In a letter to the Minister of Health and the General Directorate of Health (DGS), the federation considers that the epidemiological situation of Covid-19 "is again a source of concern", noting that the Transmissibility index (Rt) remains above 1.

“In our opinion these measures should have already been adopted. Just look at the daily situation report that has been released and see how the Rt has been rising for four weeks and for two weeks it has always been above 1”, said the vice president of the Portuguese Pulmonary Federation (FPP), Jaime Pina.

Pina warned that cases will continue to grow and that the risk matrix "is already in the red again".

“These graphs show that the Covid-19 situation in Portugal is deteriorating and will continue for at least another two weeks. At this point, measures should be applied”, he defended.

To reverse the growth of the pandemic in Portugal, the FPP asks the Government and the DGS to make the use of face masks mandatory again, not only in public spaces indoors, but also outdoors, when adequate distance cannot be guaranteed.

Vaccines

The federation also advocates speeding up the current process of boosting vaccination (3rd dose) to groups that have already been selected (immunocompromised patients and people over 65 years old), extending this reinforcement to all health professionals and that the administration of the second dose of vaccine to those who already had Covid-19 be accelerated.

"The fact that we have had a huge success in the vaccination campaign will not prevent an increase in more serious cases, which imply more hospitalisations, greater use of intensive care and a higher mortality rate", says the letter, stressing the urgent need for measures to halt the pandemic's progression.

The FPP also defends that “public recommendations on the importance of other measures of individual protection: social distancing and hand washing and disinfection” should be renewed.

Speaking to Lusa, Jaime Pina gave the example of the football game between Portugal and Serbia, on 14 November, with more than 60,000 people at the Estádio da Luz: “Everyone was without a mask. Even in open space, people are side by side and without a mask”.

“It is one of the examples of the places where the use of masks should be made mandatory again. It's taking two steps back and then being able to take a step forward,” he added.