Portugal is registering a growing trend in the transmission of Covid-19, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) said on Monday, recommending strengthening preventive measures such as the use of a mask in case of symptoms of a respiratory infection. .
In a statement, the DGS said there was an increase in Covid-19 transmission on June 9, with 16 seven-day cases per 100,000 inhabitants recorded on June 9, indicating an increasing trend.
This figure is higher than last winter’s “peak” incidence rate of 12 cases every seven days per 100,000 inhabitants, but lower than the rate recorded last summer (42 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), the DGS said.
Data seen by Lusa on the DGS portal shows that between June 9 and June 16, 2,337 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Portugal and 68 deaths were recorded.
According to a statement published this Monday, this increase coincides with an increase in the prevalence of a descendant of the JN.1 coronavirus sublineage, KP.3, which was recently classified as a variant under surveillance by the European Center for Disease Prevention. and Control (ECDC, in English).
“There is also a trend towards an increase in the proportion of emergencies due to Covid-19 in all regions and age groups, with the increase being more noticeable in older age groups,” the director general added.
According to the DHS, the specific mortality rate from Covid-19 corresponded to nine deaths every 14 days per million inhabitants, which is lower than the maximum values recorded last winter and summer, respectively 10 and 13 deaths per million inhabitants.
All values are below the ECDC threshold of 20 deaths every 14 days per million inhabitants, the DGS said.
The Directorate General of Health also states that the ECDC considers it unlikely that new mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are associated with an increase in the severity of the infection or a decrease in the effectiveness of the vaccine against severe disease. compared to previously circulated BA .2.86 variants.
However, older people, people with underlying health conditions or previously uninfected people may develop serious symptoms, the GHS warned, given that despite the current epidemiological situation having a limited impact on health services and overall mortality, an increasing trend and a period of closer contacts have been recorded between people reinforces the importance of adapting measures to protect against infection.
In this sense, the DGS recommends, in case of symptoms such as cough, fever, headache and difficulty breathing, to wear a mask, maintain physical distance and avoid closed spaces or crowds.
DGS recommendations also include respiratory etiquette when coughing or sneezing, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue or hand, as well as frequent hand washing and/or disinfection, ventilating rooms and calling SNS 24 in case of persistent infection. symptoms.
In May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the Covid-19 health emergency at the global level, lowering the highest alert level in place for the pandemic but warning that the disease would not end. as a threat to public health.
Covid-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a type of virus that was discovered in China and has spread rapidly around the world, taking on several variants and subvariants, some of which are more contagious than others.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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