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WWhile the second corona wave is slowly but surely building up in Europe, countries are feverishly searching for solutions on how to deal with the growing number of infections. For the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, it is clear that there cannot be a second blockade in his country: “We cannot repeat the blockade that we had to impose during the state of emergency. Companies, families and individuals would not accept it, ”he said recently.
The Social Democrat, who has ruled the country for about five years, has repeatedly spoken out against a renewed shutdown of public life to curb the spread of the crown.
The price that society had to pay for the first confinement was “brutal,” Costa said. “We can’t go through that again.” And the Portuguese head of government is adamant in rejecting the heavy restrictions even now, when the number of infections in Portugal is again increasing significantly. The Foreign Ministry has issued a travel warning for the capital Lisbon.
Portugal went into a strict lockdown early on and closed schools and largely froze the economy in mid-March, when the pandemic had not yet fully affected the country. Reinhard Naumann, head of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung office in Portugal, explains early intervention with a careful look at neighboring countries: “The Portuguese know that their healthcare system is not as well established as in Italy or Spain, and they worries. Particularly well taken care of with requirements. “
“We only have one life”
Successfully: the crown outbreak was contained and new infections were stable for many months. Since mid-July, only about 300 new cases of corona have been recorded per day.
But since the beginning of the month, the numbers have risen again as dramatically as they did the last time in April: on Saturday, authorities registered 849 new corona cases, and that in a country that only has 10 million inhabitants. The death toll is also rising again: 13 people died on Sunday, the last time being more on June 1.
Source: WORLD infographic
But instead of preparing the Portuguese for a new blockade, Costa now appeals to their sense of responsibility: everyone must adhere to precautionary measures and thus help stop the epidemic. Costa also linked the fight against the virus with the fight against poverty, saying last week: “Contrary to what some say, we do not have to choose between the economy and health. We all have one life. It is a life that we want to live in a healthy way, but also in good living conditions. “
The first blockade had devastating consequences for the Portuguese economy. It had only recovered from a long and severe economic crisis in 2018, which could only be overcome thanks to financial assistance from the EU and a drastic austerity and restructuring program. At the beginning of the year, the country was still hopeful in 2020, when a budget surplus was expected.
But now Portugal is forecast to experience a decline in economic performance of eight percent for the current year. Major industries such as commerce, tourism and hospitality have suffered especially high losses.
Costa’s strategy reminds Sweden
In this context, Costa sums up what many Portuguese think: precautions against Corona are important, but they must not destroy the economy further. And that resonates with the population.
Ana Sá Lopes, deputy chief editor of the important Portuguese newspaper Público, comments: “By placing the ‘responsibility’ of disease control in the hands of citizens and refusing to paralyze social life, Costa is following a path that initially seemed questionable, but currently achieved good results compared to other countries – the controversial form of Sweden. “
The Swedish government put the responsibility of containing the pandemic in the hands of its citizens, encouraging them to keep their distance and stay home when sick. It rejected restrictive measures such as those prescribed in much of Europe. Shops, kindergartens, and schools largely remained open.
However, the success of the Swedish model is controversial: advocates see less stringent precautionary measures, which can be followed permanently, as the only viable way to combat the virus. Critics, on the other hand, cite international death statistics, in which Sweden ranks in an ignominious eleventh place relative to world population.
Portugal could take a third route
Lopes also admits that Sweden’s strategy failed because of its nursing homes, where most of the deaths occurred. But Sweden is not currently experiencing a second wave, which could indicate that the “famous herd immunity” has already been achieved, Lopes speculates.
It concludes with the consideration that the general public knows little else about the corona virus, except that washing your hands and keeping your distance would help stop the spread. “However, the lockdown is known to destroy the economy and is believed to be detrimental to mental health as well.” The pre-coronavirus fruit is deeply human, he writes. “But the pulse of life, of life in society,” that is what will ultimately lead to recovery.
Apart from the philosophical approach, Lopes has no concrete suggestions. Costa owes it too. But his statements show the determination with which Portugal will fight politically and socially against a second blockade.
If the country abides by this demonstrative refusal, it could play a pioneering role in Europe. Portugal could then be the first EU country to take a third path and not allow a successful second blockade. With this strategy, Portugal could become a model for other southern European countries such as Italy or Spain, which have also suffered serious economic losses that they have not been able to face for the second time.
