Fridayâs habitual Covid press conference has been cancelled as statistics are being interpreted by the media as ânew maximumsâ in all the wrong departments.
Another high number of deaths (52, in the last 24-hours); another high number of new infections (5,500); more pressure on the nationâs hospitals (â25 new admissionsâ – thatâs across the whole country, five less patients in ICUs).
The reason for the pulling of the press conference was given because health minister Marta Temido is on a visit to Porto.
This in itself doesnât explain why she couldnât be substituted by AntĂłnio Lacera Sales, for example – the under secretary of state for health who has frequently taken part as the âface of the government/ ministryâ. But reports to allude to the criticism of the âstrategy of health authoritiesâ communicationâ by various personalities, President Marcelo included.
For now, the situation is that the latest figures are being presented as âanother bad dayâ.
Again, little information is ever given when these figures first appear on ages/ pathologies of the victims, or indeed of the overall health of the ânewly infectedâ.
However the health ministry website does carry a recent report in which it explains that 96% of all active cases are being âaccompanied in their homesâ – meaning, they are in isolation and for all intents and purposes ârecovering naturallyâ (click here).
The number of recoveries in the last 24-hours has also shown some positivity: another 2,507 recoveries, bringing the nationâs total of people who have had the virus and âcome out the other sideâ as 91,453.
Active cases currently are: 67,157.
Nonetheless the message from the health minister in Porto – the area of the north most affected – is that the country must expect further âelevated numbers of deadâ over the next few days.
With all the reporting on Covid, it is easy to forget that every single day in Portugal – particularly at this time of year – between 250 – 300 people die (of various causes, many of them natural).
