The President of the Republic defended, this Tuesday, that the mandatory use of masks in the street should be reinstated, but sent the decision on the measures to be adopted to contain the Covid-19 spread until after the meeting at Infarmed.
Speaking to journalists at Teatro Municipal São Luiz, in Lisbon, asked about the measures to be adopted in view of the growth in the number of cases and deaths by Covid-19 in Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considered that one should “wait for the meeting of the Infarmed” with specialists, scheduled for Friday.
Asked, later, if he understands that the mandatory use of masks in the street should be resumed, the head of state replied: “That, of course, that is evident”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted that currently the number of cases of infection by the new coronavirus, “1500, 1600, 1700”, and the number of deaths by Covid-19, “less than 20”, are lower than a year ago, when there were “80 and such deaths” and “five thousand to six thousand” cases per day.
“So let us ponder calmly, serenely. We have a vaccination that we didn't have. And then we will act accordingly”, he stated.
Asked about the measures that can be taken without resorting to a state of emergency, he advised: “Let's wait”.
The President of the Republic was speaking to journalists before attending the official opening concert of the commemorations of the centenary of the birth of the writer José Saramago.
The prime minister, António Costa, called for Friday, at 15 pm, a new meeting of politicians with specialists at Infarmed's auditorium, in Lisbon, on the situation of Covid-00 in Portugal. The previous one of these meetings took place two months ago, on 19 September.
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