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This Thursday, Portugal registered another 4,410 new infected by covid-19 and 46 deaths, according to data presented by the epidemiological bulletin of the General Directorate of Health (DGS).
These data represent a decrease in relation to the number of deaths provided by the DGS yesterday, which reported 13 more deaths than today. Regarding the number of new cases, this Thursday’s bulletin shows a significant improvement compared to the previous day, which included cases that had not been reported since October 30.
Even so, the 4,410 new cases announced by the DGS are close to the record of daily infections reported last Friday (4656).
Another highlight is a increase in the number of recovered, which was 2507 in the last 24 hours, that is, 150 more people were discharged than the previous day. There are still 1,876 cases of contacts with infected people who are under surveillance by the health authorities.
The bulletin further indicates that 25 more people were admitted to health services, now a total of 2362, but it is worth highlighting a Decrease in intensive care patients, now 320, five less than the previous day.
More deaths in the Lisbon region and the Tagus valley
The Lisbon region and the Tagus Valley registered the highest number of deaths in the last 24 hours, with a total of 20, three more than the number of deaths reported in the north of the country. Eight more deaths from covid-19 and one in Alentejo were declared in the center.
Regarding the newly infected, the northern region continues to be the one that presents the most worrying outlook, since they reached 2,580 cases. In just one day, more than double Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, which reported 1,124.
In the center of the country, there were 509 new cases, to which were added 97 infections in the Algarve and 87 in the Alentejo. The situation on the islands is calmer, as Madeira had seven new cases, one more than in the Azores.
The Oxford vaccine will be approved later this month
In the last hours, information has emerged that the approval of some of the vaccines that are in development against covid-19 should occur soon, at the end of this month or next, if unforeseen events do not arise. The announcement was made by the CEO of the pharmaceutical group Insud, which will produce the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca.
The COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Latin America in March or April 2021, after being distributed to the United States and Europe, according to the pharmaceutical group that will produce the Oxford vaccine.
So far, none of the 175 vaccines that are being developed in the world have been approved for commercialization. However, some of them are expected to be approved soon, later this month or next., if unforeseen events do not arise, recalled Hugo Sigman, founder and CEO of the pharmaceutical group Insud, which will produce the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca.
According to the pharmacist, It is not yet possible to know how long the antibodies of a vaccinated person will last, but it is expected to be at least a year, as is the case with the flu vaccine.
The Oxford University vaccine, along with the candidate from Pfizer and BioNTechque, are currently identified as being the most likely to be the first to be submitted for regulatory approval. “All Ibero-American countries are making very important purchase plans,” said the pharmacist.
In Portugal, the Government authorized the purchase of 6.9 million vaccines against covid-19, which will cost 20 million euros, through a process that is being coordinated between countries of the European Union (EU).
Regarding the criticisms of those who fear that the harm of taking a vaccine is greater than the benefits, the pharmacist guaranteed that the safety mechanisms are “very good” and that “the cost-benefit of being vaccinated is greater than that of not being vaccinated “. The goal is for at least 70% of the population to be vaccinated to create group immunity.
The pharmacist recalled that the covid-19 arrived to strengthen the process of preparing a type of vaccine that had already begun with the prevention of other coronaviruses. Laboratories were already working to combat SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which in Portuguese translates as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which was first identified in 2003, as well as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), which emerged in 2012.
Hugo Sigman also expressed confidence in how the pandemic will evolve in the next year, since the measures for the treatment and prevention of the disease will already be known and because there will be a greater notification of asymptomatic cases, which can reduce the spread. of the virus.
