“We hope to have no cases of Covid-19” in September – Henrique Barros

  • ECO News
  • 27 April 2021

"If everything goes normally," says epidemiologist Henrique Barros, Portugal can reach September with no cases of Covid-19.

The epidemiologist Henrique Barros believes that Portugal may have no cases of Covid-19 in September, if the control measures are maintained and vaccination continues.

“The Portuguese data show that even with the more lethal and potentially more transmissible variants, it is possible, with the control measures that are in place and with vaccination, to guarantee those levels where we believe that by September, if everything goes normally, we will not have new cases of Covid-19,” the expert said.

At a meeting with policymakers and experts, which took place this Tuesday at the Infarmed auditorium, Henrique Barros also pointed out: “Vaccination clearly prevents infection and prevents deaths. It is, therefore, fundamental to continue it,” he indicated.

Next, Henrique Barros explained the data shows that the risk of dying from Covid-19 today is significantly lower than at the beginning of the pandemic: “It’s about five times lower than it was at the beginning of the pandemic, and overall, half the risk of dying from Covid-19,” he calculated.

The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, is expected to announce this Tuesday at 8 pm that the state of emergency will end at 11:59 pm on Friday (April 30).