The DGS epidemiological bulletin also reveals that 2,404 patients are hospitalised (209 less than on Thursday), the lowest number since 5 November, of which 522 in intensive care, down by 14.

The data released today also indicate that 2,780 people have recovered, bringing the total number of recovered to 714,493 since the beginning of the pandemic in Portugal, in March 2020.

For 26 consecutive days, the number of recoveries exceeds that of new infections.

Active cases in Portugal continue to record a decrease, with 72,037 active cases today, minus 1,811.

Since March 2020, Portugal has recorded 16,243 deaths associated with covid-19 and 802,773 cases of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Health authorities have 53,166 contacts under surveillance, 4,528 less than the previous day, with the downward trend since January 30, continuing.

According to the latest data from the Directorate-General for Health, Portugal currently has 797,005 people vaccinated: 538,636 with the first dose and 258,369 with the second dose.

Of the 58 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, 28 occurred in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, 13 in the Centre region, 11 in the North region and six in the Alentejo, with none occurring in the Algarve.

In the region of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, 410 new infections were notified, accounting for 303,741 cases and 6,786 deaths so far.

According to the bulletin, the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo region has 39.9 percent of the total cases recorded in the last 24 hours and 48.2% of the total deaths.

The North region today has 250 new SARS-CoV-2 infections and since the beginning of the pandemic it has already counted 325,808 cases of infection and 5,197 deaths.

In the Centre region, 140 more cases were recorded, with a total of 114,720 infections and 2,895 deaths.

In the Alentejo, 51 more cases were reported, totalling 28,381 infections and 941 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in Portugal.

The Algarve region has today reported 54 new cases, totalling 20,043 infections and 335 deaths.

Madeira registered 123 new cases. This autonomous region accounts for 6,350 infections and 61 deaths due to covid-19.

The Autonomous Region of the Azores has not registered any cases in the last 24 hours and a total of 3,730 cases of infection and 28 deaths have been reported.

With regard to the Azores, today's report reflects a decrease in the total number of cases in the region, due to the need to correct a duplicate case, with no case being reported in the Azores region on the day under analysis.

Confirmed cases are distributed across all age groups, with the highest number of infections between 20 and 59 years of age.

Of the total fatalities, 8,490 were men and 7,753 women.

The largest number of deaths continues to be concentrated in the elderly over 80 years old, followed by the age group between 70 and 79 years old.

Of the total deaths, 10,780 were people over 80 years old, 3,409 aged between 70 and 79 years old and 1,428 were between 60 and 69 years old.