Still not knowing what the Government’s decision will be, the president of the Portuguese Medical Association, Miguel Guimarães, has no doubts. It argues that schools should temporarily close. But it is not enough: “I think schools, theaters, bars, clubs, cinemas should be closed”, says Miguel Guimarães, who asks if we want to follow the example of Macau or Italy in fighting the epidemic caused by the new coronavirus ( covid-19). “Macau, with ten cases, ended almost everything”, while Italy “took a long time to adopt containment measures”. And he regrets that the National Council of Public Health, when leaving the option of closure to the discretion of the “local health authorities”, ended up not indicating “a way”.
Doctors are very concerned about the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Portugal?
Doctors are more apprehensive than normal, because they are realizing that important things still need to be done to contain the infection. The Order has already proposed postponing consultations, surgeries and exams that are not absolutely necessary because we will need to be able to respond in the near future. Doctors are complaining that they have more difficulties than usual in accessing personal protective equipment.
What do you think of the recommendations of the National Public Health Council?
I confess that I stayed yesterday [esta quarta-feira] very apprehensive and even disillusioned with the final opinion of the National Public Health Council. The council did not exactly make a decision. From what was made public, the council did not indicate a way.
He said that health authorities had to determine the temporary closure.
Yes, but health authorities at the local level. We are at a stage where we need to go further and this should have been done a few days ago. That’s what Macau did. We better take some measures with more force. What matters is to safeguard people’s lives, it is not the economy that matters most now.
Do you think that schools should generally close, contrary to what they advised?
I don’t think schools should close … I think schools, theaters, bars, clubs, cinemas should be closed. The closure of schools cannot be an isolated measure. What is scientific evidence in this matter? The scientific evidence is not to look at what happened with the Spanish flu or with influenza A. It is on the ground, it is what is happening right now in several countries. And here are two examples, that of Macau and that of Italy. We have to choose the path we want to follow – that of Macau, which we are no longer able to, because we should have acted longer, or that of Italy. But we can still come to a halfway point. Italy took a long time to adopt containment measures. Macau, with ten cases, closed practically everything, except health units, pharmacies, supermarkets, public security units, and exchanged teaching in physical presence for distance learning.
Should Portugal do what Macau did, therefore?
We have to do this. It is a sacrifice we make to protect ourselves. We urgently need heavier measures. For an exceptional situation, we have to adopt exceptional measures. People can do gymnastics at home, communicate with friends at home, they can come to the street avoiding contact with other people. But this has to be done in a concerted manner, with serenity. When we think about closing schools, this basically means anticipating Easter holidays. But, I say again, this measure has to be accompanied by the closing of cinemas, discos, theaters. If not, people, instead of being withdrawn, will find themselves without places with many people.
