The Covid-19 epidemic reached its peak in Portugal on November 25, with a downward trend, said today the researcher André Peralta Santos, from the General Directorate of Health.
"The maximum cumulative incidence was reached via notification on the 25th [November] and there is already a downward trend that we hope will be consolidated in the coming days," said the researcher at the Infarmed meeting, where experts take stock of the measures taken to combat Covid-19 and analyze the evolution of the disease in the country.
Since the last meeting at Infarmed, two weeks ago, there has been an aggravation of the situation in the week of November 22, but later, in the week of November 29, it has already been observed «a decrease in the incidence in several municipalities, namely in the North region, where, despite still having very high incidences, there is already a decrease in the incidence”, said André Peralta dos Santos.
In the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon region, there is also already a «a variation of decreasing incidence», which he considered to be «good news».
Breaking down by region, it appears that «the North region with much higher incidences already has a clear pattern of descent, the Center region and Lisbon and Vale do Tejo are already beginning to show a downward trend», while there are other regions still with a growing trend, namely the Alentejo and the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
Regarding ages, the researcher said there was a downward trend in all ages.
Since August 4, incidences begin to increase in the most active populations, between 20 and 40 years old and, as time progresses, the incidences begin to increase in other age groups, he said, explaining that the “epidemic becomes spreads across age groups».
In this area, André Peralta highlighted “good news” and “a little more worrying”.
"The good news is that the 60/70 and 70/80 group is relatively protected in relation to other age groups, the over 80 [year old] group is a group with greater dependence, greater intensity of contacts and, therefore, , has an even higher incidence'.
Regarding hospitalizations, the doctor and researcher said that despite the country having "past the peak of incidences, there is still no clear peak in admissions", which he said he hoped "is soon".
"East delay to reach the peak in new cases and hospitalizations is expected, it is part of the natural evolution of the disease», he explained.
Finally, the mortality rate per covid-19 to 14 days, the indicator that is used by the European Center for Disease Control, "seems to be already sketching out".
The meeting at Infarmed brings together the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Prime Minister, António Costa, politicians and specialists.
The meeting's central themes are a balance of the measures taken to date, the trend of the evolution of the covid-19 in the country and the possible extension of the state of emergency, namely the scenario of a plan for the Christmas season.
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