en 
“I don't see reasons for a few days from now to be in a situation that is not the logic of the continuation of the situation we live in today. Therefore, I would say that we are moving progressively, because of the vaccination, towards the weakening of the pandemic”, said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
On the sidelines of the meeting of the Serralves Foundation Founders' Council, in Porto, the President of the Republic said, however, that “this path” must be followed “with good sense, without dramatisation and with a minimum of prevention”.
As for the increased incidence in some regions of the country, the head of state pointed out that “what is now being tested has never been tested before” currently, whether for shows, events, family gatherings or in everyday life.
“There is no comparison with what was tested a year ago”, he said.
Remembering that the Omicron variant is more contagious, but less deadly, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stressed that the situation has to be faced “with a cool head”.
English
Nederlands
Deutsch
Français
Español
Italiano
Svenska
Pусский
Română
中文
Türkçe
हिन्दी
Português
Українська
اردو
Polski
عربي
Suomi
עִברִית
Afrikaans
Português (Brasil)
These morons made the same mistake last year.
Nobody yet knows for sure that omicron is less deadly.Once again the politicians in the hands of hoteliers are gambling with the populations health.
Shame on you and your corruption
By James from Algarve on 13 Dec 2021, 19:02
If the vax works, why do we need social distance? If social distancing works, why do we need masks? If all these things work, why do we need restrictions? This is a total farce, and all the boomers keeping this thing alive need to stay at home under their beds where they can feel “safe” and let the rest of us live our lives.
By Diana from Lisbon on 14 Dec 2021, 23:21
I would urge people to have a quick look at the 'Swiss Cheese model' as this will in a simple way explain how different measures, while each being imperfect, together will form more efficient protection against the spreading of disease.
It can be compared with the evolution/development of the security and safety measures we today have on new vehicles. While the human element in driving is still the same, the measures we have like seatbelts, airbags, crumple zones, emergency breaking systems and so on, when working together in unison has decreased the risk of serious injury or death in traffic accidents.
So yes, a mask combined with minimum social distancing, vaccines and so on will together reduce/mitigate the risk of serious illness or death.
By Vidar Kjelsberg from Algarve on 15 Dec 2021, 12:19
James you are crazy, they are not gambling with the country's health they are keeping things going because we can back down to this virus when its already an endemic not pandemic. Panic, panic, panic.. stop listening to scare mongering and live your life. And this new strain is less deadly. Virus eventually get weaker and more transmitable in oreder to stay alive. It doesn't get deadlier and deadlier
By Bradley from Lisbon on 15 Dec 2021, 14:49
You are dumb Diana
By J from Lisbon on 15 Dec 2021, 16:53
Agree James, we don't yet know. Not sure I agree that they're morons though.
Diana, it’s not a zero sum game. Nothing is 100%. The vaccinations are very effective at reducing seriousness illness, hospitalisation and death. They also moderately reduce transmission. Social distancing and masks are very effective at reducing transmission. But none of these things are 100% and nobody has ever suggested they are.
By Christiaan from Porto on 15 Dec 2021, 18:30
The Spanish flu took a similar course to this current virus. Killed the old and vulnerable first, then mutated several times and eventually started killing children. I accept the medical situation is very different now to when the Spanish flu was around but apathy is the viruses greatest weapon. To the lady who says "let us live our lives", I hope your words don't come back to haunt you.
By Alan Harris from Algarve on 16 Dec 2021, 11:45
So many very opiniated people around that believe that they are supremely right.
Things have moved on since in the 100 years since Spanish flu. Communication is significantly better and we are all better informed. Technology is far better to fight the virus.
Covid needs to run its course and no one can predict where it will go next, but in the meantime our lives must go on. We cannot go into a blind panic and allow society to collapse.
It is not for governments to dictate our every step. We all know what we must do as individuals to give ourselves the best chance of keeping safe. Commons sense must prevail, and those that choose a more reckless path can take their chances.
By Paolito from Algarve on 20 Dec 2021, 11:14