According to the Ricardo Jorge Institute (INSA), the average value of the Rt between 18 and 22 October is 0.98 in Portugal, which represents an increase from 0.88 in the period between 11th and 15th of this month.

This rise comes after the sharp reduction in the incidence rate of contagions and the virus transmission rate, after the alert situation in mainland Portugal ended on October 1st, which led to a reduction in the number of screening tests for SARS-CoV-2.

In view of this, INSA recognised that the decrease in incidence and Rt values ​​could "not correspond to real decreases" in cases.

According to data from INSA, the Rt - which estimates the number of secondary cases of infection resulting from each person carrying the virus – this has increased in the regions of mainland Portugal, standing at 0.89 in the North, at 1.14 in the Centre, at 0.96 in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, at 0.89 in the Alentejo and at 0.90 in the Algarve.

The two autonomous regions have an Rt above the threshold of 1, with 1.07 in the Azores and 1.24 in Madeira, according to the report, which adds that the average number of cases within five days is 922 daily infections nationwide, with the lowest being on the mainland (801).