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Prime Minister announces new de-confinement phases for 14th and 28th June 2021

 

After the end of the Council of Ministers meeting this Wednesday, June 2, António Costa spoke about vaccination status and its impact on the deconfinement phases, saying that “as planned” a new phase of the de-confinement process will take place.

As advised by epidemiological experts at the Infarmed meeting, the Government is keeping the risk matrix model (contrary to what Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa suggested), confirmed the Prime Minister. The changes will concern the adjustment of the risk criteria for municipalities with low population density as well as the plan for new deconfinement phases that should come into force from 14 June.

The Prime Minister analysed the evolution of the pandemic since March 9, highlighting “the sustained reduction” of the incidence rate and an evolution of the transmissibility rate “that has varied” between green and yellow. Even so, the summary of the evolution is “positive”, considers the Prime Minister.

António Costa says that “there is no high pressure situation in the National Health Service” and that is why it is possible to move forward in de-confinement.

“As we know the pandemic is consequence of human contact and the greater the population density the greater the risk,” said the Prime Minister. Now is the time to adjust the criteria for for low-density territories, António Costa added.

“Restrictions will only be applied, in low density territories, when twice the thresholds of the other territories are reached,” he detailed.

According to the Prime Minister, conditions are in place to proceed with a new de-confinement in two phases:

From 14 June

• Telework is no longer compulsory and is now only recommended;
• Restaurants, cafés and pastry shops maintain their current capacity rules, but can receive clients until midnight and work until 01h00;
• Commerce with the respective licensing schedule;
• Public transport with only seated places: full capacity;
• Public transport with seating and standing: 2/3 capacity
• Cultural shows until midnight. Concert halls with a capacity of 50 percent.
• Outdoor shows: Marked places and distance rules defined by the DGS;
• Weddings continue at 50% capacity of the venue;
• Training and amateur modalities can now have audiences in the stands as long as the seats are marked and following the distance rules defined by the DGS.
• Sports grounds with 33 percent of the capacity. Outside venues apply rules to be defined by the DGS

The second phase of de- confinement starts on 28 June, 14 days later. Here is what changes:

From 28 June

• Sports – professional levels or equivalent with new rules to be defined by the DGS
• Lojas Cidadão will open without prior appointment;
• Public transport without capacity restrictions

What remains closed?

• Bars and nightclubs still have no date to reopen (remember that they have been closed for over a year);
• Popular festivals and festivities also banned.

ALGARVE – Important

Now the numbers will take into account tourism in the Algarve: non-residents will be counted in the municipality of residence and not in the Algarve councils where they take the test. However, in relation to foreigners, it will be different — which will always end up penalizing the incidence rate in the Algarve.

 

Weekly risk evaluation and the two new different paces for the Municipalities:

Municipalities with an incidence rate of more than 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in high density municipalities or more than 240 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in low density municipalities will have these rules:

–   Mandatory teleworking when the work duties allow it;

–    Restaurants, cafés and pastry shops open until 22h30;

–     Cultural shows with the same opening hours as restaurants;

–     Retail trade open until 21h00.

 

When the cases are above 240 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants or 480 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants for the low density the rules are stricter:

–    Mandatory teleworking when the work duties allow it;

–    Restaurants, cafés and pastry shops open until 22h30 or open until 15h30 on weekends and public holidays;

–  Cultural shows with the same opening hours as restaurants;

–   Weddings and christenings with 25% of the venue’s capacity.

Meeting Started 10.00hrs – Live updates

 

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Prime Minister, António Costa, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, and party representatives met today at 10.00 hrs with experts on the evolution of the pandemic in Portugal and new rules to be adopted in the summer, at a meeting at Infarmed, in Lisbon.

This is the first meeting between politicians and experts since the state of emergency ended on April 30.

Among the various presentations are one dedicated to the “Updating of the Red Lines Reference”, by Andreia Leite, from the National School of Public Health of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, the presentation of the “Plan for the Reduction of Restrictive Control Measures of covid-19” , by Raquel Duarte, from ARS Norte and the Public Health Institute of the University of Porto – a study requested by the Government rules to be applied in the future to contain covid-19, but with the vaccination program already in an advanced stage.

André Peralta Santos, from DGS, is the first specialist to take the floor. He considers that there is “a slight upward trend” in the incidence of the virus during the last week. In Lisbon, it already exceeds 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants.

In Lisbon, parishes in the centre of the municipality have the highest incidence, with more than 240 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. Growth is reaching other parishes in the capital and the surrounding area.

The most affected age group is that of “young adults”, namely from 20 to 29 years old. The group over 80 “keeps the downward trend”.

Hospitalizations maintain “a downward trend”, albeit at a “slower pace”. The age group with the most hospitalized patients is 40 to 59, an “expected” phenomenon due to the vaccination of older groups.

The numbers of hospitalizations in the wards are “quite low,” said Peralta Santos. In intensive care there is also a “downward trend” compared to March 15. Mortality remains “at very low levels”, now in the three deaths per million inhabitants.

“In previous weeks the testing intensity was higher”, but it continues “at a good pace”. 270,000 tests were done in one week. Of these, 75% are rapid tests. Positivity has increased “slightly” in recent weeks, but remains “well below” the 4% reference value.

This is followed by the presentation of Baltazar Nunes, from the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge. (10.22 hrs)

According to the expert, since mid-March, the incidence has been “constant”, despite small fluctuations. The value of R is now at 1.07. The daily value of R is at 1.11.

The Algarve and the North have transmission rates below 1, unlike what happens in Lisbon. If the R continues to grow in Lisbon and Alentejo, within two weeks, there will be more than 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in these regions.

There is a process of increasing mobility in Europe. Portugal is among the countries with the lowest mobility reduction, keeping the incidence levels low.

The effectiveness of the Covid vaccine in people aged 80 and over was 80%. “These are very good values”, he guaranteed.

The results suggest a “controlled” epidemiological activity. “It is necessary to maintain the increase in testing and family bubbles”, stressed Baltazar Nunes. For immunity to become real, a month must pass since the first dose , he added.

Variants (10.37 hrs)

João Paulo Gomes, from INSA, stated that the British variant already represents 87.2% of the total cases in Portugal. The one in Manaus (Brazil) fell from 4.3% in April to 3% in May, “and it should remain so”.

The South African variant is at 1.9% in May and the Indian is now at 4.6%, with no case detected a month ago. Cases of this variant in nine districts of 13 counties.

Currently, there are 37 cases registered with this variant, and the estimate is that the real total is around 160. “It is expected” that “there is already community transmission” of this variant, warned João Paulo Gomes.

The virus is adapting to an increasingly immunized population,” said the expert, warning of the appearance of mutations “that somehow manage to deceive our immune system” and “cause some infections”.

This is followed by the Presentation of Henrique Barros, from the Public Health Institute of the University of Porto. (10.49 hrs) with the study “From acute infection to chronic consequences”.

The expert points out that, in terms of incidence, the values ​​are now slightly higher in the North and in Lisbon compared to the same period in the previous year.

The difference, says Henrique Barros, is in the older age group, now more protected.

Hospitalizations are much lower , which reflects “the learning” done over these 15 months of the pandemic.

In children up to the age of 10 and in the age group of 80, positivity fell sharply compared to the previous year.

The specialist also pointed out that, now, “the probability of dying has dropped dramatically”: it became 1 in 5 infected people and went to “1 in 20 infected people”.

Viruses have become endemic”

The infection has become “endemic”, at least socially, he argued. “The infection circulates much less, but you have to be careful,” he added.

Within a year, the fear of being infected and anxiety about the pandemic have dropped significantly, revealing that the Portuguese population is learning to live with the coronavirus.

Carla Nunes, from Universidade Nova de Lisboa (11.12 hrs)

She said that, in the last week, Lisbon had 3 times more cases than what was expected.

The behaviour of the Portuguese have “had significant changes, in line with the lack of definition”. The study released by Carla Nunes found that 16.2% of respondents said they had already been in groups of 10 or more people, compared to 1.8% on February 19.

According to the same study, there is a “clear recovery” of confidence in health services. Only 14.1% of respondents remain little or not confident in the treatment of covid-19, against 32.7% in February.

To change the risk matrix or not? (11.30 hrs)

Andreia Leite, from the National School of Public Health at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, spoke about the update of the red lines.

The analysis is done through the cumulative incidence and the transmissibility rate , allowing to understand if the epidemic situation is controlled or not. It is called the risk matrix.

With vaccination progressing, explains Andreia Leite, it is questionable whether it makes sense to update this framework.

“Incidence and Rt should remain the main indicators”

The official argues that there are several unknowns regarding vaccination, namely regarding the duration of immunity.

For Andreia Leite, at this stage, it is important to continue looking at the incidence as it is the indicator that allows us to act in a timely manner. “It allows us to meet international criteria, to understand if the measurement of measures has effects and to identify if there is any change in the characteristics of the virus”.

Experts continue to propose the maintenance of the current set of indicators, stressing the importance of incidence and Rt as “main indicators”, she said.

(1142 hrs) Raquel Duarte, from the University of Porto, said it was “almost unanimous” among the experts to “maintain the obligation to maintain individual protection measures”. The use of the mask continues to be encouraged, “especially in closed environments”. She also called for testing to be maintained at relevant levels and for “effective ventilation” to be carried out in the interior spaces.

The specialist said that it is necessary to go back “in the imposing character” of the measures, betting on a more pedagogical approach. The reason is that the improvement in the pandemic situation inevitably generates a greater willingness for the population to take to the streets.

Like João Paulo Gomes, Raquel Duarte also wants to watch the borders and “restrict” travel to and from countries with a significant impact of new variants.

Raquel Duarte proposes the creation of three new levels of restrictions – A, B and C -, in addition to the existing ones. At level C, the capacity of restaurants must be limited to 25%, changing to 50% at B. Level A is the least restrictive and will only require compliance with general protection measures.

As for family life, the specialist proposes to lift restrictions on levels B and A, while maintaining the risk assessment taking into account criteria such as age.

5.2 million vaccines administered

This is followed by Henrique Gouveia e Melo, coordinator of the Task Force for the Vaccination Plan.

According to the official, in the second quarter of the year 1.5 million vaccines will arrive in Portugal.

Until Thursday, 5.2 million vaccines were given : 3.5 million first doses and 1.8 million second doses.

If everything goes according to plan, he advanced, on the 6th of June, the 40-year-old age group will start vaccinating and, in the last week of June, the 30-year-old .

By the end of this week, more than 85% of people aged 60 to 69 will be vaccinated and about 40% of those aged 50 to 59.

Henrique Gouveia e Melo says he has two concerns: maintaining the rate of vaccination and ensuring that geographically isolated communities have all the necessary health care.

“I am concerned about some grants for the elderly who, in this process, are left behind”, he said, also showing concern for the bedridden, the hospitalized people and those with comorbidities.

The President of the Republic regretted the “absence of any reference” to the possible “correlation” and “causality” between the incidence of the virus in the younger age groups and hospitalizations.

President of the Republic

The President of the Republic addressed the issue of “public legitimation of the health indicators and criteria adopted.” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that it was “evident” that when the pandemic situation was serious, human life must take priority over the economy; however , given the improvement that the country has been registering, “it starts to be less evident”, in the eyes of the population, that the “sacrifice” of the economic and social aspect continues to exist”.

The head of state also regretted the “absence of any reference” to the possible “correlation” and “causality” between the incidence of the virus in the younger age groups and hospitalizations. “I have not seen any analysis of the connection that exists or not between the increase in cases and pressure in the NHS,” he added.

The president also expressed his “difficulty in seeing the immediate weight” of the virus variants in Portugal, although he acknowledged that borders must continue to be controlled. Marcelo also stressed the need to explain the importance of vaccination to the younger strata of society.

 

 

Funchal, Madeira, 13 May 2021 (Lusa) – Madeira on Wednesday reached a record number of vaccines against covid-19 in a single day, with 3,422 inoculations, in several counties in the region, the Regional Government said today.

According to a note distributed by the office of the regional secretary for Health and Civil Protection, 112,364 vaccines against covid-19 have been administered since December 31, 2020.

Regarding the vaccination process, it indicates that on Wednesday 204 people were vaccinated in Porto Moniz, 222 in São Vicente, 900 in Santa Cruz, 390 in Calheta and 1,716 in Funchal.

Today, administration is taking place at the Vaccination Center of Funchal, Santana and Santa Cruz.

In Santana, in addition to the vaccination of residents based on the age criterion, some bedridden patients residing in the municipality are being vaccinated, according to the same information.

The Regional Government stresses that the administration of vaccines continues to professionals in the tourism sector, as the region begins to receive some visitors, and to people with risk diseases.

Madeira’s Regional Vaccination Plan-19 establishes three phases, starting with the priority groups, followed by people with comorbidities and then the rest of the population.

The estimate points to the vaccination of 50 thousand people in the first phase, another 50 thousand in the second phase and, finally, 100 thousand people.

The President of the Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, has already stated publicly that the goal is to have 70% of the region’s population, about 260 thousand inhabitants, vaccinated by the end of September.

According to the latest epidemiological bulletin released Wednesday by the Regional Health Directorate, Madeira recorded 18 new cases of covid-19 and 19 recoveries, reporting a total of 226 active infections, with 11 hospitalized patients.

In view of these figures, the archipelago now accounts for 9,152 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection since the beginning of the pandemic, with 8,855 already recovered and maintaining the 71 deaths associated with the disease.

 

 

Ministry of Health did not comply with the law and has not yet replaced contact with prefix 808.

The Ministry of Health revealed to the JN that “the SNS24 will remain free for the citizen”, although the number has not yet changed, as the legislation in force requires. Even so, doubts about whether line 808 24 24 24, which became toll free in April 2020, at the first peak of the covid-19 pandemic, would return to costs for those who make the call and for those who receive it.

In article 9 of Law no. 7/2020, of April 10, it is mentioned that, given the specificity of the service provided by the SNS24 line, “the Ministry of Health must, within a maximum period of 60 days, counting from the date of entry into force of this law, replace the number of the SNS24 with prefix 808 with a special number, ensuring its total free of charge for users “. The cost issue is assured, but the number remains the same.

The Ecological Party “Os Verdes” asked the Ministry of Health , under Law No. 7/2020 , which resulted from its proposal, “why has it not yet replaced the contact number prefix 808, with a toll-free number? prefix 800, without any cost to the user “. Awaits the reply.

 

 

 

The EU has concluded an agreement with BioNTech / Pfizer to provide up to 1.8 billion extra doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, European Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday. 8th May 2021

Happy to announce that the European Commission has just approved a contract to guarantee 900 million doses (+900 million options) with BioNTech / Pfizer for 2021-2023″, tweeted the European official, who is in Portugal for the Summit Social, in Porto. “Other contracts and other vaccine technologies will come,” he promised.

The contract with the German and American laboratories, allies in the production of anti-covid-19 vaccines, provides for deliveries starting this year and until 2023.

The new contract, which is endorsed by the Member States of the European Union, will involve not only the production of vaccines, but also the guarantee that all essential components must come from the EU.

“Vaccination is progressing well” in Europe, said Ursula von der Leyen, quoted by the Associated Press (AP), adding that the EU is now preparing “a new stage in the response” to the covid-19 pandemic.

The new doses will make it possible, in particular, to protect the population against new variants of the new coronavirus, but also to vaccinate children and adolescents.

The contract announced today is the third between the EU and the German-American alliance.

According to the agency France-Presse, the European Commission currently has a portfolio of 2.3 billion doses of vaccines from various companies.

The Commission, which negotiates on behalf of the 27 member states, signed a first contract with BioNTech and Pfizer in November for a total of 300 million doses of the vaccine.

Brussels signed a second contract on January 8, also for 300 million doses (including optional 100 million).

In total, the EU received 67 million doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine in the first quarter, and expects to receive an additional 250 million doses in the second quarter.

 

 

The Odemira Public Prosecutor’s Office has 11 inquiries on aid to illegal immigration for the purposes of labour exploitation, a source from the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) told Lusa.

Yesterday the Mayor of Odemira, José Alberto Guerreiro, stated yesterday that the situation of agricultural workers in the municipality, in the district of Beja, is “enough material” for the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry.

On Sunday, he revealed that he filed a complaint about situations that he considered suspicions that are the basis of the existence of “many migrant workers” in the municipality of Odemira.

The Prime Minister had earlier stated that the Government had decided to enact a health cordon in the parishes of São Teotónio and Almograve, in the municipality of Odemira, due to the high incidence of cases of covid-19, especially among workers in the agricultural sector..

The head of Government also underlined that “some population lives in situations of unacceptable unhealthy housing, with overcrowding of dwellings”, reporting situations of “enormous risk to public health, in addition to a stark violation of human rights”.

According to provisional data from SEF sent to Lusa, 9,615 legal immigrants resided legally in the municipality of Odemira, district of Beja, 2,353 of whom were citizens of Nepal and 2,328 of India, followed by citizens of Bulgaria (930) , Thailand (785) and Germany (591). SEF added they work mainly in agriculture, whose companies have Europeans in management and management positions.

SEF states that in 2019 in the municipality of Odemira, there were 8,157 foreign citizens, the nationalities of Indonesian origin stand out, with agriculture, especially greenhouses, the sector of activity that most immigrants employ.

SEF states that related to this agricultural activity, there is the presence of some European citizens who hold positions of direction and management in these companies.

According to SEF, the majority of immigrants remain in this region for a period of time that allows them to “obtain economic means to return to the country of origin and access a better standard of living or remains for many years, with the immediate objective of bringing the family”.

Indian workers of the company The Summer Berry Company Portugal, an agricultural company of red fruits, during a lunch break, in Odemira, Beja, March 29, 2021. Photo by Mário Cruz / Lusa.

 

 

Ílhavo, Aveiro, 02 May 2021 (Lusa) – More than 205 tons of frozen fish, worth an estimated 1.2 million euros, were seized on Saturday in Gafanha da Nazaré, municipality of Ílhavo, announced today in a statement the GNR of Aveiro.

According to GNR, in the course of a fish inspection action, “an unauthorized fish discharge was detected, since all fish should be sealed in the holds of the ship”, resulting in the seizure of “about a ton of fish. caught out of the holds ”.

After the “confrontation with the cargo declaration document and the discharge control document controlled by the Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM)”, GNR found that “205 tons of fish of different types were in the holds. species, which were apprehended, as well as a crowbar, a spline wrench, a forklift and two remains of unused stamps ”, it also reads.

The ship’s captain, a 69-year-old man, was then “identified for the crimes of embezzlement or destruction of objects placed under public authority and breaking marks and seals”, adds the GNR, noting that another 13 men were also identified.

The facts were referred to the Judicial Court of Ílhavo, adds the press release.

 

Prime Minister Addresses the National Following Council of Ministers Meeting

April 29, António Costa revealed to the country the decisions taken at the Council of Ministers meeting, where the fourth and final phase of de- confinement was discussed.

Recalling that the President of the Republic did not renew the state of emergency, António Costa says that Portugal will enter a Situation of Calamity which will be in effect as of 00h00 on May 1^st.

“Today, making the evaluation of the pandemic, we were able to take the decision to take the step forward to the next stage of deconfinement,” António Costa announced. Contrary to initial plans, the country will enter the last phase of deconfinement as early as Saturday, May 1.

This is how the last phase of the deconfinement will be, in a nutshell:

• Restaurants, cafes and pastry shops open until 22h30
• Weddings and christenings with 50% of the venue capacity
• Cinemas, theatre, shows until 22h30
• Land borders open
• All shops and shopping centers open until 21h00 during the week and 19h00 at the weekend and holidays.

 

The deconfinement measures are advancing in the vast majority of the municipalities on the mainland, togheter with Rio Maior and Moura, as well as Alandroal, Albufeira, Figueira da Foz and Penela.

There is a list of municipalities on alert and there are three municipalities that will continue in the third phase of deconfinement: Miranda do Douro, Paredes and Valongo.

The municipalities at risk are:

• Alijó
• Alpiarça
• Arganil
• Batalha
• Beja
• Boticas
• Cabeceiras de Baixo
• Castelo de Paiva
• Celorico de Basto
• Cinfães
• Coruche
• Fafe
• Figueiró dos Vinhos
• Lagos
• Lamego
• Melgaço
• Oliveira do Hospital
• Paços de Ferreira
• Penafiel
• Peniche
• Peso da Régua
• Ponte da Barca
• Póvoa de Lanhoso
• Tábua
• Tabuaço
• Vidigueira
• Vila Real de Santo António

 

There are still two municipalities that are going back to the first phase: Aljezur and Resende and  Carregal do Sal and Portimão remain on the first phase.

In Odemira, two parishes are under sanitary fence. “Odemira is the largest municipality in mainland Portugal, larger than some districts. All public health surveys identify that the main focus of the infection is concentrated in two of these parishes and clearly associated with the migrant population that works in the agricultural sector. We decided to immediately decree a sanitary fence to the parishes of São Teotónio and Longueira/Almograve”, said António Costa, adding that there will be facilities to put the positive cases in prophylactic isolation. All the other parishes of Odemira will move forward to phase 4.

As it was foreseen, gyms will be able to hold group classes again. According to the prime-minister, physical activity can also be resumed without restrictions.

The evaluation of the incidence of the municipalities is no longer be fortnightly, the Prime Minister revealed. “We have moved to a weekly assessment. We are now in a framework where there is no state of emergency and there are fewer restrictive measures. We need to act as quickly as possible when we are in situations of rapid growth, in order to avoid excessive growth. Or, on the other hand, to allow a faster reopening of activities and people freedom of movements as soon as possible,” he detailed.

Alcoholic beverages will be allowed to be sold until 21h00, but the restriction of prohibition of consumption on public roads will remain in effect, confirmed António Costa.

Regarding the beach rules, now that some municipalities will be opening the beach season, the same regime that existed for the 2020 bathing season will be in force, with limited capacity defined by the Directorate General of Health (DGS).

People arriving from Brazil, South Africa, India and European countries with a high incidence rate will have to go through quarantine to enter Portugal.

Safe Communities Portugal has prepared a full translation into English of the Government PowerPoint in Portuguese released about an hour ago as well as the official Communique in English These can be downloaded:

 

Meeting at Infarmed 27th April 2021

 

The 20th meeting of experts and politicians, which brings together the President of the Republic, the President of the Assembly and the Prime Minister is taking takes place in the week when the Government will decide whether Portugal advances to the fourth and final phase of the deconfinement plan, which is scheduled to start on May 3rd. In the afternoon, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will hear parties about the possible end of the state of emergency, which he has already said he hopes will end on Friday, April 30.

If the next phase of the deflation progressed in light of Friday’s figures from the Directorate-General for Health, there were three counties on the continent at risk of going back one stage in the reopening , 15 of not moving forward and 18 with an alert for having reached the level of 120 new cases of covid-19 per 100 thousand inhabitants, compared with data from 15 days earlier.

André Peralta Santos, from DGS, underlined that, in the last 15 days, the incidence of Covid-19 remained “stable”. There are 37 counties above 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. Even so, in large urban centres there is a “slight downward trend”.

The growth of the virus in the area of ​​Paredes, Paços de Ferreira and Penafiel “causes some concern”. In Odemira, one of the municipalities with the highest incidence in the country, there is a “reversal of trend”.

Almost all age groups are below the incidence recorded on March 15. The exception is the group between 10 and 20 years.

The group from 0 to 9 years old, which was growing, has now reversed the trend, with 10 to 20 years old being the one with the highest increase at the moment. However, neither one raises “special concern”.

Also, the group over 80 “maintains a downward trend and is, at this moment, the most protected group”.

The North has an increasing trend, although still below 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. The Algarve started a downward trend.

Currently, it is the group between 50 and 79 years old that occupies the most intensive care units. Deaths also maintain a “downward trend”.

Positivity is below the benchmark, which stands at 4%. Peralta Santos considers this data “very positive”.

Regarding hospitalizations, André Peralta Santos points out “clearly positive” data. “There is a marked downward trend in the age group of 80+, which has to do with the effort and vaccination of this group”, he says.

It is the group of 50 to 79 that has, today, the highest incidence in hospitalization, although the numbers are much lower than they were when we reached the “peak”.

The number of deaths also maintains “a downward trend”. The peak was on February 4 (368 deaths per million inhabitants) and today we have 5 deaths per million inhabitants, lower than the ECDC reference indicator.

Transmissibility index in the North above 1

Baltazar Nunes, from the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, spoke about the evolution of incidence and transmissibility, points out first that there was a “decrease in the rate of transmissibility” (the Rt), compared to the previous meeting, 15 days ago.

Only the North has Rt – the number of people that a first infected person is able to infect – is above 1 (1.05), although the incidence rate is less than 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in 14 days. If the pace is maintained, the region reaches that red barrier between “two weeks and a month” .

Phased reopening of schools with “very positive” result

Analyzing the relationship between the evolution of the incidence and the reopening of schools, the expert says that “there is some very positive result in the way the epidemic was transmitted in schools in this phase of reopening in stages”, until the week of April 16.

Europe improved and Portugal stabilized

Comparing the Portuguese situation with the European situation, Baltazar Nunes says that “the situation at European level has improved” and that Portugal, contrary to what was projected, “stabilized with an R slightly below 1 and an incidence rate between 60 and 100 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants “.

Regarding the effects of vaccination, “from 60% in the population of 80+ there is an inversion of the trend, of decrease”, points out Baltazar Nunes, from the Ricardo Jorge Institute.

Regarding the relationship between the vaccination process and the incidence of the disease, the expert of the Ricardo Jorge Institute (INSA) assures that “there is a clear benefit in reaching high levels of vaccination in the various age groups”, highlighting the “clear signs of the impact of vaccination “in people over 60 in reducing the incidence.

João Paulo Gomes, from INSA, revealed that the United Kingdom variant in Portugal now corresponds to about “89% or 90%” of the total of registered cases, a number higher than the 83% of 15 days ago.

In the last two weeks, Portugal recorded 44 cases of the Manaus variant, bringing the number of cases already detected in the country to 73. The rise is in line with the rest of Europe, said João Paulo Gomes.

As for the South African variant, there were 11 cases in the last 15 days in Portugal, which makes a total of 64 cases diagnosed in the country.

“It is a reflection of any opening of borders. The variants that circulate in one country will also circulate, more freely, in all others”, warned the expert.

The Manaus variant will become “significantly more significant” in Portugal in the near future, warned the expert.

Portugal already has six cases of the Indian variant. All were detected in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region. João Paulo Gomes pointed out that the European population is “increasingly immune”: In this sense, of the various existing variants, only those variants that are more resistant to the vaccine should survive. The current situation in terms of variants in Portugal “is not an impediment to the continuation of the deconfinement plan”, concluded João Paulo Gomes. Henrique Barros, from the Public Health Institute of the University of Porto, highlights the “very revealing” role of the continuation of the vaccination plan, which has been essential to prevent infections, hospitalizations and deaths. “Diaries of Pandemia II”: of the respondents, only 90% say they want to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Vaccination refusals are in the majority between the ages of 40 and 60.

There is also a relationship with the “nature of income”: the people with the most income and education are those who claim to want to be vaccinated. “Those who seem less interested in the vaccination process have less income,” he says..

Henrique de Barros also recalls that vaccination efficacy scenarios were made in January according to the vaccination plan designed, and we predicted at that time that we would save 140 thousand cases and 9 thousand hospitalizations and avoid more than two thousand deaths. What can be seen now is that the reality proved the scenario and was “clearly better than the conversational predictions in terms of morality”.

In other words, “the acceleration of vaccination prevented contagion and significantly reduced deaths in the elderly,” he says.

Lethality is five times lower than in the beginning

Henrique Barros, from the Public Health Institute of the University of Porto, highlights the “very revealing” role of the continuation of the vaccination plan, which has been essential to prevent infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

The probability of dying from covid-19 has undergone a “brutal variation” over the past few months, the expert said, speaking on Infarmed by videoconference, adding that the hypothesis of a fatal outcome of the disease is, in April, around five times lower than at the beginning of the pandemic.

The expert points out that lethality remains higher in men.

Speaking now of the relationship between lethality and variants of the virus, Henrique de Barros says that people infected with the UK variant “appear to have a significantly increased likelihood of dying.” But the value is similar when compared to the Spanish strain, which was dominant in Portugal in the summer. The South African variant, on the other hand, increases the risk of infection.

Henrique de Barros ends up saying that the lethality, for the diagnosed cases, is currently at 2%, but varies depending on several factors.

“Even with the presence of more lethal and more transmissible variants, it is possible, with protective measures and vaccination, to guarantee the values ​​we believe in: in September, if everything goes smoothly, we hope to have no cases”, he ends.

In conclusion, the expert points out that the lethality in Portugal varies according to the sex of the infected, the nationality, the region and the variants. Thus, it is superior in men and in people with a nationality other than Portuguese . At the regional level, with the North as a reference, the remaining regions are associated with a higher risk of lethality, with the exception of the autonomous region of Madeira , where there is a lower risk of mortality. And, as for the variants, although the information is still scarce, it is estimated that the Brazilian variant may cause more deaths .

Over 80% want to be vaccinated as soon as possible

Carla Nunes, from the School of Public Health at Universidade Nova de Lisboa stated that the behaviours of the Portuguese are being “in agreement with the state of de-confinement”. On April 16, 8.6% of respondents in a study presented by Carla Nunes had revealed to have been with a group of 10 or more people, against 1.8% on February 19. Confidence in health care has risen, albeit “very slightly”.

Over 80% want to be vaccinated as soon as possible

“There were no major changes” regarding the perception that the Portuguese have regarding the vaccine. According to Carla Nunes, among the respondents who have not yet received a dose, 81.7% are available to do so as soon as possible. There are 7% who say they do not want to do it and 11.3% who have not yet decided.

Regarding vaccine safety, between March 20 and April 2, 87.8% considered these drugs to be reliable or very reliable, against 1.6% who said otherwise. Between April 3 and 16, 87.6% said that vaccines are safe or very safe, with 2% understanding that they are not.

Between March 20 and April 2, 87.4% of respondents considered the vaccine to be effective or very effective, against 3.5% who said it was not. In the following fortnight, the parameters “effective” and “Very effective” rose to 89.9% and the “not effective” dropped to 1.7%. Vaccinations

Vice Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, coordinator of the “task force” for vaccination, pointed out that mainland Portugal will reach the mark of three million vaccines inoculated by Wednesday (with Madeira and the Azores, the threshold is exceeded). ” By the end of the week, more than 22% of the population will have their first dose. ”

The official says that there is a “slight positive evolution of availability, in the second quarter, with 9.2 million vaccines, however, the age limit of two types of vaccines that the country is using [AstraZeneca and Janssen] may condition the use of up to half a million vaccines ”. In the third quarter, these two vaccines may “withdraw about 2.7 million from the plan”.

Marcelo highlights the effect of vaccination on mortality reduction

At the end of the presentations, the President of the Republic highlighted the “interrelationship between vaccination and pandemic management”, emphasizing that “lethality and mortality go in reverse with the progress of vaccination”.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who speaks to the country this Tuesday at 8 pm – with the possibility of not extending the state of emergency on the table – stressed that “the progress of vaccination deserves to be welcomed and highlighted”, also stressing the “increasing adhesion of the Portuguese” to taking drugs against covid-19.

Today, another meeting is taking place at Infarmed, in which the Government and political figures meet with experts to analyze the epidemiological situation in Portugal.

At Infarmed, in Lisbon, from 10 am, as has been happening since February, only the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, and most epidemiologists will be present.

The remaining participants, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, António Costa and Ferro Rodrigues, party representatives, members of the Council of State and social partners, will follow the meeting by videoconference.

This week the Assembly of the Republic is expected to debate and vote on the draft presidential decree for the renewal of the state of emergency for a new period of 15 days, with effect from April 1 and which will cover the Easter period.

The session begins with a presentation by André Peralta Santos, from the Directorate-General for Health, on the epidemiological situation , following the perspective of the evolution of the incidence and transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in charge of Baltazar Nunes and Ricardo Mexia, from the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) .

João Paulo Gomes, also from INSA, will update the virus variants in the country, with Henrique de Barros, from the Public Health Institute of the University of Porto, giving a presentation on a year of learning from covid-19 in Portugal .

The meeting continues with the presentation of the social perceptions of the pandemic in the country, in charge of Carla Nunes, from the National School of Public Health of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and with the status of vaccination by the coordinator of the vice-admiral task force Henrique Gouveia e Melo .

The meeting starts 10.08 hrs

André Santos Peralta, the DGS, says there was a “downward trend of maintaining” the incidence of the virus, with an average of 79 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, in Greater Lisbon, “there are already some municipalities” with a growing trend. The active population became the population with the highest incidence, but there was a “very expressive” decrease in hospitalizations in the infirmary and ICU.

The active population became the population with the highest incidence, but there was a “very expressive” decrease in hospitalizations in the infirmary and ICU. “in a scenario of great incidence, only the population from 40 to 60 is enough to exceed the indicator of 245 beds of hospitalizations in ICU”. That is, “To be completely safe, the age group to be vaccinated will have to go up to these ages”.

Lisbon and Tagus Valley has the highest incidence (more cases per 100 thousand inhabitants every 14 days).

Regarding hospitalizations, there is a maintenance of the decline in the +60 group. In the ICUs, there is a “very significant drop” in the group of 50, 60 and 70 years old.

As for the variants, that of the United Kingdom increased, reaching 73% in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and above 60% in the North.

The testing rate is “quite considerable” and the 4% positive ceiling is only found “in some municipalities”. There has been a greater speed in laboratory notification, revealed the expert.

English variant already represents more than 70% of the cases in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region. “There has been an increase”

A new fact about lethality: “In the week of March 1st to 7th, there was a decrease in lethality in the more than 80 years,” he says.

10.38 hrs

Transmission Rate R (t)

 

Baltazar Nunes, from the Ricardo Jorge National Institute, first highlights the growing trend of the transmissibility index, the R (t). “It is natural to slow down the decrease in new cases,” says the expert. But, currently, all regions of the Continent are in the green zone of the risk matrix .Although the R is approaching 1, “it is important to evaluate the two indicators – the incidence at 14 days and the R – together”, says Baltazar Nunes. Only when the R rises above 1 will the number of cases begin to rise. Much of Central and Eastern Europe has incidence rates above 120 and R above 1. For Baltazar Nunes, this “may be a risk for Portugal”.

At the end of March, the incidence is expected to stabilize at the line of 60 cases at the end of March. “We no longer predict that the incidence will drop from that level,” explained the expert.

Ricardo Mexia, from INSA, said that a “pressing need” in the vaccination strategy is to have an “agile” notification of the test results. In the last few days, there has been an “important increase” in testing, especially rapid testing. PCR tests have known “stabilization”.

In schools, in more than 80 thousand tests, the rate of positivity is currently 0.1%. On March 19, the positivity rate was 1.2% – below, therefore, the recommended 4% threshold.

10.44 hrs

Variants

João Paulo Gomes, also from the Ricardo Jorge Institute, now takes stock of the incidence of the covid-19 variant. Almost 100% of covid cases in England are from the United Kingdom variant and this should be the trend in the rest of the countries, being just “a matter of time”, says João Paulo Gomes, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA). “The UK variant is expected to be in more than 80% of cases in our country.” “Almost all countries are expected to have a near 100% prevalence of the UK variant.” In Portugal, we have a prevalence of 70%, although, says the specialist, it is expected to reach 80% of cases shortly.

João Paulo Gomes also explains that the rapid tests will not allow the search for new variants. Mass testing is positive, but it has this problem, says the expert. To solve it, he proposes to increase the sampling of PCR tests, which are the ones that allow the analysis and surveillance of variants, by increasing the network of laboratories – private and the Academy.

There are 24 cases of the South African variant identified in Portugal (250 in the United Kingdom, 300 in Belgium). João Paulo Gomes stresses the importance of flight control and travel history, as this variant is spread across European countries that have many flight connections with Portugal. “The last thing you want is for the same thing to happen to the UK variant, which is widespread.”

As for the Manaus variant, 16 cases are identified in Portugal, within the average and very distant from countries like Italy, which already have almost 160 cases.

Ricardo Jorge will also increase the installed capacity for the sequencing of the samples.

1100 hrs

INSA proposes solution for the “continuous decrease” in the number of PCR tests

With the increase in testing with rapid tests, there is a “continuous decrease” in the number of PCR tests, “the only ones that allow the search for SARS-CoV-2 variants”. To resolve the issue, INSA researcher João Paulo Gomes proposes an extension of the laboratory network to select positive PCR samples to perform their genomic sequencing, inviting more laboratories to participate, and also suggests that whoever has a positive rapid test can be again tested with PCR.