the Omicron variant is dominant in Portugal, which records a record number of contaminations

The Omicron variant has become dominant in Portugal. It thus represented 61.5% of these cases of Covid-19 infections “last December 22 “, announced Saturday, December 25 the Portuguese General Directorate of Health (DGS). An announcement that comes in a particularly virulent epidemic context, since the country recorded Friday, December 24 a record number of new cases of Covid-19 (11 deaths and 12,943 new cases in 24 hours) since January 29, 2021. At the start of he year, Portugal was hit by a violent wave of contagion, which had overwhelmed hospital services.

In its press release, however, the DGS specifies that mortality and hospitalizations in intensive care remain “stable”. To cope with this increase in contamination, the Portuguese government has adopted a series of new epidemic control measures. They include in particular compulsory teleworking, the presentation of a test to attend a show or a sporting event, as well as the closing of bars and nightclubs.