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The number of new cases of infection by the new coronavirus and deaths in Portugal fell again on Wednesday, with the country registering an additional 7,914 infected (an increase of 1.1%) and 225 deaths, according to the most recent data. Salud, published this Thursday. This is the lowest number of new cases reported on a Thursday since the beginning of this year, still corresponding to less than half the number of new infections published on Thursday, January 28, the date they were reported. Another 16,432 cases were reported. Furthermore, this is also the lowest number of deaths within 24 hours of the last two weekssince January 21, when the covid-19 identified 221 deaths.
In total, the country now has 13,482 deaths from covid-19 and 748,858 confirmed cases since March.
The number of people hospitalized for the disease in Portuguese hospitals and in intensive care has also decreased, with 6,496 patients currently hospitalized (188 fewer than the previous day) and 863 in intensive care units (14 fewer). This is the largest reduction, in absolute terms, in the number of hospitalized patients in 24 hours since the start of the pandemic.
Another 10,760 people recovered from the disease, with a total of 573,934 recovered. There are 3,071 fewer active cases of the disease, with a total of 161,442, the lowest number since January 22, when there were 157,660 active cases.
Lisbon and the Tagus Valley with half of the new cases
According to data from the DGS bulletin, Lisbon and Tagus Valley It accounts for approximately half (50.5%) of the new infections reported this Thursday, having registered 3,993 additional cases and 119 deaths. The region north represents more than 1788 infected (23%) and 41 deaths.
The North has a cumulative total of 313,161 confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic, being the area of the country with the highest number of infections. It is followed by Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, with 276,464 cases; the center, with 106,539 cases (1,118 more than the previous day); the Alentejo, with 26,284 cases (343 more), and the Algarve, with 18,223 infected (387 more). The Azores archipelago has a total of 3,582 cases of infection (plus 21) and Madeira has 4605 cases (plus 264).
The 225 deaths identified in Thursday’s data include a woman between the ages of 40 and 49; three men and one woman between 50 and 59 years old; 15 men and seven women between 60 and 69 years old; 32 men and 25 women between 70 and 79 years old; and 57 men and 84 women (63% of the deaths reported this Thursday) over the age of 80, the age group most affected in terms of deaths.
Lisbon and the Tagus Valley registered 5,349 deaths from covid-19 accumulated since March and the northern region 4,695. Follow the center, with 2391 deaths (plus 38), Alentejo, with 741 deaths (plus 20), and the Algarve, with 234 deaths from covid-19 (plus four). The Azores archipelago registered one more death from covid-19, in a total of 26, and Madeira, two more, in a total of 46 deaths.
The government highlights a decrease in new cases, but foresees “difficult weeks”
The stricter lockdown imposed by the Government since mid-January, with the closure of schools and reduced mobility, caused a more rapid decrease in the SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility rate, with the effect of this lockdown approaching much of what was achieved in March and April of last year. In about a week, it was already possible to reduce the transmissibility of the new coronavirus in Portugal by between 35% and 40%. However, hospitalizations and deaths remain high.
The Minister of Health, Marta Temido, highlighted this Thursday the reduction in the number of new cases of covid-19 in Portugal, which was due to the “significant effort” in complying with the restrictions, but foresaw more “difficult weeks” in the fight against the pandemic, so “we can never forget the importance of public health standards and compliance by citizens in their proper application.”
So far, 350,945 doses of the covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Portugal. According to the latest data made available by the Ministry of Health, on February 3, 2021, 0.74% of the Portuguese had already received the two doses of the vaccine, that is, they are fully vaccinated against covid-19.
The position of coordinator of the workgroup The person who directs the Vaccination Plan against Covid-19 was assumed by Vice Admiral Gouveia e Melo, after the resignation of Francisco Ramos motivated by “irregularities in the selection process for vaccination of health professionals at Hospital da Cruz Vermelha.”
