The perception of risk of contracting Covid-19 increased during the Christmas period, but there was a progressive reduction in the use of masks indoors, even in groups, according to experts who advise the Government on the pandemic.
According to the data released at the pandemic evaluation meeting held today at Infarmed, and which were based on questionnaires online prepared every 15 days, in the last fortnight the frequency of testing gained relevance.
The numbers, presented by Andreia Leite, from the National School of Public Health (ENSP-NOVA), indicate that the percentage of people who acknowledged never having had a test dropped from almost 50% in the fortnight 11-24 December to less than 30% between December 25th and January 3rd.
The most frequently mentioned reason for the frequency of testing was the protection of family and friends, according to data from the ENSP, which also indicate that it was in the group of people over 65 that there was less recourse to testing.
During her presentation, Andreia Leite also reported reports of difficulties in performing tests (40% of the participants in the questionnaire), especially because she did not find tests available to buy (self-tests) or was unable to schedule a test, with greater frequency. these responses between December 25th and January 3rd.
Still with regard to testing, the data presented indicate that 67% of people with incomes below 650 euros report less recourse to testing.
As for the perception of risk, it increased in the last fortnights, but it was still below the level reached in past festive seasons, with 64% of those who responded considering having a moderate or high risk of being infected with Covid-19 (72% at the time festive past).
"Vaccination, data on severity and familiarity with the pandemic situation will explain this lower alarm in relation to periods with fewer cases," said the expert.
Andreia Leite also highlighted the expressed intention to adopt special care during this festive season, with 96% of responses in this regard between December 11th and January 3rd.
As for the type of measures to be adopted during this festive season, the Portuguese indicated testing prior to family meetings (7,1%), airing the spaces (more than 50%), limiting the number of people gathered and ensuring that they all had updated vaccination schedule.
Andreia Leite acknowledged "limitations in these data", but underlined that there has been an evolution in the perception of risk, which is "coherent with the worsening of the epidemiological situation".
The expert also highlighted the need for authorities to provide consistent messages, in particular with regard to the behavior to be followed in the case of a positive test, "especially in a context of changing norms and difficulties in the timely response of services".
With regard to the use of masks (always) in closed spaces, the ENSP data indicate that, after a period of general reduction in adherence to protective measures, there was "some recovery, with a new break in the last fortnight".
In the case of the use of masks in closed spaces, "there was a recovery to levels similar to those at the end of summer, but in the last fortnight there was again a reduction".
There was also a drop in the use of masks in the context of socialization, with about a quarter of the participants reporting always wearing a mask when they were close to people outside the household (27,5%) and in group interactions (25,2 .XNUMX%), data that, according to ENSP, reflect family interactions during the festive period.
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