In Portugal, the seventh wave is retreating at a steady pace

Portugal is breathing again, the latest wave of Covid-19, linked to the BA.5 variant, ebbs. The latest weekly bulletin of Directorate of Health (DGS) released on Friday 1^R July confirms that the number of cases is falling at a rapid pace as it peaked at the end of April. Between June 21 and 27, the country reported 73,000 new infections, 22,000 fewer than the previous week and far from the peak recorded between May 17 and 23, when 189,000 new cases were identified. The number of people in the intensive care unit is also slowly decreasing (81 people, – 4), the number of deaths, which went from 243 in one week to 146, of which 70% are over 80 years old and 90% are older. 70 years old.

If the incidence rate is high, 712 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, it is no longer as alarming as it was at the peak of this seventh wave, with 1,835 cases, making Portugal the second hardest hit country in the world. Resurgence of SARS-Cov-2. In May, this alarming situation prompted the Portuguese government to recommend the return of mask wearing in enclosed spaces, at work and during major outdoor events.

Reluctant to the idea, the socialist executive, sensing general fatigue from two years of restrictions, preferred recommendations to bans. In the past two months, he has multiplied calls for accountability and ruled out giving the entire population a fourth dose, relying on predictions from Lisbon’s high-tech institute’s Epidemic Monitoring Group. Made up of mathematicians, statisticians and epidemiologists, the latter assured that the peak had passed at the end of May and that deaths would remain high until the end of June. He wasn’t wrong.

Broad vaccine coverage

While the rest of Europe is seeing new pollution, Portugal is one of the only countries showing a downward curve, allowing a more peaceful approach to the start of the summer tourist season. 1^R In July, Lisbon removed the obligation to provide a Covid pass or a negative test for airline passengers landing in the country. “The epidemiological situation in Portugal following the Covid-19 pandemic has remained relatively stable due to high vaccine coverage, the emergence of new drugs for severe forms and better knowledge of the epidemic. », the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) elaborated in a press release. Portugal is one of the leaders of the most vaccinated countries in Europe – almost 95% of adults received two doses, 76% received three doses.

In this article you should read 21.62%. The following is for subscribers only.