Coronavirus: there are 785 confirmed cases, 143 more than on Wednesday. Third death in Portugal.

The third death in Portugal was registered in the center region. The Northern region is the one with more confirmed infection cases.

Original text by Cláudia Carvalho Silva published on Público on Mar.19, 12:04

There are 785 cases of infection by novel coronavirus in Portugal, 143 more than on Wednesday - that corresponds to a 22% variation relatively to the previous day. A third person has died of covid-19 in the center region. The numbers were issued this Thursday by the Directorate General of Health, (DGS), on the last epidemiological report. There are 488 waiting for laboratory results.

There have been 6061 suspect cases in total, but 4788 were not confirmed. Three people have already recovered.

The first cases in Portugal were identified on March 2nd, and there had already been two deaths registered in the Lisbon area. The first was Mário Veríssimo, aged 80, a chronic patient with pulmonary pathology. The second was this Wednesday, the president of Banco Santander Portugal’s administration council, António Vieira Monteiro, aged 73.

On Wednesday president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declared a state of emergency: “It isn’t an interruption of democracy. It’s democracy trying to prevent an irreparable interruption of people’s lives”. The objective is to slow down the virus propagation pace, and respond to cases that get confirmed.

DGS and WHO advise to wash your hands frequently, (with soap for 20 seconds or with disinfectant), and to avoid social contact as much as possible, (by staying home or keeping a meter of distance from others). To cough or sneeze to your arm or to a tissue that should be immediately disposed of. It’s also recommended to avoid touching your face with your hands.