"I confirm the information of the death of a doctor, in the intensive care of Hospital de São José, to which I address my condolences to the family," said Jorge Roque da Cunha.

This is the first known case of the death of a doctor by covid-19 since the outbreak began in Portugal.

The news was advanced by the newspaper Público, which also reports that the doctor who died was infected by a colleague and that this is the first case of a death associated with SARS-CoV-2 in this group professional.

The daily adds that the doctor was 68 years old, “had been hospitalised for more than 40 days”, was specialised in general and family medicine and collaborated with the gastroenterology team at Hospital Curry Cabral, which, like São José, belongs to the Centre Lisbon Central Hospital (CHLC).

Público also states that this health professional “would not have associated risk factors”.

The SIM general secretary reiterated to Lusa the “need for great care on the part of health professionals and people, in order not to let their guard down regarding protective measures”, to mitigate the spread of the pandemic.