The Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) met today, Thursday, March 12, 2020, to agree on positions regarding the reinforcement of preventive measures against Covid-19. The meeting of Algarvian mayors “call, in the first instance, the entire population of the Algarve to adhere their habits and behaviors to the recommendations of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), namely the basic rules of handwashing, social distance, and avoiding unnecessary travel to events or services, with a view to protecting their own safety and to stop the spread of the virus”.
At this meeting, measures were adopted in the short term to contribute to the prevention and containment of the spread of the virus. Thus, the municipalities of the Algarve decided to certify the activation of all approved Municipal Contingency Plans; close all cultural, sports and similar facilities to the public; suspend cultural, sporting and other activities/events; suspend the operation of fairs and non-food markets; close and/or reduce technical and face-to-face public service to the population in municipal services, appealing to the community not to address them, unless it is strictly necessary”.
The municipalities are developing "alternative forms for this purpose" through the creation of new email addresses, telephone numbers and, when possible, video calls. According to a note just released by AMAL, "these measures have immediate effects in all municipalities, and the situation will be regularly assessed and adjusted to the needs of each moment, always in conjunction with the competent authorities". In each of the 16 municipalities in the Algarve, however, "there may be complementary measures appropriate to each of the municipal realities", as is the case with the campaign that Portimão presented today.
On Saturday, March 14th, a meeting is also scheduled with the Regional Health Administration (ARS) of the Algarve "to discuss the next steps to take, in which the mayors will present their total availability to collaborate". For now, AMAL's priority “is the safety of the population of the Algarve, reinforcing the need for us all to follow the recommendations of the health authorities and appealing to common sense so that the Algarve community maintains serenity in this matter.
