The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing, with 16 confirmed cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period on June 9, and continuing to rise, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The figure is higher than last winter’s “peak” incidence rate of 12 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period, but lower than last summer’s record of 42 cases per 100,000 people, the DGS said.
According to data consulted by Lusa on the DGS portal, between June 9 and 16, Portugal recorded 2,337 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 68 deaths.
The increase coincides with the increased spread of KP.3, a descendant of the JN.1 sublineage of the coronavirus, which was recently classified as a variant under surveillance by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), according to the statement.
“The proportion of COVID-19 emergencies has been increasing across all regions and age groups, with the increase being more pronounced among older people,” the directorate added.
According to DGS data, the specific mortality rate from COVID-19 corresponds to 9 deaths every 14 days per million inhabitants, lower than the maximum values recorded last winter and summer (10 and 13 per million inhabitants, respectively).
All figures are below the ECDC threshold of 20 deaths per 14 days per million inhabitants, the DGS said.
The DGS recommends wearing a mask, maintaining physical distance and avoiding enclosed environments and crowds if you have symptoms such as coughing, fever, headache or difficulty breathing.
