Covid-19? Portugal “will be prepared” to adopt measures (if necessary)
“TEverything will be prepared, if and when necessary, adopting the control measures that may be deemed necessary”, he assured.
Several countries, including Member States of the European Union such as Spain, Italy, France or Sweden, have announced in recent days the establishment of control measures at airports for travelers from China, to prevent the entry of carriers of the virus that causes the disease. from covid-19.
Questioned today by journalists at the end of a visit to Hospital Doutor Fernando da Fonseca (Amadora-Sintra) if Portugal intends to do the same, the Minister of Health said that “it is a measure that is being considered and is being prepared”.
“When we announce it we are prepared for adoption immediately,” he explained.
Manuel Pizarro said that the Ministry of Health is in “close contact” with the other countries of the European Union, with international health organizations and, in the Portuguese context, working together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Governor highlighted “the high vaccination coverage rate” against covid-19 in Portugal, which “gives very significant security and protection”, but admitted that this does not mean that there is no “possibility of a resurgence of the pandemic, namely in view of to the pandemic situation in China”.
The European Union abstained on December 29 from following the decision of several countries to require tests for the covid-19 of travelers from China arriving at their airports, but promised to remain vigilant and ready to act together.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicates today on its official website that, together with the Member States of the European Union and the European Commission, they have increased their follow-up activities after the number of cases of Covid-19 reached a record high in mainland China, with a peak on December 02, 2022.
The Center also mentions that it is working in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO)/Europe and WHO/Headquarters, stressing that it is in regular contact with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and with the main CDC worldwide.
The number of cases of covid-19 reached a record level in mainland China, with a peak on December 2, 2022 and in the last three weeks, the painful incidence, probably also due to a smaller number of tests carried out, carried out in less time. infections being detected, according to ECDC.
After strict travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic, the European Union returned this autumn to a pre-pandemic system of free travel, but member countries agreed that an “emergency brake” could, if necessary, be activated within a short period of time. time to face an unexpected challenge.
Covid-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, detected three years ago in China and which has spread rapidly around the world, having assumed several variants and subvariants, some more contagious than others.
The disease has been an international public health emergency since January 30, 2020 and a pandemic since March 11, 2020.
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