Omicron sub-variant fuels Portugal's COVID-19
surge
By Catarina
Demony
June 2,
2022
1:39 PM
GMT+2
Last Updated
4 hours ago
LISBON,
June 2 (Reuters) - An Omicron sub-variant has fuelled a surge in COVID-19 cases
in Portugal that now has the world's second-highest infection rate, potentially
threatening the tourism sector's recovery.
Portugal
registered an average of 2,447 new cases per million people over the last seven
days. That compares to neighbouring Spain's 449 and Britain's 70, according to
tracker Our World In Data.
The rolling
average has subsided slightly in the past few days and is just over a third of
the Jan. 31 Omicron peak.
Portugal
has the world's fifth-highest death rate from COVID-19 and hospitalisations are
on the rise, but both are still far below previous peaks.
Several
tourism businesses contacted by Reuters have expressed fears about the surge,
but said they had had no cancellations so far. The number of foreign tourists
in April was close to levels seen before the pandemic.
More than
90% of Portugal's population is fully vaccinated.
Public
health institute Ricardo Jorge said in a report on Tuesday the Omicron
sub-variant BA.5 represented nearly 90% of new COVID-19 infections. The BA.4
sub-variant has also been detected in Portugal.
Both drove
South Africa's fifth COVID wave last month, with scientists saying they were
able to dodge antibodies from earlier infection.
"Portugal
is probably the European country with the highest prevalence of this
sub-lineage and this partly explains the high number (of cases) we are
seeing," Health Minister Marta Temido told RTP broadcaster.
The
government lifted most COVID-19 restrictions, including the mandatory use of
masks in most indoor public spaces, in April and has said there are no plans to
reintroduce measures.
Temido said
the use of masks was still recommended and authorities would continue to roll
out booster vaccine doses to the most vulnerable.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário