“The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) informs that the first suspected case of infection with a new Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Portugal was negative after carrying out laboratory tests by the National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), with two negative biological samples ”, reads in communication published on the health authority portal.
On Saturday, DGS said that the patient, returning from China, where he was in Wuhan, in the province of Hubei, the epicenter of the new viral pneumonia, was “under observation at the Curry Cabral Hospital in Lisbon”. Curry Cabral Hospital, in the Portuguese capital, is the referral unit for suspected cases of coronavirus infection.
“Guidance on the new Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has already been published on the DGS website, with the procedures to be adopted by professionals in case of suspicion or confirmation of an infection case, and information materials – posters and leaflets – were also produced for disclosure in airports, ports and health units ”, adds the entity led by Graça Freitas in this Sunday’s note.
The Directorate-General indicates that the information materials “were posted at Lisbon Airport and disseminated through the regional health authorities and DGS partners in other parts of mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, in addition to the DGS dissemination platforms”.
“DGS remains attentive and follows the situation, in permanent articulation with national and international institutions / organizations to adopt measures at national level and in line with the recommendations that are being issued by the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) ”, reads the same text.
Strengthening support for Portuguese citizens in China
The Government said on Saturday afternoon that it was cooperating with other European countries to reinforce support for national citizens held in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the first 2019-nCov virus cases were detected.In China alone, the coronavirus has already killed 56 people and infected another 1975 – 324 are in serious condition.
Heard by the agency Lusa, source of the Secretariat of State for Portuguese Communities did not exclude withdrawing the Portuguese from that region.
“We are in contact with the citizens and are cooperating with other European countries to seek to strengthen support for the retained Portuguese compatriots”, said the source of the office of the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Berta Nunes.
Viruses gaining momentum
The Chinese Ministry of Health indicated on Sunday that the virus is getting stronger and stronger and that the number of infections is expected to continue to increase.
Arlinda Brandão – Antena 1
Chinese authorities had already warned that the country was at the “most critical” point of prevention and control of the virus. At least 13 cities have been quarantined.
On the other hand, the official Chinese newspaper People’s Daily reported this Sunday that scientist Xu Wenbo, from the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said that a vaccine against the new coronavirus was being developed, this “after successfully isolating the first strain of the virus”.
The Chinese authorities are currently extending preventive measures against the spread of the virus, since the closure of access to the city of Shantou, in the southeast, and the suspension of interprovincial bus services in Beijing, Tianjin, Xian and in the province of Shandong.
Shanghai, in eastern China, confirmed on Saturday its first death from the new coronavirus. In this city, the suspension of the train line connecting the center to the district of Anting, on the border with Jiangsu province, was announced.
In addition to mainland China, three dozen cases of infection have been confirmed in Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, United States, Singapore, Vietnam, Nepal, Malaysia, France, Australia and Canada.
The European Center for Disease Control classifies the possibility of secondary transmission in the European Union as low: “Provided that the prevention and infection control practices related to a possible imported case are complied with”.
w / agencies
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