"There has been training and a lot of information, but it never hurts to repeat. The misuse of gloves can be counterproductive and give a false sense of security. If we are wearing gloves and touching a contaminated surface, the virus stays in the gloves. hands-on, the virus will be transmitted, ”Graça Freitas, Director-General of Health, told reporters when asked about the use of protective equipment by the general population.

Graça Freitas again emphasized that the misuse of protective material can be more counterproductive and even give a false sense of security.

In the case of gloves, the Director-General of Health stated that they give “only a false sense of security”, admitting the possibility of being used “only once”, in a single act of contact, and then discarded.

However, he advised the population not to wear gloves.

"The main protective measure is frequent hand washing and in the wash interval, do not touch the face, especially the nose, eyes and mouth", he said, stressing that the gloves, especially "frequently used, repeatedly and constantly are only accumulating potentially viruses of different origins ”.

In Portugal, according to the balance made today by the DGS, there were 295 deaths, 29 more than the day before (+ 11%), and 11,278 cases of confirmed infections, which represents an increase of 754 compared to Friday ( + 7.2%).

Of those infected, 1,084 are hospitalized, 267 of whom are in intensive care units, and there are 75 patients who have recovered.

Portugal, where the first confirmed cases were registered on March 2, has been in a state of emergency since March 19 and until the end of April 17, after the extension approved this week in the Assembly of the Republic.