- Time of past OR future Camino
- Some in the past; more in the future!
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Many thanks Jungleboy - helpful in guiding the decision about where and when to walk.For those considering walking the CP, please be aware that coronavirus cases in Portugal are on the rise. Yesterday (Saturday, 10 October), 1646 new cases were recorded, the most in a single day since the pandemic began (source: Reuters) and the third straight day over 1000. The last three days are three of the four biggest days in terms in number of new cases.
This chart from the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center shows the trend in visual form. The day we started walking the CP on Sep 1 there were 231 new cases but it has gone steadily up since then.
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The prime ministers of Spain and Portugal met in the last couple of days and both said they are not considering closing the border. Here is an article about that in Portuguese.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced the country will enter a "state of calamity" midnight on Wednesday, saying the Covid-19 situation in the country was “serious.”
“We can classify the evolution of the pandemic in Portugal as a serious one,” Costa told journalists as he announced the state of calamity at a press conference, following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The declaration gives the government exceptional powers to adopt additional measures to try to curb the spread of the virus.
Costa said additional restrictions would be imposed immediately, namely limiting the number of gatherings in public, commercial spaces or restaurants to no more than five people. In schools and universities, celebrations and non-academic activities will be forbidden and family events, such as weddings and baptisms, will be limited to a maximum of 50 guests.
Costa went on to say that authorities would be called upon to increase surveillance and enforcement of these rules in public places, namely restaurants and shops, increasing fines for up to 10,000 euros for businesses who do not enforce the rules.
“It is necessary to revive the memory that it is really necessary to follow these rules,” Costa said, adding that there had been some relaxation, as time passed.
Costa also said the government would put forward a bill to make the use of masks in certain outdoor spaces mandatory. The bill would also make it mandatory for the Portuguese to sign up for the Portuguese National Health Service’s track and trace app.
It cannot be useful advice for the majority of the forum as the overwhelming majority of the forum members are not even allowed to enter Portugal and Spain so there is no need to tell them that they should stay away voluntarily.
i wouldn't say its hype there are also the practical/logistical issues - likely more areas will be locked down which will directly affect the Camino route on both sides of the border. The trend now unfortunately has deteriorated in last 3 weeks and likely to get worst before better.Good luck and pleased to see people still getting on with their lives and not giving into the hype around covid.
Just listen to the Government in terms of what's allowed and what isn't. Many people seem to like playing God and telling others what they should and shouldn't do. Ignore them and bom caminho!
I arrived to Lisbon today, Oct 28th. I'm starting my Camino tomorrow the 29th. What route did you take? I called several Albergues and got no response. Many are closed. I guess, I'll have to buy a tent and do this the ancient way ?Im actually travelling to portugal tomorrow to start my camino. Maybe im wrong in many eyes to do so. But I feel for my own wellbeing its a very good option. There will be 3 of us and we will stick to our bubble of 3 sharing our own room when possible. We will wearin busy areas and use common sense.
We haven't had any issues staying in location we are currently in tomar haveing a rest day.. from Lisbon we arrive in alverca do Ribatejo but stayed just outside. This is my WhatsApp +447725056754 please feel free to call or whats app me and I can give my places were we have stayed they have all been great with amazing hostsI arrived to Lisbon today, Oct 28th. I'm starting my Camino tomorrow the 29th. What route did you take? I called several Albergues and got no response. Many are closed. I guess, I'll have to buy a tent and do this the ancient way ?By the way, I'm a female and I'm walking alone this year.
Please consider taking a train between Oriente station in Lisbon and Alverca or Vila Franca de Xira owing to repeated instances of assault of female pilgrims shortly past Alpriate, including recently. See this thread for details.I arrived to Lisbon today, Oct 28th. I'm starting my Camino tomorrow the 29th. What route did you take? I called several Albergues and got no response. Many are closed. I guess, I'll have to buy a tent and do this the ancient way ?By the way, I'm a female and I'm walking alone this year.
The restriction on travelling between districts will not affect tourist travellersPlease consider taking a train between Oriente station in Lisbon and Alverca or Vila Franca de Xira owing to repeated instances of assault of female pilgrims shortly past Apriate, including recently. See this thread for details.
You can refer to my live thread from last month for albergue closures and alternative options. You can still get by without camping, though it may depend on your budget.
There are also changing circumstances regarding coronavirus restrictions in Portugal, including mask-wearing now being mandatory in outdoor public spaces and the restriction on travelling between conselhos (districts) this weekend.
Despite some challenges, I loved walking this camino last month and hope you will too!
Yes, I live in Lisbon.Are you in portugal??
I am just reporting news without commentary. It's not meant to scare but to inform pilgrims of the current situation and possible restrictions they may face.Just seems your words off choice are scaring people away ive been on the caminho now for a week and just had positive response from locals that people are living normal lives even in coimbra many people were out last night.
I haven't found a good graph showing the deaths, but today's front page of the Diário de Notícias gives the numbers for the last six days:Keep us posted, @jungleboy. Hoping that the lockdown is effective in bringing down the numbers. I see that yesterday’s death toll also set a record. Is the graph as dismal for deaths as for cases?
Not sure. The big debate at the moment surrounding the vote is how/whether people in retirement homes can safely vote given the impact of the virus in those places.I expect it will have a tremendous impact on voter turnout. Is is like Spain where (I think) many people are registered (censado) in their pueblos and must return there if they want to vote?
So sad. Just months ago, people were holding up Portugal as the miracle country that seemed to have avoided the big hit. I think I’m correct in saying that the graph up through mid September made Portugal a world leader in keeping the virus at bay.
Keep us posted, @jungleboy. Hoping that the lockdown is effective in bringing down the numbers. I see that yesterday’s death toll also set a record. Is the graph as dismal for deaths as for cases?
I expect it will have a tremendous impact on voter turnout. Is is like Spain where (I think) many people are registered (censado) in their pueblos and must return there if they want to vote?
Fluid indeed. Things are changing by the day here, as the last two days have had the most new cases of the entire pandemic and today it was announced that schools would close for at least two weeks (they were initially kept open when the new lockdown was announced last week).JungleBoy - I appreciate your updates from Portugal. I am supposed to start the Coastal Camino (Porto to SDC) on 9 May (a mere 3 months away). Assuming travel restrictions from US are lifted, will Portugal be ready for tourists? How are vaccinations going? I know the situation is fluid. Just trying to get a feel if I should reschedule to August?
Update: it was reported last night that Prime Minister António Costa expects 70% of the population to be vaccinated by the end of summer, if vaccination distribution proceeds as planned. Article in Portuguese.How are vaccinations going?
Portugal, where infections and deaths have spiked to record levels after Christmas, initially hoped to receive close to 3m vaccine doses in the first quarter, but this figure has fallen to just 1.5m due to delivery delays, the vaccination taskforce head, Francisco Ramos, said.
He had said in December the original plan envisaged 950,000 people – health professionals, key workers, people over 50 with pre-existing conditions and key political figures – being fully vaccinated in January and February.
DoubtfulMy fiance and I have planned to walk the camino portuguese from 27th of Feb. Is it possible? We are from Denmark
I think you have to follow the news more often . Portugal has closed there borders.My fiance and I have planned to walk the camino portuguese from 27th of Feb. Is it possible? We are from Denmark
Unfortunately I have to agree with the two others who replied above. Our lockdown will not be lifted by the end of Feb as the situation is not under control at all (record deaths and case numbers again yesterday). As I have posted in this thread and other threads, Portugal has had, by far, the highest average number of daily COVID-19 cases, per capita, of any country in the world in the last three weeks.My fiance and I have planned to walk the camino portuguese from 27th of Feb. Is it possible? We are from Denmark
Not only that, but patients are being transported to other countries.A friend in Portugal tells me Portugal now has the highest rate of covid infection in the world. I couldn’t believe it, so I went to the press, and he is right. One article says patients are now being airlifted to Madeira for ICU beds. So horrible.
With world’s highest COVID-19 rate, Portugal has just seven free ICU beds
Government airlifts patients to Madeira as funeral homes also run out of space.www.politico.eu
Please be patience! Don’t do anything to compound the problem.Not only that, but patients are being transported to other countries.
Austria and Germany step in to help Portugal’s Covid crisis - Portugal Resident
Portuguese patients requiring intensive care to be transported to Austria. Germany military doctors to travel to Portugal.www.portugalresident.com
It's impossible to say with any certainty, of course, but I would hope so. The next phase of reopening is scheduled for next Monday, although the countrywide R(t) transmission index is above 1 (1.06 at last check). Regarding vaccinations, some regions are now onto the second group (of three) and the final group should begin around mid-year, so by November the majority of the country should be vaccinated.Is the southern section of the Caminho from Algarve to Lisbon possible in November?
I walked this route in mid April 2019 and thought the temperatures and weather were ideal, so you are choosing a wonderful time of year for this gorgeous route if you choose the Fisherman's Trail...walking in the country you now reside definately has some advantages as some restrictions are lifted.I am hoping to take the opportunity to walk the Rota Vicentina in southern Portugal starting next week.
Yes, Fisherman's Trail is the plan! We are waiting for an announcement later today about whether the next phase of opening up will go ahead countrywide on Monday as scheduled and we'll make a final decision after that.I walked this route in mid April 2019 and thought the temperatures and weather were ideal, so you are choosing a wonderful time of year for this gorgeous route if you choose the Fisherman's Trail...walking in the country you now reside definately has some advantages as some restrictions are lifted.
Does his mean the border with Spain will open soon?
It might be, but check for infrastructure. Weather-wise, I don‘t see why not. I went from Coimbra to SdC in Nov 2019.Good news!
Is November a good time of year for the southern Caminho from Algarve to Lisbon?
(Reuters) - The land border between Portugal and Spain will reopen for all travel on Saturday after more than three months of restrictions and border checks to reduce the risk of COVID-19 contagion, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Thursday.
Portugal's opening the border, but Galicia remains closed for the time beingThe Portugal-Spain border will open from this Saturday.
Portugal, Spain to fully reopen land border on May 1 after COVID restrictions
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