Today, health organizations were optimistic about the evolution of Covid-19 in the Algarve, due to the reduction in the number of new cases and hospitalizations and the beginning of vaccinations.
At the fortnightly press conference of the District Civil Protection, in Loulé, the regional health delegate said that the region is going through a “good time” with a “drop in the number of cases”.
Ana Cristina Guerreiro also revealed that, in the last 24 hours, there are "106 new cases" and "seven deaths" in the Algarve.
There are “185 inpatients in the region, 30 in intensive care units (ICU)”, of which 12 are ventilated, said the official.
Ana Cristina Guerreiro said that, in the Algarve, the peak of cases occurred on “January 26”, classifying that as the “worst day” of this third wave.
The regional health delegate also indicated the 4th of February as the worst for hospitals, since, "since that time the pressure has been eased, albeit slowly".
The official was also concerned about the situation in nursing homes, where outbreaks are still registered, with currently “561 cases in the Algarve, mainly in residents, but also in some employees”. These cases are due “essentially to the fact that the disease circulates in the community”.
However, she admitted that "some outbreaks" may occur after taking the first dose of the vaccine, as a consequence of some "loosening in the combat measures".
Ana Cristina Guerreiro also reported on a new outbreak that appeared in the Public Security Police (PSP) team that “supports the airport” with “six confirmed cases”, but which led to the confinement of other “15 professionals” in a team of about “30 elements”.
Present at the press conference, the president of the Regional Health Administration (ARS) of the Algarve revealed the existence of “27 infected health professionals, most of them in hospital units in the region, only one in health centers”, and the recovery of 201 of these professionals.
Paulo Morgado also pointed out that there is a “decrease in the number of patients admitted to the ICU and infirmary” in hospitals and that the current number of Rt in the region is “0.75, a value never reached previously”, he stressed.
"We are in a phase of sharp decrease in the number of cases that I hope will continue," he said, considering it essential to maintain the measures to combat Covid-19, "reducing the pressure from health services".
As for the vaccination process, the Morgadorevealed that the Algarve received “11 thousand vaccines”, with “more than 5,000 people vaccinated”, having started the vaccination of people over 50 with associated diseases and with more than 80 years in two parts of the region, which will be extended to "seven next week".
The vaccination of the "600 firefighters in the region", included in this first phase, is scheduled for today, followed by the weekend of almost 750 military personnel from the GNR and then more than 500 members of the region's PSP, he announced.
In care homes, the second doses are vaccinated and the first doses are applied to those who “are emerging from outbreaks”, pointed out the president of ARS / Algarve.
Regarding the vaccination process, the regional health delegate highlighted the importance of vaccinating “the entire population present in the territory”, even some people who are “illegal” because she considers it “essential” not to have “a gap” so “all can be protected ”.
Original article available in Portuguese at http://postal.pt/
