“The introduction and increase in circulation of the BA.5 lineage of the Omicron variant is highlighted, which has some additional mutations with an impact on the entry of the virus into human cells and/or its ability to evade the immune response”, states the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA).

According to INSA, which estimates that the BA.2 lineage is responsible for 94.4% of infections registered in the country, the introduction and circulation of these and other lines considered of interest are under investigation.

The BA.5 lineage circulates with greater intensity in the Centre region, where it already represented 10.4% of the sequences analysed between April 4th and 10th.

The DGS and INSA report also states that there is a growing trend in the cumulative incidence of seven days per 100,000 inhabitants in the age groups between 20 and 29 years, 50 and 59 years and 70 and 79 years.