Speaking to Lusa news agency, the president of the Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST), Maria Antónia Escoval Martins, said that the reserves are at "normal levels for this time of year", but insisted: "it is important that all those that can give blood in the months of December and January, do give blood”.

“Traditionally, we already have respiratory infections and this year there are also Covid infections and prophylactic isolations. There are a lot of people in prophylactic isolation and there is a withdrawal period for those who have respiratory infections and for those who have Covid infections,” she explained.

"The probability of transmission through transfusion is a purely theoretical risk, but we always use precautionary measures," added the official.