“We can expect another wave in the autumn, but smaller”

Due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant, and hiccups in vaccination supply, a new wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections is still anticipated for the autumn, but experts believe it will be ‘much smaller’ than the last two waves – principally because of the numbers which by then will have been fully-vaccinated. The likelihood of this new wave will be precipitated by the arrival of colder weather, mathematician Henrique de Barros has told today’s meeting between the government and health specialists at Infarmed. Every 5ºC drop in temperature leads to a 30% increase in cases, he explained. However, the understanding is that these new cases will have “little relevance” when it comes to hospital admissions and serious illness/ death.