There are six chains of transmission by covid-19 in the country, however, the new confirmed cases of patients admitted to the Hospital de Santa Maria, in Lisbon, do not integrate any of these epidemiological links, and the association with a new one is now being “investigated”. chain of transmission, as stated by the general director of health, Graça Freitas, at a press conference at the Ministry of Health, this Wednesday night.
During the daily situation, 59 cases of infection with the new coronavirus were presented, although it was admitted by Graça Freitas that throughout the day more cases of infection were identified, which will only be disclosed in the morning bulletin. Thursday. This number does not include the two cases confirmed at the Santa Maria Hospital. The director-general also referred that there is a possibility that there are “three to four more cases” in which the epidemiological history was not identified in order to determine where these patients may have been infected. This may mean an increase in the number of infected and transmission chains.
“We cannot blur our focus of the epidemic to other areas. We must focus on detecting more cases, opening up to taking more measures and the common sense of each one”, Graça Freitas appealed.
Both the Director-General of Health and Minister Marta Temido mentioned that the evolution of the disease in Portugal is following the same path as in other countries: we started with infected cases and we will probably have fatal victims, but when they do exist they will be revealed. The minister even asked for confidence in the information released by health authorities so as not to generate situations of alarmist rumors. Graça Freitas said that we have to fight the coronavirus pandemic and not allow the “fear epidemic” to enter society.
“We are in an epidemic and an epidemic, the cases will always be increasing, as in other countries. At what rate, I don’t know”, assumed Graça Freitas.
At this moment, Portugal is “adopting mixed measures” of the containment and mitigation phases. “The epidemic does not allow us to clearly separate what is the containment phase and what is the mitigation phase. We are learning and improving every day,” says the director-general. This Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) increased the level of international emergency from epidemic to pandemic. Although this designation does not change the measures that countries had already taken. “WHO limited itself to formalizing a situation that already existed,” said Graça Freitas.
Schools are closed only with the approval of health authorities
The closure of schools was one of the most anticipated issues at this conference, after the National Council on Public Health met with several members of the government for more than five hours this afternoon. But the doubts will remain for another day. The decision will be taken this Thursday in the Council of Ministers, announced the Prime Minister. António Costa guaranteed the government’s willingness to take action according to the recommendation of this body, whose opinion is to end only “with the express authorization of the health authorities”.
“The total or partial closure of a public or private educational establishment with authorization is justified health authorities“said Jorge Torgal, a member of the National Council for Public Health, at the press conference this Wednesday night. If the Council of Ministers decides to follow the recommendation, the situation will continue to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, as has been the case until then.
The Directorate-General for Health was in agreement with this decision. “At this stage, with this reality, what makes sense is the health authorities in each location. And in each region, they will analyze the situation and be able to determine the closure of schools in the area,” he said.
Isolation is to be accomplished
In statements to journalists, the director-general and the minister of health – questioned about the fact that universities and some schools have already suspended the normal operation of classes and that there are many students on the beaches and in other social venues – they said that the isolation is to be fulfilled. It is a prophylactic measure, of prevention and containment, and if it is assumed it is to respect.
“It is evident that people who are in isolation must remain at home. This does not mean school holidays. The situation in which we move is very uncertain and only as a whole will we be able to overcome the virus”, stressed Marta Temido.
Reinforcement of LAM
Asked about the contributions of the 1,000 professionals who responded to the Order of Doctors’ call to strengthen the National Health Service (SNS) in the fight against the new coronavirus, Graça Freitas stated that they will – at least in a first phase – reinforce the Support Line for Doctor (LAM). This telephone line serves to support professionals in case of doubt and to validate positive cases and refer them to health units and in recent weeks they have received numerous complaints for lack of response.
The latest available data on the spread of covid-19 worldwide point to 126,000 infected, 4616 dead and 67057 recovered.
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