A municipal worker disinfects the stair handrail to stop the spread of the COVID-19 in Cascais, Portugal, March 28, 2020. The number of confirmed infections with the coronavirus has risen by 902 to 5,170 in Portugal, with 100 deaths associated with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, 24 more than Friday, the daily bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) on Saturday. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)
LISBON, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed infections with the coronavirus has risen by 902 to 5,170 in Portugal, with 100 deaths associated with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, 24 more than Friday, the daily bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) on Saturday.
Health Minister Marta Temido said at the daily press conference that lethality rate is "in the largest of 70 years -- 7.9 percent."
"According to the data we have now, the maximum incidence of the infection will be postponed until the end of May," she added.
"This indicates that the containment measures that we have all taken, such as staying at home except to go to work, are being effective," she explained.
To contain the spread of the pandemic, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declared on March 18 a state of emergency, which will last until April 2.
The president has said that he could extend the state of emergency for another 15 days after consultations with government officials, political parties and health professionals scheduled on March 31.
