Monday, March 30, 2020by Anthony Bellanger
The Portuguese mystery facing the covid-19
3 minutes
Podcast The Portuguese mystery facing the covid-19
Portugal is relatively spared from the epidemic ... The
Portuguese are admittedly confined, but no sanctions, no attestation of
displacement.
Portuguese are admittedly confined, but no sanctions, no attestation of
displacement.
Portuguese on the balcony, March 28, 2020
Portuguese on the balcony, March 28, 2020 © AFP / Jorge
Mantilla / NurPhoto / NurPhoto
Mantilla / NurPhoto / NurPhoto
There is a Portuguese mystery that we will try to solve
together. The mystery is this: while Spain is severely confined and the Spanish
government has just decreed the cessation of all non-essential economic
activity ... the Portuguese are admittedly confined, public places are closed
but no sanctions, nor a travel certificate. When questioned, the Portuguese
Prime Minister, António Costa, replied: "The Portuguese are so disciplined
that repression is useless".
together. The mystery is this: while Spain is severely confined and the Spanish
government has just decreed the cessation of all non-essential economic
activity ... the Portuguese are admittedly confined, public places are closed
but no sanctions, nor a travel certificate. When questioned, the Portuguese
Prime Minister, António Costa, replied: "The Portuguese are so disciplined
that repression is useless".
One might therefore think that Portugal is going to the
front of the catastrophe . Nothing could be more wrong: while Spain has 6,733
victims of the coronavirus, Portugal has only 119, that is to say, in
proportion to their respective populations, 11 times less.
front of the catastrophe . Nothing could be more wrong: while Spain has 6,733
victims of the coronavirus, Portugal has only 119, that is to say, in
proportion to their respective populations, 11 times less.
Tracks to unravel this Portuguese mystery
The first explanation is geographic: Portugal is the only
country on the European continent to have only one neighbor, in this case
Spain. It is therefore the only European country for which the early closure of
its borders has been effective.
country on the European continent to have only one neighbor, in this case
Spain. It is therefore the only European country for which the early closure of
its borders has been effective.
Second explanation: the country lives a lot from tourism .
Covid-19 is rife outside the tourist season. So, Portugal did not have to face
a wave of imported cases, just to manage a small stock of somewhat lonely
visitors in the middle of winter.
Covid-19 is rife outside the tourist season. So, Portugal did not have to face
a wave of imported cases, just to manage a small stock of somewhat lonely
visitors in the middle of winter.
Third explanation, its geographical location in the far west
of Europe has allowed Lisbon to see the future. That is to say that the
epidemic - and its rising face - started later than for Spain, France or Italy.
of Europe has allowed Lisbon to see the future. That is to say that the
epidemic - and its rising face - started later than for Spain, France or Italy.
Portuguese benefited from lessons from other countries
Portugal isolated itself at the same time as us, on March
13, while a number of cases on its territory could still be counted on the
fingers of two hands. But above all, António Costa is right: the Portuguese are
self-disciplined.
13, while a number of cases on its territory could still be counted on the
fingers of two hands. But above all, António Costa is right: the Portuguese are
self-disciplined.
Looking at the news from Italy, France and especially Spain,
from the end of February, many Portuguese migrated to their country houses to
isolate themselves, stopped going out to bars and restaurants and withdrew
their school children.
from the end of February, many Portuguese migrated to their country houses to
isolate themselves, stopped going out to bars and restaurants and withdrew
their school children.
As a result, many schools were closed even before the
government injunction for lack of students. The same goes for certain
businesses, especially in the centers of the country's major cities: they had
anticipated the closing order for lack of customers.
government injunction for lack of students. The same goes for certain
businesses, especially in the centers of the country's major cities: they had
anticipated the closing order for lack of customers.
The Portuguese are therefore ahead ... are there more
structural reasons?
structural reasons?
First, there is government continuity which the Spanish
cannot take advantage of. The current left coalition has been in power in
Lisbon since 2015. Spain, in the same period, had four general elections.
cannot take advantage of. The current left coalition has been in power in
Lisbon since 2015. Spain, in the same period, had four general elections.
Not to mention the institutional crisis in Catalonia. Then,
unlike Spain, Portugal emerged from austerity much earlier and successfully.
Less austerity, fewer cuts to public health , a better prepared country.
unlike Spain, Portugal emerged from austerity much earlier and successfully.
Less austerity, fewer cuts to public health , a better prepared country.
This also authorizes Lisbon to be generous: on March 28,
Lisbon decided to regularize all migrants who have submitted a residence permit
and automatically renew residence permits that expire.
Lisbon decided to regularize all migrants who have submitted a residence permit
and automatically renew residence permits that expire.
Generosity but also measure of public health: by
regularizing everyone, the government gives access to all the population
residing in Portugal to the free and universal health system: everyone protects
everyone from Covid-19.
regularizing everyone, the government gives access to all the population
residing in Portugal to the free and universal health system: everyone protects
everyone from Covid-19.
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