1,300 health professionals infected with Coronavirus in Portugal

Portuguese Minister of Health Marta Temido admitted on Sunday that there are 1,332 health professionals infected by COVID-19 in the country, according to Lusa News Agency.

The minister said that the infected professionals include 231 doctors, 339 nurses and 762 from other areas who work within hospitals, adding that the government hired 500 nurses to reinforce the fight against the pandemic.

Temido revealed that her ministry is working to identify whether there are "possible weaknesses" in the protection of these professionals, Lusa reported.

She called for a "redoubled effort" of clinics and health units to receive those who no longer need hospital care, saying that only serious cases and critical conditions can be kept in hospital to ensure the functioning of the health facilities under mounting pressure.

Portugal recorded 295 deaths associated with COVID-19 and 11,278 cases of infection, according to the epidemiological bulletin released by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). Of those infected, 1,084 are hospitalized, 267 of whom are in intensive care units.