As the Portuguese government waits for up-to-date data to decide whether or not it will tighten controls on citizens’ movements for Christmas, the latest health authority bulletin has shown ‘the lowest numbers in intensive care for 26 days’.
It’s an indication that pressure on the health system is gradually easing as the country is now ‘well past the peak’ of the so-called second-wave
Deaths are still ‘running high’ (another 82 in the last 24-hour period), but recoveries are continuing in their thousands (+3,681) which indicates how many people are surviving current infections
Active cases remain under the 70,000-mark hit during November, with the majority of today’s ‘new cases’ (+4,720) found in the north (2,182), followed by Lisbon/ Vale do Tejo (1,375), the centre (840), Alentejo (177) and Algarve (94). The Azores and Madeira came in with 36 and 16 new infections respectively.
For the full picture of the last 24-hours click here.
The new ‘more infectious’ variant of the virus flagged in UK may well already be in Portugal as the number of new infections has continued to ‘hold steady’ on the relatively high side despite all measures in place – particularly in the 107 boroughs on strict nighttime and weekend curfews.
Meantime, the government is said to be ‘awaiting DGS data’ for tomorrow before making its decision on Friday on whether or not to pull what PM Costa called the ‘hand brake’ on plans to open up the country for the festive season (click here).
Other countries throughout Europe have been reviewing plans for Christmas with England insisting there is no point bringing in new rules: people have to be responsible enough to control themselves and so protect others. Scotland and Wales however have decided on ‘tighter restrictions’, in the latter case making them legally binding.
