This Tuesday, December 28, Portugal reached a new daily maximum for Covid-19 cases, with 17.172 infections, according to the bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). In the Algarve, there are two more deaths and 417 cases.
This increase in the number of confirmed cases follows, above all, the hundreds of thousands of tests carried out in recent days.
Despite the growth of infections, the situation Portugal is experiencing today is very different from that of 2020.
A year ago, on December 28, “only” there were 2093 cases, but 58 deaths were registered (today there are 19).
The vaccination process, with Portugal being one of the countries with the greatest vaccination coverage in the world, is the key to explaining this difference, which is also felt in hospitals.
Also a year ago, there were 2967 patients hospitalized due to Covid-19, of which 503 were in the ICU.
That is, there are now 8 times more new cases than on December 28, 2020, but almost 3 times fewer deaths and 3 times fewer Covid patients admitted. A significant difference that should be taken into account when looking at the data released daily.
Today, according to data released by the DGS, there are 936 people admitted to the ward (+22 compared to yesterday), 152 of which in intensive care units (more 2).
As for new cases, the region where they were most registered was in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (+8.576). It is followed by the North (+5.046), the Center (+2.124), Madeira (+516), Algarve (+417), Alentejo (+325) and Azores (+168).
The 19 deaths today were registered in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (6), Center (5), North (4), Algarve (2) and Madeira (2).
There are a further 8226 recovered from the disease and active cases now number 114.541 (+8927).
The risk matrix holds yesterday's data.
The R(t), or transmissibility index, is at 1,23, both nationally and considering only mainland territory.
The incidence is situated at 804,3 cases of infection by Covid-19 per 100 inhabitants, nationwide (previously it was 630,8), and 807,4 cases, excluding the islands (previously it was in 633,1).
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