"The country will enter the most critical month of this pandemic and it is therefore essential that we prepare," said the prime minister, after having visited the new field hospital installed in the former military hospital for infectious diseases, in Lisbon. António Costa warned that the state of emergency could be extended.
«Our hospitals have been responding to the needs and we are doing everything to ensure that they continue to respond, but obviously, if the pandemic continues to evolve as it is projected, it is essential that we have these back-up units», explained António Costa . The field hospital, he added, is an "example of preparing back-up hospitals, in case they might be needed."
“We must always keep in mind the following principle: wish for the best, but be prepared for the worst. The best thing will certainly be that none of these beds will ever be used, but we have the assurance that they exist in case they are needed to be used», he said.
Therefore, «this week, when the President of the Republic, the Assembly of the Republic, the Government itself, will consider the best form of need and the best way to prolong the state of emergency, it is necessary that we all work together, every day, As soon as we agree, that the best contribution that each one of us can make so that none of this becomes necessary and that health professionals continue to have the necessary conditions to perform their work is that each one of us actively contributes to prevention of the pandemic. That depends, essentially, on us», stressed the prime minister.
Because, he stressed, “the virus does not walk alone. The virus only walks where we take it. We are the ones who transport it. That is why it is essential that we move as little as possible and remain isolated as much as possible. If we do this, we are not transmitting the virus to anyone or running the risk of being infected by the virus».
Asked about the possible extension of the state of emergency, which ends this week, António Costa replied that “the President of the Republic will take the initiative this week to renew or not the state of emergency, the Government will then give its opinion to the President of the Republic , and there will be a decision by the Assembly of the Republic».
«Without doing futurology, I believe that what is expected is that, knowing that we have been successful, fortunately, in lowering the peak of this pandemic, that is, the moment when the greatest number of people will be infected, but at the same time prolonged the duration of this pandemic, this means that we will also have to prolong the measures that have been adopted, with a state of emergency or without a state of emergency,” he added.
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