In January, 5646 babies were examined under the National Neonatal Screening Program (PNRN), 2397 less compared to the same month of 2020, and in February 5602, 297 less than last year.

According to data from the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), coordinator of the PNRN, through its Newborns Screening, Metabolism and Genetics Unit, from the Department of Human Genetics, all districts in the country observed a drop in the number of births.

The district of Lisbon was the one that screened the most newborns in January and February this year, totaling 3,345, 713 less than 2020, followed by the district of Porto, with 2,086, 453 less than the previous year.

In the same period, Braga registered 812 births, 280 fewer, and Setúbal 798, 255 fewer than in 2020, according to data from the Teste do Pezinho (heel prick test) an examination carried out in the first days after the baby's birth, through the collection of droplets of blood from a prick made on the child's foot.

The districts that registered fewer births were Bragança, with 71 newborns screened, 40 less and Portalegre, with 81, 15 fewer than in the first two months of 2020.