Here we follow developments on the Covid-19 pandemic on an international scale.
13:20 – There may be a lack of human resources for equipment
The chairman of the Monitoring Committee for the National Response in Intensive Care Medicine for COVID-19 says that we can reach “a point where we do not have enough human resources for the equipment we are installing”. João Gouveia speaks of a national shortage in intensive care: 6.4 beds per thousand inhabitants, about “half of what Italy had, for example”.
“Despite everything, today the situation is better. We have more than 260 doctors specialized in intensive care and we are able to train other professionals to, working under the guidance of specialists in intensive care, treat all patients we have to put in invasive medicine ”, emphasizing that it is necessary to respect the functioning in network and a hierarchy defined at the level of the Monitoring Committee.
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13h12 – Use of serological tests
Several researchers call for the use of serological tests to identify the population that has antibodies to the new coronavirus. Graça Freitas explains that these tests should only “be done when there is already an increase in antibodies”.
“This test will be useful in the recovery phase of the disease”, he clarified.
According to the director-general of Health, “science still does not allow us to say, exactly, what is the appropriate time”.
“We may already have antibodies (…) and those antibodies are not yet at a protective level. We are learning from the experience of other countries to understand how, after an infection with this new coronavirus, the behavior of immunity is ”, he added.
Graça Freitas recalls that Instituto Ricardo Jorge “is following the situation very well”.
“When we know more about these tests it can be very useful to decide, it will be the final test, that you are protected and that you can return to your normal life. But we still have to wait to know these answers ”, he stressed.
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13h09 – Secretary of State admits lack of extraction reagents
Asked about the testing capacity in the north of the country, António Lacerda Sales admits that there may be “asymmetries”, but that the authorities make constant adjustments as necessary.
Regarding the fact that homes are not being tested all at the same time, the Secretary of State for Health explains that this is due to information on differences in density. For example, homes in the North and Center have ended up being prioritized.
Regarding the situation in Gondomar, where there is the capacity to do 400 tests per day, but only 40 are being carried out, the Secretary of State assures us that “we have no lack of tests” or swabs.
António Lacerda Sales admits, however, “difficulties” in terms of extraction reagents, which are necessary to carry out tests.
“It is all of these components that do the tests. There are situations where we cannot do a test without extraction reagents. It is from the complementarity of these different components that the tests result, ”he admitted.
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13h07 – “Chronic lack of fans”
João Gouveia speaks of a “chronic lack of level 3 intensive care ventilators and monitors and this has been combated”, saying that it has been possible to obtain the material and it has been possible to make the distribution, according to the objective criteria of the need or urgency.
He stresses that the 144 fans that arrived in Portugal over the weekend have already been distributed. Some fans’ donors expressed where they wanted to deliver the equipment. 76% of the remaining ventilators were delivered to ARS do Norte due to the effort that hospitals in the north have been subjected to. There was also the delivery of fans borrowed by a company in the North.
The official says that the material is being distributed to try to give “the best possible answer”.
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13h05 – Intensive care response “excellent”
The chairman of the Monitoring Committee for the National Response in Intensive Care Medicine for COVID-19, João Gouveia, says that the response of intensive care medicine has been “excellent”.
“We have been able to increase the installed capacity of intensive care and the response” to the pandemic, he reinforced. “This was achieved with everyone’s effort.”
13h01 – Information about tests will be made available
The Secretary of State for Health says that the concern with the situation of homes started more than a month ago, recalling the ban on visits, support for hiring staff and the request for volunteers.
“Hundreds of tests are being carried out on users and professionals in homes across the country”, assured António Lacerda Sales.
Since March 1, more than 130 thousand samples have been processed for Covid diagnosis19, confirmed the official, adding that this information will become available daily.
The Secretary of State for Health emphasizes that there is an effort to do as many tests as possible and the country continues with 11 thousand tests of daily capacity.
In relation to tests and other materials, the Secretary of State guaranteed that the Government tries to ensure that everything arrives at the necessary places and in an equitable manner, giving as an example the distribution of 65 thousand tests in the North of the country, last week.-
13h00 – Death toll in Portugal rises to 380. There are 13,141 infected
At the usual press conference, the Secretary of State for Health confirmed that there are 35 more fatalities and 699 more cases compared to Tuesday’s data.
The rate of change in the number of cases is 5.6%, said António Lacerda Sales.
There are 1,211 cases of hospitalization, of which 245 are in intensive care, and 196 people have recovered in Portugal.
According to the official, the global lethality rate in Portugal is 2.9% and above 70 years of age it is 11.3%.
There are 11,354 people in home treatment (86.4% of patients) and 9.2% in hospital, of which 1.9% are in intensive care. 7.3% of patients are in the ward.
12h49 – WHO warns of “fragile progress”
The World Health Organization warned this Wednesday that this is not the time to ease measures to restrict the movement of populations.
The European regional director of WHO, Hans Kluge, stressed that the slowdown in the increase of new cases in some of the hardest hit countries, such as Italy and Spain, “does not represent a victory”.
11:53 am – Africa exceeds 500 deaths
The number of deaths from Covid-19 in Africa has exceeded 500 in the past few hours (535). There were more than 10,500 cases registered in 52 countries.
The pandemic already affects 52 of the 55 countries and territories in Africa, with four countries – South Africa, Algeria, Egypt and Morocco – concentrating more than half of the infections and deaths associated with the new coronavirus.
11h07 – Trump cuts funds for WHO
Donald Trump has announced that he will suspend contributions to the World Health Organization. The President of the United States accused the institution of having acted too late.
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10h54 – Minister of Justice heard in Parliament
Francisca van Dúnem, admitted this morning that the possibility of prisoners going home with an electronic bracelet was considered, but the technical conditions necessary for this to be practicable do not exist.
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The Minister of Justice also underlined that the problem is not the overcrowding of prisons, but an organization of the aging prison structure, which hinders the conditions of social withdrawal required.–
10h43 – Death toll in Spain rises again
757 people died in Spain in the last 24 hours. There are 146,690 confirmed cases and the total number of fatalities is 14,555.
According to the Spanish Ministry of Health, there are 6,180 new people infected, which also represents the second day on which the number rises again.
10:41 am – Government officials visit academic and scientific institutions
This Wednesday, several ministers are visiting academic and scientific institutions, as well as companies in Bragança and Porto, which have directed their activities to respond to the health crisis caused by Covid-19.
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The Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, gives the example of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, which guarantees that it has the capacity to carry out up to five thousand tests in homes.
The Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, highlights the importance of European funds for testing capacity and support for companies that intend to gradually return to activity.
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9:46 am – Germany. 4,003 new infections in the last 24 hours
Germany registered 4,003 new infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 103,228 cases.
A further 254 deaths were accounted for, a total of 1,861 victims since the pandemic began in the country.
Germany is the fifth country in terms of contagion, behind the United States, Spain, Italy and France, and ahead of China.
9:31 am – Police operation
As of midnight, a reinforced police operation will take to the road to enforce the restrictions of the state of emergency.
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César Nogueira, of the Professional Association of Guarda, says that despite the restrictions, GNR is prepared for the operation.
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9:20 am – GNR soldiers with symptoms forced to work
The Guarda Professionals Association says that there are GNR soldiers with symptoms of coronavirus infection who are being forced to work.
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The complaint is by César Nogueira, president of the association, in statements to Antenna 1.
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8h58 – Pope Francis says the new coronavirus is “nature’s answer”
In interview to several newspapers, conducted by Austen Ivereigh, biographer of the Supreme Pontiff, and published in the Spanish daily ABC, Francisco says that he has taken the opportunity to “pray more” with the reduction of commitments and that the current moment that the world lives is an opportunity to fight selfishness.
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“Keep to better times, because remembering this crisis will help,” said the pope.
Francisco also spoke of the relationship between man and nature, recalling a Spanish teacher: “God always forgives, we sometimes, nature never”.
“I don’t know if it’s revenge, but it’s nature’s response,” says the pope about the virus’s emergence, recalling the various problems that have hit the world.
8h50 – French GDP down 6%
The estimates published by the Bank of France this Wednesday account for a 6% drop in French GDP during the first quarter of 2020. If confirmed, it will be the worst quarterly performance of the French economy since 1945.
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The Bank of France recalled in a statement that the only quarterly decline in GDP of this magnitude was recorded in the second quarter of 1968, during the social upheavals in May, when the fall was 5.3%.
8h07 – Numbers in China
The three cases of local contagion were detected in the provinces of Shandong, in the northeast of the country, and Guangdong, which borders Macau.
According to official data, the total number of infected people diagnosed in China since the beginning of the pandemic is 81,802, of which 3,333 died and 77,279 were discharged after overcoming the disease.
At this time, China has 1,190 active cases, of which 189 remain in serious condition.
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However, restrictions imposed in the city of Wuhan since late January were lifted after 11 weeks.
7:36 am – Eurogroup still without understanding
“After 16 hours of discussions, we did not reach an agreement. I suspended the Eurogroup,” wrote the Portuguese finance minister, who chairs the Eurozone bloc, on Twitter.
After 16h of discussions we came close to a deal but we are not there yet.
I suspended the #Eurogroup & continue tomorrow, thu.
My goal remains: A strong EU safety net against fallout of # covid19 (to shield workers, firms & countries) & commit / to a sizeable recovery plan pic.twitter.com/wLRhcbR9O1– Mario Centeno (@mariofcenteno) April 8, 2020
Was a new meeting convened for Thursday dedicated to a common economic response to the effects of the new coronavirus pandemic.
7:20 am – United States numbers
The United States recorded on Tuesday 1939 deaths caused by Covid-19 in 24 hours, the worst daily world record, according to the count of Johns Hopkins University, known this morning (Lisbon time).
The total number of deaths since the outbreak began in the United States is now 12,700.
The United States is also, by far, the country in the world with the highest number of confirmed cases: about 396,000 people infected in the country, according to the American university, which continuously updates the data.
“This is likely to be the most difficult week. There will be many deaths,” warn US health officials, predicting the US will enter a “period that will be horrific.”
7h16 – Full agenda in Parliament
Between exceptional measures for prisons and banking, more support for companies or culture or the suspension of bribes and gas and electricity tariffs, the plenary of the Assembly of the Republic focuses this Wednesday on more than a hundred initiatives.
In addition to two government bill proposals and three parliamentary assessments, exactly 100 diplomas have been scheduled by the opposition parties, with the exception of the Social Democrats – 65 are bills and the other resolutions, which serve as recommendations to the Government.
The diplomas all relate to the Covid-19 pandemic or its impacts on the country.
6h55 – State of play
The Prime Minister welcomes parties with a parliamentary seat this Wednesday to discuss the reopening of schools. The round of meetings starts at 10 am at the São Bento Palace.
The Liberal Initiative is the first to be heard. Then António Costa receives the leaders of Chega, “Os Verdes”, PAN and CDS-PP. In the afternoon it is the turn of PCP, Bloco de Esquerda and PSD. The last meeting is with the PS and should start at 17:30.
Apparently, the third period may start with distance classes. The president of the National Education Council considers the reopening of schools in May to be impractical.
Speaking to the agency Lusa, Maria Emília Brederode Santos said that the return to classroom activities should not happen for now. And he added that an eventual restart of classes in May is a decision to discuss further.
For his part, the president of the National Confederation of Parents’ Associations, Jorge Ascensão, considers that, before returning to school, it is necessary to gain the confidence of families. In the same vein, the president of the Association of Public Schools and Group Directors, Filinto Lima, calls for the reopening of schools to be decided by the health factor.
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The President of the Republic ended up stating on Tuesday, after an extended meeting at Infarmed, that there would be no conditions for schools to reopen later this month.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa referred the final decision to the Government. The announcement will be made on Thursday.
The picture in Portugal
Covid-19, a disease resulting from infection with the new coronavirus, has claimed 345 fatalities in Portugal until yesterday. It was an increase of 34 in 24 hours – the second worst record since the beginning of the pandemic.
A further 712 cases of infection were reported, for a total of 12,442.
One hundred and eighty-four people recovered from the infection.
Among the infected patients, there are 1432 health professionals.
There are also a hundred elements of the PSP and GNR infected. Another 500 are in isolation. The figures were advanced by the Minister of Internal Affairs.
In an interview with Rádio Renascença, Eduardo Cabrita assured, however, that these figures will not have implications for the inspection of roads to be carried out at Easter.
The international framework
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has already infected around 1.4 million people worldwide. More than 80,000 died. Of the cases of infection, about 260 thousand are considered cured.
In the United States, where the pandemic has exploded, the White House has forced a 3M company to produce 55 million masks every month. The decision follows persistent complaints of a lack of medical protective equipment.
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RTP correspondent in Washington, João Ricardo de Vasconcelos, has been following the evolution of the pandemic in the superpower.
In Europe, Italy registered on Tuesday the lowest number of infected since 13 March. In 24 hours there were 3038 new cases and 604 deaths, a further slowdown.
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The Italian Government has bet on the containment strategy; Sweden has a different approach.
China hopes to have overcome the health crisis. In Wuhan, the epicenter of the pandemic, there were no deaths on Tuesday and two cases of infection were announced.
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In Japan, the Government has already declared a state of emergency in seven regions of the country.Global economic impact
The International Labor Organization estimates that the pandemic will launch 195 million people into unemployment in the next three months. Most in Asia: 125 million.
In Europe, there will be 12 million unemployed, including thousands of Portuguese.
Both the WTO and the United Nations warn of the risk of a “food shortage” on the world market because of the impact of Covid-19 on international trade and supply chains.
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