At the press conference about the Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal, António Lacerda Sales indicated that there are 334 people hospitalised in intensive care units as of 28 April and that there are 289 vacant beds. Of those hospitalised, 172 (51.4 percent) were diagnosed with Covid-19.
“It seems to me that we have a space of some comfort here, not only to welcome Covid-19 cases at the moment, but also to prepare all of our activity in intensive care together with the ‘task force’ that studies this process”, he said .
In relation to a possible increase in cases from the end of the state of emergency, which ends at midnight on 2 May, with the progressive reduction in lockdown of the population and the return to activity, Lacerda Sales considered that it is “a matter of great concern” but that the current occupancy rate gives space to prepare for “post-Covid activity”.
For this, health services are counting on “250 intensive care professionals” and also pulmonologists, anaesthetists and internists who are working in intensive care.