Omicron sub-variation brings an increase in cases in Portugal

Omicron sub-variation feeds the increase in Covid-19 cases in Portugal, which now has the second highest infection rate in the world, possibly threatening the recovery of the country’s tourism sector.

Portugal recorded 2,447 new cases per million people on average over seven days, compared with 449 cases in Spain and 70 in Britain, according to Our World In Data.

Portugal has the fifth highest mortality rate in the world from Covid and hospital admissions are on the rise, but remain well below the previous highs of the epidemic.

Tourism companies have expressed concern about the resurgence, but say there have been no cancellations so far. The number of foreign tourists in April reached close to pandemic levels.

More than 90% of the population of Portugal is fully vaccinated.

The Ricardo Jorge Institute for Public Health reports that Omicron’s BA.5 subtype accounts for almost 90% of Covid’s new cases. Omicron subtype BA.4 has also been identified in Portugal.

Both variants were responsible for the fifth wave of the epidemic in South Africa last month. Scientists have stated that these variants defied the antibodies of a previous disease.

“Portugal is probably the European country with the highest prevalence in these variants and that partly explains the high number of cases we are seeing,” said Health Minister Marta Temido.

The Portuguese government has lifted most of the measures against the pandemic, including the use of masks in most indoor public spaces in April, and there are no plans to re-impose restrictive measures.

The Minister of Health stated that the authorities continue to recommend the use of a mask and will continue to give booster doses of the vaccine to the most vulnerable.