LISBON, Sept 19 (NNN-AGENCIES0 –Portugal is on course to reach 1,000 new coronavirus cases a day by next week if current trends continue, its prime minister warned on Friday after the first meeting of the government’s Covid-19 crisis group in almost three months.
The national health authority, the DGS, reported 780 new cases, up from 770 on Thursday and the highest daily figure since the April 10 peak of 1,516.
“In line with the general trend in Europe we are seeing strong growth in new cases daily,” Prime Minister António Costa told journalists in Lisbon. “If this trend is maintained, next week we shall reach 1,000 new cases per day.”
Costa declined to answer journalists’ questions about what was discussed by the ministers and secretaries of state who attended the crisis group’s meeting.
No fresh measures were announced but the prime minister confirmed that next week the DGS is to unveil a plan for the autumn and winter that is expected to contain specific proposals, while calling on the public to act responsibly to help keep the virus in check.
“If we all observe the basic rules, we can control the pandemic,” he said. He reiterated that Portugal cannot afford a second lockdown, adding: “It would be unthinkable to have a Christmas as we had Easter.”
Portugal has so far had 67,176 confirmed cases and 1,894 deaths associated with Covid-19, six of them reported on Friday. — NNN-AGENCIES
