gradual return to some semblance of normality.

Looks like it is being accepted that we cannot go like this indefinitely.

https://www.portugalresident.com/albufeira-algarves-covid-19-trouble-spot-authorities-ponder-new-restrictions/" rel="nofollow - https://www.portugalresident.com/albufeira-algarves-covid-19-trouble-spot-authorities-ponder-new-restrictions/

 I read on some hotel websites which are closed at the moment, that  they will be taking bookings from the 1st May, (mmm I wouldn't want to book any of them especially  for this year) obviously they are going off the state of emergency date  extension. Other travel agencies are still taking hotel bookings as well which I think is irresponsable until they know the outcome of restrictions.

I just hope the Algarve   in general and all businesses involved in tourism  can come out of this and recover well after all of this and things can  get back to normality.