The Minister of Health said today that the fight against the outbreak of covid-19 “is a long marathon” and considered that it is necessary to continue to apply “the measures of containment and mitigation”.
“This fight, facing this outbreak, is not a 100-meter run, it is a long marathon and we have to dose our energies, our expectations and our efforts very well,” Marta Temido told reporters at the press conference held daily at the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).
Taking stock of the first week of the mitigation phase of the new coronavirus, which causes the covid-19 disease, the minister highlighted the “great responsibility” of the Portuguese who stayed at home and who “conformed to their routines with what are the recommendations national health authorities “.
Marta Temido also praised “the great responsibility” of health professionals, elements of the security forces and services and those who ensure essential items.
This responsibility, however, “has to be renewed every day because there is no light at the end of the tunnel”, but only “a hope”, he maintained.
“We need to continue to apply containment and mitigation measures. We need to continue to inform correctly about what the recommended rules are and we really need to continue to support those who need support ”, he said, referring to the elderly who live in homes and are those who feel“ more fragile ”.
Shortly before the press conference, the update bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health was released, reporting 266 deaths, 20 more than the day before (+ 8.1%), and 10,524 confirmed cases of infection, which represents an increase of 638 (+ 6.5%), compared to Thursday.
Portugal has been in a state of emergency since 18 March and this week was extended until 17 April
The new coronavirus, responsible for the covid-19 pandemic, has already infected an additional 1.2 million people worldwide, of whom nearly 60,000 died.
After appearing in China in December, the outbreak spread worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic situation.