The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) release report No. 28 dated 21st September 2022 on monitoring the epidemiological situation of COVID-19. The document includes several indicators, namely the seven-day incidence and the transmissibility index (R(t)), nationally and by health region, among others. 

The COVID-19 epidemic maintained a high incidence, suggesting a possible reversal to an increasing trend. The number of COVID-19 hospitalisations and specific mortality have stabilized. Surveillance of the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 should be maintained, and it is recommended to maintain the individual protection measures and booster vaccination, as well as a frequent communication of these measures to the population.

• The cumulative number of new SARS-CoV-2 infection / COVID-19 cases per 100 000 inhabitants over the last 7 days was 178 cases, suggesting a possible reversal to an increasing national trend.
• The effective reproduction number (R(t)) was above 1 at national level and in the Norte, LVT, Alentejo, Algarve and autonomous regions, indicating an increasing trend of new cases in these regions.
• The number of COVID-19 cases admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) in mainland Portugal showed a stable trend, corresponding to 10.6% (equal to the previous analysis period) of the defined critical value of 255 occupied beds.
• The ratio between the number of hospitalized cases and notified infections was 0.25, presenting a possible increasing trend.
• The BA.5 lineage of the Omicron variant continues to be clearly dominant in Portugal, with an estimated relative frequency of 95% on week 36 (05/09/2022 to 11/09/2022). This lineage has shown an enhanced transmissibility, which is likely mediated by additional mutations associated with human cell binding and/or immune evasion.
• The COVID-19 specific mortality (7.2 deaths per 1 000 000 inhabitants over the last 14 days) presents a possible decreasing trend. All-cause mortality is within the expected range for this time of the year

Full Report in Portuguese here