The Regional Health Unit (ULS) has announced the reinforcement of measures within its Seasonal Health Contingency Plan’s Winter Module, mandating mask usage for patients, companions, and staff across all care areas starting today.
“This measure aims to curb the transmission chain of respiratory viruses and ensure greater protection for patients and healthcare professionals,” stated the ULS.
The entity has also implemented the suspension of non-urgent activities to increase hospitalization capacity and bolster emergency service teams during this high-pressure phase.
Last week, Level 1 of the Contingency Plan, out of a total of four levels, was activated in response to a significant rise in demand for health services, particularly due to respiratory issues, as clarified by the ULS.
Since then, structural measures such as increasing bed numbers, reinforcing staff, expediting clinical discharges, and redirecting less complex patients to Pombal Hospital have been applied to ensure more efficient management of care flows.
“Level 1 is triggered when there is continuous demand growth, especially in hospital admissions, necessitating the implementation of various reinforcement measures,” previously explained the ULS.
The ULS has urged the public to contact the SNS 24 Line (808 24 24 24) before visiting emergency services and to prioritize primary healthcare, notably the Complementary Care Service and acute illness consultations, available at health centers.
The situation will be monitored daily to adjust measures as needed, assured the ULS.
The ULS’s area of influence in the Leiria Region includes the municipalities of Alcobaça, Batalha, Leiria, Marinha Grande, Nazaré, Ourém, Pombal, and Porto de Mós, comprising three hospitals (Leiria, Pombal, and Alcobaça) and ten health centers.
Portugal has entered an epidemic phase of influenza with a growing trend, witnessing an increase in confirmed cases, including admissions to intensive care, warned the Dr. Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health (Insa) on Friday.
“The flu activity data for the 2025-26 season showed that in week 48, starting on November 24, flu activity is at an epidemic level,” said Raquel Guiomar, head of the National Reference Laboratory for Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses at the Insa.
In week 48, from November 24 to 30, the Epidemiological Surveillance Bulletin for Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses of Insa reported a rise in the incidence rate of severe acute respiratory infections compared to previous weeks, reaching 10.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
On Monday, the Health Minister assured that the National Health Service is prepared to respond to the anticipated increase in flu cases in the coming weeks.
“I can assure that our institutions are prepared and coordinated, from hospitals and health centers to INEM, the Directorate-General for Health, and the Dr. Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health, and the Executive Directorate of the National Health Service, to provide the best possible response to the Portuguese, from prevention to treatment,” said Ana Paula Martins, noting that Portugal has experienced “growing flu activity in recent weeks, already impacting health units visibly.”
