“In general, we will keep the methodology for parameters that are solid, for death, for the number of cases [suspected or confirmed by covid-19]. In the other finer data coming from institutions, municipalities or parishes there may be an improvement with another complementary system and we are working on these tools”, said Graça Freitas, at the daily press conference that takes place at the Ministry of Health, in Lisbon.

According to the director-general of Health, the work of collecting data that is disseminated daily is being done through “two very consistent platforms that record deaths and cases of illness”.

At the same press conference, Graça Freitas said that all death data are “unquestionable” because they are reported, until midnight, through an electronic platform.

“However, there are finer data, namely by municipality, which may not be filled out in the form and we can only collect information from those that are filled out, but I mean that we are working at the local level to obtain this information as time goes on”, she stressed.

The director of DGS noted that there may be “small hourly mismatches or the entire coverage of the fields, but there is no objective to deceive, lie or omit”.

“There is no advantage, no way to lie in such a situation. It's impossible! The scrutiny that is done completely prevents us even from having the desire to lie”, she stressed.