Speaking to journalists at Teatro Municipal São Luiz, in Lisbon, when asked about the measures to be adopted given the growth in the number of cases and deaths by Covid-19 in Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considered that one should "wait for the meeting of the Infarmed" with experts, scheduled for Friday.

Asked, later, if he understands that the mandatory use of masks in the street should be resumed, the head of state replied: "That, of course, that is evident".

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted that currently the number of cases of infection by Covid-19 are, "1,500, 1,600, 1,700", and the number of deaths from Covid-19 are, "less than 20", are lower than those of a year ago, when there were "around 80 deaths" and "five thousand to six thousand" cases a day.

"So, let's consider it calmly, calmly. We have a vaccination that we didn't have. And then we will act accordingly," he said.

Asked about the measures that can be taken without resorting to a state of emergency, he advised: "Let's wait."

The prime minister, António Costa, has called for Friday, at 15:00, a new meeting of politicians with specialists at Infarmed's auditorium, in Lisbon, regarding the situation of Covid-19 in Portugal. The previous one of these meetings took place two months ago, on 16 September.