The decision not to send coronavirus patients to compulsory quarantine was made after , how officials assessed the current situation and concluded: COVID should be treated as a normal seasonal flu.
Instead of isolating people, the Portuguese authorities offered those who show symptoms of COVID-19 or any other respiratory diseases, limit their contact with vulnerable persons, and wear a face mask.
At the same time, there are situations when wearing a protective mask remains mandatory for everyone, even healthy people and those who have been ill. This, for example, visits to medical institutions.
The Ministry of Health comments on the situation as follows: despite the fact that an increase in cases of infection is expected in the country this winter, the population is ready for lighter measures. The increase in cases can be dealt with as most Portuguese have already received the vaccines.
Data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that as of September 22, a total of 25,139,876 doses have been administered in Portugal vaccines. 94.7 percent of the total adult population completed their primary vaccination, 80.2 percent received their first booster dose, and another 5.4 percent — second.
The ECDC has previously recommended the use of newly approved coronavirus adapted vaccines as the colder months approach. This applies primarily to people over 60 and vulnerable segments of the population.