The ARS-N report, to which Lusa had access today, reports the evolution of the epidemiological situation in the North of Portugal between the third (from 13 to 19) and the last week of December (from 27 to 2).

Between the week of Christmas (20 to 26) and New Year's Eve (27-02), the district of Braga recorded the highest growth of new cases of infection in the North: 57 percent, having gone from 2,406 new cases to 3,784, followed by Aveiro (48 percent more), Bragança (46 percent more) and Porto (41 percent more).

The 14 municipalities from the district of Braga also followed the growth trend, and in Cabeceiras de Basto, Vila Verde, Celorico de Basto, Vizela, Póvoa de Lanhoso and Terras de Bouro the number of new cases of infection more than doubled. The district of Aveiro [where ARS-N covers seven municipalities] counted 48 percent more cases of infection with SARS-CoV-2, having gone from 735 new cases to 1,091. In this district, only the municipalities of Arouca and Espinho countered the growth. The other municipalities of Aveiro recorded increases of more than 50 percent. The district of Bragança also recorded a 46 percent increase in new cases of infection between Christmas week and New Year's Eve, from 387 new cases to 564. Here, the municipalities of Miranda do Douro, Vinhais and Mogadouro recorded the highest growth, with the same settling at 533 percent, 267% percent and 190 percent, respectively.

The District of Porto counted 41 percent more new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, from 4,098 new cases to 5,773. The 18 municipalities of the district of Porto also followed the growth trend, and Santo Tirso, Lousada and Trofa were the ones that account for the largest increase, with 99 percent, 96 percent and 86 percent, respectively. In the same period, the district of Viana do Castelo counted an increase of 39 percent of new cases of infection, from 407 new cases to 565. All the municipalities of Viana do Castelo, with the exception of Ponte de Lima, followed the growth trend, with the municipality of Melgaço tripling the number of new cases (300 percent).

The district of Vila Real recorded a 39 percent increase in new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, from 583 to 813 new cases. Among the 14 municipalities of this district, Boticas, Alijó, Murça, Mondim de Basto and Montalegre more than doubled the number of new cases of covid-19. The ARS-N report also indicates that Miranda do Douro, in the district of Bragança, is the municipality with the highest incidence rate, with it settling in 2,254 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants every 14 days.

The five municipalities of Macedo de Cavaleiros, Montalegre, Esposende, Peso da Régua and Barcelos, the incidence rate is more than 1,000. The rate in the North region is now set at 611 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants every 14 days.