Covid-19: DGS recommends strengthening prevention measures in the face of an increase in cases
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) recommended this Thursday the reinforcement of basic prevention and control measures for Covid-19 in view of the increase in the number of cases, which on 30 June surpassed last winter’s peak incidence.
The DGS recommends that anyone who has symptoms of a respiratory infection (cough, fever, headache, difficulty breathing) to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing and avoid closed or crowded environments.
It also recommends adopting respiratory etiquette when coughing or sneezing: cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your arm and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. os, or use an alcoholic solution with at least 60% alcohol.
“Wash and/or disinfect your hands frequently”, “keep spaces ventilated, preferably through natural ventilation, opening doors and/or windows” and “call SNS 24 — 808242424, in case of persistence of symptoms” are other recommendations from the Directorate-General for Health.
According to the DGS, the transmission of the infection shows “an increasing trend”, with 26 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on June 30, a figure that surpassed the peak recorded in winter (12 cases per seven days per 100,000 inhabitants), but lower than last summer’s peak incidence (42 cases).
“Specific mortality from covid-19 corresponded to 15 deaths at 14 days per million inhabitants, having exceeded the maximum values obtained in the last winter and summer, respectively 10 and 13 deaths at 14 days per million of inhabitants”, says the health authority in a statement.
The DGS emphasizes that “all values” are lower than the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) threshold of 20 deaths to 14 days per million inhabitants.
Around 70% of deaths occurred in people aged 80 and over, and the region with the highest mortality rate was the Algarve, which maintains an increasing trend.
According to the DGS, around 44% of patients who died had no record of seasonal vaccination in the last season, and among the eight deaths under the age of 60, six had no record of seasonal vaccination in the last season despite having an indication for it, given the several that were presented.
“An increasing trend is also observed in the proportion of emergency episodes caused by Covid-19 in all regions and age groups, with the growth being more evident in older age groups”, says the health authority.
Despite the current epidemiological situation having “a limited impact on the demand for health services and general mortality”, the DGS reinforces “the importance of adapting disease protection measures §, helping to reduce transmission to third parties”, explaining that, “given the observed growth trend, associated with periods of heat in the coming days, it is possible that a period of excess mortality will be observed”.
According to the health authority, this increase coincides with the increase in the prevalence of a descendant of the JN.1 variant, the KP.3 sub-lineage, which was detected in 51.3% of samples in May, which was recently classified as a variant under monitoring by ECDC.
“ECDC considers it unlikely that these new mutations are associated with an increase in the severity of the infection or a reduction in the effectiveness of the vaccine against severe disease, compared to o with the previously circulating BA.2.86 variants. However, older individuals, or those with underlying diseases, or previously uninfected individuals may develop severe symptoms if infected”, he highlights.
