Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 5th January 2022
Introduction
Good morning – First a Happy and Safe New Year to you and our first weekly report of the New Year. Public health specialists and politicians will meet again at 10.00 hrs this Wednesday to assess the evolution of the covid-19 pandemic, at a time when Portugal registers a significant increase in infections due to the greater transmission capacity of the Omicron variant. Experts will make various presentations and we will as usual publish these as the meeting progresses. We recommend everyone follows this, as it does provide an up to date and comprehensive factual overview from the experts themselves. Keep informed through Informed!
Following this on Thursday there will be a meeting of the Council of Ministers who will discuss the data and recommendations from experts before deciding if there should be any change to the current measures in place or introduction of new ones. One of the biggest issues is the increase in hospitalisations and actives cases (over 200,000) (the latter placing more pressure on the health services.
Although the number of new cases is unprecedented compared to at any time during the pandemic, with record numbers over the last two weeks, this is a reflection of record testing levels. Over the last 5 days over 1.1 million tests have been administered – even allowing for lower numbers on 1st and 2nd January. As tests start increasing again then we will see higher numbers in the next few days which will likely be reflected in even higher incidence rates.
The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is already responsible for almost 90% of infections in Portugal, a “sudden increase” that occurred since 6th December in just one month evidence of its incredible speed of transmission.
Conversely the number of hospitalizations is about a third of what it was for the same period a year ago. Between December 20, 2020 and January 3, 2021, the average number of hospitalized people was 2,925.2 and in ICU, the average was 497.5. These levels are some way below the red lines established by government. In the same period this year (2021/22), the average number of admissions was 959 and the average number of people in intensive care was 149.2.
As for the deaths attributed to covid-19, the decline is even more pronounced: between December 20, 2021 and January 3, 2022, the average daily death was 14.8, 79.2% less than the average of 71.4 daily deaths seen in the same period a year ago. It is very clear from these figures that vaccinations are having a marked effect in terms of reducing hospitalisations, serious cases and deaths. Portugal has already administered more than three million booster doses of the covid-19 vaccine and more than 2.4 million doses against the flu.
Changing the subject – Yesterday we published Europol report concerning substandard, illicit toys, including those that are unsafe or even toxic, represent a hazard in our markets and homes and expose our kids to uncontrolled health risks. Such risks include electric shocks and burns, choking hazards as well as toxicity.
How can you make sure that the new toys you want to buy for your children will bring them joy without being hazardous? In case you missed the article and the advice provided can be downloaded here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/how-to-recognise-fake-and-hazardous-toys/
Along similar lines, Infarmed yesterday warned of the identification in Germany of a counterfeit pulse oximeter Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, recommending distributors in Portugal not to purchase or use this item. Infarmed in a bulletin referred to it as a counterfeit of the medical device that measures oxygen in the blood has been identified in Germany: the mandatory company mentioned on the labelling admits that it does not know the product or the alleged manufacturer.
If you require advice or have any doubts about a particular medicine and medical devices, especially when purchasing on-line, it is important to check that this is properly certified for use in Portugal. This can be checked by contacting Infarmed which has a great deal of information on medicines on its website.https://www.infarmed.pt/web/infarmed/institucional/documentacao_e_informacao
With that please have a Safe Day
Covid-19
DGS Situation report Tuesday 4th January
Confirmed: 1.460.406 (+25,836)
Admitted: 1.203 (+ 36)
Admitted to ICU: 147 (0)
Deaths: 19.015 (+ 15)
Recovered: 1.227.642 (+ 19,931)
Active cases: 213,749 (+5,890)
COMPARISON with 2021
Despite the high number of new cases, with record numbers over the last two weeks, the number of hospitalized is about a third of what it was a year ago.
There is a large decrease in relation to the number of hospitalized when compared to 2020/21:
– Between December 20, 2020 and January 3, 2021, the average number of hospitalized people was 2,925.2.
In relation to intensive care, the average was 497.5.
– In the same period this year (2021/22), the average number of admissions was 959 and the average number of people in intensive care was 149.2.
As for the deaths attributed to covid-19, the decline is even more pronounced:
Between December 20, 2021 and January 3, 2022, the average daily death was 14.8, 79.2% less than the average of 71.4 daily deaths seen in the same period a year ago.
Health
Costa schedules a meeting with experts at Infarmed for Wednesday
The Prime Minister has scheduled another meeting with experts for today Wednesday, at Infarmed, in Lisbon, on the evolution of the covid-19 pandemic in Portugal.
At the meeting, which is scheduled for 10.00 hrs, only the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Ferro Rodrigues, and the leader of the executive, António Costa, in addition to the Minister of Health, Marta Temido as well as various specialists, will be present at Infarmed’s premises.
The rest, i.e. party representatives, members of the Council of State or social partners, will participate in the meeting via videoconference.
In political terms, the results of the meeting will be analysed at the next Council of Ministers, on Thursday, at a time when both the incidence and the transmission rate (Rt) are increasing in Portugal.
Administered more than three million booster doses of the vaccine in Portugal
Portugal has already administered more than three million booster doses of the covid-19 vaccine and more than 2.4 million doses against the flu.
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) said in a statement that, of the more than 2.4 million doses of flu vaccine administered in Portugal, around 477 thousand were in pharmacies. The note adds that more than one million people received both covid-19 and flu booster vaccines simultaneously.
According to data recorded up to the end of Monday, January 3, of the more than three million booster doses against covid-19 administered, nearly two million were in people over 65 years of age. So far, 88% of people over 70 have received a booster dose, says the DGS. Between 60 and 69 years old, 66% of people are already vaccinated.
According to data from the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS), more than 100,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 are scheduled to receive the vaccine against covid-19 between Thursday and Sunday.
Omicron variant responsible for almost 90% of infections in Portugal
The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is already responsible for almost 90% of infections in Portugal, a “sudden increase” that occurred just over a month after the first cases, announced today the National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA).
“Since December 6, there has been a high growth in the proportion of probable cases of the Omicron variant, having reached an estimated proportion of 89.6% on January 3, 2022”, says the INSA report on genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2, which causes covid-19 disease.
According to the institute that monitors the evolution of the coronavirus in Portugal, the “sudden increase” in community circulation of this variant resembles the “scenario observed in other countries”, such as Denmark and the United Kingdom.
The first 13 cases of Omicron in Portugal were detected at the end of November, associated with an outbreak in Belenenses SAD and the same transmission chain, but on December 6, the INSA said that 37 cases had already been registered.
A week later, on December 14, and with only 69 cases detected, the INSA report admitted the community circulation of Omicron, which was confirmed on the 20th of the same month, when the variant was already responsible for an estimated proportion of 46.9% of infections.
With the Delta variant progressively losing ground after having been dominant for several months, Omicron was responsible for 82.9% of infections recorded at the end of the year, according to the health authorities’ latest pandemic risk analysis data.
Restrictions led to cancellation of reservations at more than 80% of accommodation and catering businesses
The results of the most recent survey by AHRESP indicate that, “in total this Christmas and New Year’s season, 47% of catering companies and 42% of accommodation registered cancellations in more than half of the reservations they had confirmed”.
The restrictive measures applied during Christmas and New Year resulted in cancellations in more than 80% of accommodation and catering companies, the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Services of Portugal (AHRESP), he restrictive measures applied during Christmas and New Year resulted in cancellations in more than 80% of accommodation and catering companies, the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Services of Portugal (AHRESP), announced on Tuesday.
According to AHRESP, the mandatory presentation of a digital vaccination certificate for restaurants and accommodation and tests for bars and clubs led to cancellations of reservations in 88% of establishments, while 83% of tourist accommodation companies registered cancellations.
“In total this Christmas and New Year’s season, 47% of catering companies and 42% of accommodation registered cancellations in more than half of the reservations they had confirmed”, adds AHRESP.
The AHRESP survey also adds that in the food and beverage sector, 20% of companies registered a drop in turnover of more than 50% in December compared to the same month in 2020.
The document also points out that 47% of companies admitted not having managed to accumulate financial reserves in the summer months and that 44% did, “but already had to use them.”
Portugal without cases of “flurone”. But increased flu could lead to cases of simultaneous infection, warns the INSA
The Doctor Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute (INSA) has not registered any cases of simultaneous infection by the viruses that cause the flu and covid-19, but today admitted that these situations occur, given the predictable increase in flu activity.
“With the increased circulation of the flu virus and the continued circulation of SARS-CoV-2, co-infections may be detected,” said Raquel Guiomar, responsible for the national reference laboratory for flu and other respiratory viruses from the INSA Department of Infectious Diseases.
“In Portugal we still haven’t detected cases of infection by the flu virus and by SARS-CoV-2. The survey for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza is being carried out in parallel in all samples of the national influenza surveillance program and other respiratory viruses and no covid/influenza coinfections were detected”, said Raquel Guiomar.
On Sunday, Israel’s Ministry of Health confirmed to EFE news agency that the country had detected the first case of simultaneous infection by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and influenza virus, a co-infection that has received the designation “flurone”, in a pregnant woman not vaccinated.
“Flurone” is a designation defined using the terms ‘flu’ (flu) and ‘rona’ (from coronavirus).
The woman was discharged Dec. 30 after being treated for mild symptoms from this dual infection (flu and covid-19), added the Times of Israel.
In Portugal, the latest INSA flu epidemiological surveillance bulletin, released on December 30, indicated that Portugal has a growing flu activity, with an incidence rate of 19.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Regarding the severity indicator, one case of flu (influenza A) was reported by the 17 intensive care units that sent information, with no flu situations having been reported by the wards.
Classroom teaching set to resume on January 10th
Face to face classes will resume next Monday, the 10th, guaranteed, this Monday, the Deputy Secretary of State and Health, António Lacerda Sales , also announcing the reinforcement vaccination of teachers in an open house in the next 6th. , 7, 8 and 9. Period in which more than 100,000 children between 5 and 11 years of age must be immunized.
The decision to resume face-to-face teaching on Monday is contested by the vice president of the National Association of Public Health Physicians (ANMSP), Gustavo Tato Borges, who predicts a peak of 100,000 infected people per day at the end of this month. On Wednesday, there is a meeting at Infarmed to analyse the evolution of the pandemic.
Given the exponential increase in the number of people infected with covid-19, Gustavo Tato Borges argues that, until the end of January, classes should take place at a distance. “If the cases reduce sooner, the students return to the classroom sooner”, he explains to JN.
The vice president of the ANMSP is concerned, above all, with children from the 1st and 2nd cycles, as they only took the first dose of the vaccine. “As they are not fully protected, they will get sick more easily and pass it on to the most vulnerable family members.” Although he agrees with Lacerda Sales, when he invokes the importance of in-person classes for the physical and mental health of students, Gustavo Tato Borges argues that the protection of older family members, who are at increased risk, should prevail, so that the more serious consequences do not weigh on the conscience of no one.
Open House for teachers on the afternoons of the 6th, 7, 8th and 9th of January
Teachers and professionals at nurseries and ATL will be able to boost the covid-19 vaccine under Open House regime in the afternoons of next few days 6, 7, 8 and 9, announced the Deputy Secretary of State and Health.
In an interview with CNN Portugal on Monday night, Lacerda Sales said this vaccination booster takes place on the same days as children’s vaccination scheduled for the morning, and professionals only need to resort to digital passwords and show a document that prove your job.
On Monday, Lacerda Sales gave assurance that back to school will happen even on January 10th, removing the chance of being delayed due to increased cases of covid-19.
′′ I don’t think that measure [postponement] is assuredly on the table. And therefore, classes begin on January 10 for children, because this is a fundamental measure for our children’s physical, mental, social and psychological health “, said the ruler, in Coimbra.
Lacerda Sales statements came on the same day as the National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) regretted half of teachers continuing without the dose of boosting the covid-19 vaccine, considering re-postponing schools would be synonymous with ′′ failure of decisions and actions taken “.
According to Fenprof accounts, about half of teachers are still waiting to be called to the booster dose: ′′ By virtue of the ageing of the teaching profession, about half of teachers and educators may have already been vaccinated or scheduled for vaccination, however, everyone else continues to stand by “.
Due to the worsening number of new cases of covid-19, the Government has decided to postpone the resumption of classes for one week (until the 10th).
Infarmed issues alert for counterfeit pulse oximeter
A counterfeit of the medical device that measures oxygen in the blood was identified in Germany: the mandatory company mentioned on the labelling admits that it does not know the product or the alleged manufacturer.
Infarmed warned of the identification in Germany of a counterfeit pulse oximeter Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, recommending distributors in Portugal not to purchase or use.
The National Authority for Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed) reports on its website that a counterfeit medical device, which measures oxygen in the blood, Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, model C101H1, from the manufacturer Shenzhen IMDK Medical Technology Co., has been identified in Germany. Ltd.
“In the labelling of the counterfeit product, the entity “Shenzhen Mdk Medical Technologyco., ltd” is identified as the manufacturer and MedNet GmbH as agent”, says Infarmed.
However, the company MedNet GmbH said it did not know the product or the alleged manufacturer, says Infarmed, adding that the CE0123 marking on the label is also false.
Infarmed also indicates that in Portugal, it has alerted all distributors who notified the sale of this medical device to the existence of this counterfeit product and recommended to all those involved in the marketing chain and users that, if the counterfeit product is eventually detected, it should not be purchased or used.
Other news
Hackers who attacked SIC and Expresso were inside the system for several days planning a sequential attack
The attack was claimed by the Lapsus group, which is suspected to be made up of Colombians and a Spaniard, and which was inside Impresa’s servers for several days before unleashing the attack. On the 30th, the same group had tried to enter an international company based in Lisbon.
The Judiciary Police (PJ) is already investigating the computer attack on the websites of the newspaper Expresso and SIC, as confirmed by PÚBLICO.
The Impresa group itself, which owns the two media, had already confirmed that it was collaborating with the PJ and the National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) and announced that it will “file a criminal complaint” against what it considered to be an “unseen attack to press freedom in Portugal in the digital age”.