Symbols of Freedom by Andre Carrilho, who wrote: “All credit to health-care professionals who continue their mission . . . ”
Eighty-four percent of the population (8,930,596) has been vaccinated fully. Also, 86 percent (8,663,808) have received at least one dose since the start of the campaign in December 2020, according to the Directorate of Health (DGS) (September 29).
“Portugal is already one of the most vaccinated countries in the world,” reported SIC Noticias (September 29). “It leads both in the population with at least one dose and in the population with complete vaccination. After an initial phase in which the United States, Israel and the United Kingdom led the vaccination process, the landscape began to change in early summer with several European Union countries advancing faster in the biggest immunization process in history.”
Congratulations to the health-care workers, COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force leader Vice-Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, and the Portuguese people, ever humble.
On October 1, the government eliminated many COVID-19 mandates, including mask-wearing on the street but not on public transport, at hospitals and in senior citizen homes, according to SIC Noticias (October 1).
“The day of freedom does not make sense. What we must have is the day of responsibility,” said the Publico (September 16). “The decrease in incidence, decrease in mortality and success of vaccination puts Portugal in a situation of alleviation of measures as soon as the desired 85% of the population is reached. . . . But at the meeting of (public health institute) Infarmed (National Authority of Medicine and Health Products), the future was also looked at and at moments of greater transferability that may require tighter measures, such as the Christmas and New Year festivities.”
On April 25, 1974, Portugal also sought political freedom and responsibility because one does not exist without the other.
The Portuguese military undertook a peaceful coup in Lisbon. The revolution overthrew half a century of the authoritarian New State (Estado Novo) regime and ushered in the transition to democracy and the independence of former Portuguese colonies.
A restaurant worker offered carnations, the seasonal flower sold by street vendors, to the soldiers. Other demonstrators followed her example, placing the flowers in the muzzles of the soldiers’ guns thus, the name, the Carnation Revolution (Revoluçao dos Cravos) and the carnation as a symbol of it.
Comments