The joint epidemiological bulletin of the Directorate-General of Health and the National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge, reveals that the national incidence rate (average of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days) dropped to 326.5, when on Monday was at 336.1.

In mainland Portugal, the incidence rate dropped on 11 August to 331.6. On Monday, 9 August, it was at 341.4.

The Rt - which estimates the number of secondary cases of infection resulting from a person carrying the virus - is currently 0.94 throughout the territory of Portugal.

The Rt data and the incidence of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants within 14 days - indicators that make up the risk matrix for monitoring the pandemic - are updated by the health authorities on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The risk level in the Covid-19 pandemic monitoring matrix is ​​now fixed at 480 cases per 100,000 people at 14 days instead of the previous 240.

According to the Government portal for Covid-19 on the Internet, “the monitoring of the evolution of the pandemic will continue to be based on the indicators of incidence and Rt [transmissibility index], now adapted according to the evolution of vaccination (alert level goes to 240, risk level goes to 480)”.

The change in the risk matrix had been suggested by experts at the meeting at Infarmed, on 27 July.