This Wednesday, the Director-General of Health, Graça Freitas, carried out an assessment of the epidemiological situation and reinforced the call for the adoption of individual protection measures, during the Easter period. Graça Freitas notes that “the return of the students from the final trips has been fraught with dangers, especially for family members”.
At the moment, the BA2 variant is dominant in Portugal, but the SNS has a great capacity to accommodate Covid-19 patients. The transferability remains very high, with an overall downtrend and R
The number of cases last week, 60,000, is higher than the peaks of previous curves, except for last winter, but “we are still a long way from reaching low basal activity, which allows us to enjoy a comfortable and safe summer,” he says. Grace Freitas.
Deaths from Covid-19 reveal a stable but decreasing trend. However, this value is higher than the stipulated 20 deaths per million inhabitants, which allows to slow down preventive measures against the virus. Graça Freitas warns that “we cannot ease measures and increase social contact and hope that this will not have repercussions in the pandemic”
The Director-General of Health reinforces the demand that care should be maintained for the most vulnerable and the continued use of masks in enclosed spaces. “In children under the age of five, the use of a mask is not mandatory,” says Graça Freitas.
In schools, mask use will still be mandatory. “51% of children between 6 and 17 years old have contracted Covid-19,” he says. “Removing the mask is a very high risk.” He concludes that the use of a mask in nightclubs remains optional, since going to school is “compulsory and going to the disco is an option”.
On the issue of the fourth dose of vaccination against Covid-19, Graça Freitas explains that it remains to be determined who the booster dose will be needed for.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
