Marcelo took this position after being confronted by journalists with the fact that Portugal is registering a rise in the daily number of people infected with covid-19.

Asked whether this increase in the number of infections could lead to a return to a situation of lockdown in the long term, the head of state ruled out this move backwards, claiming that the death rate "is very low, the average number of patients in intensive care is very low and the average number of admissions is also perfectly acceptable".

"Vaccination is on the rise. With those over 40 being vaccinated, moving to those over 30, it means that in July we will have about a million more people vaccinated," he pointed out.