"Let's be real: Will it be possible to see the number of infected people in Portugal reach tens of thousands by the 17th? Yes. But what matters is knowing that the number of tests is and that this means detecting more infected cases and that most of these cases are not serious," said the head of state.

In a communication to the country, from the Palace of Belém, in Lisbon, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considered that "above all, what will make the difference is the percentage of daily growth".

"Has it been and will it continue to be a radical change in our lives? It has been and will have to be for a few more weeks. But what matters is that we know that this change can be worth many tens of thousands of lives saved", he defended.

At the beginning of this declaration, the head of state announced that he had finished decreeing the renewal of the state of emergency in Portugal for a new period of 15 days, until April 17.

The President of the Republic ended this communication to the country with a special word "for those who suffered or still suffer from the pandemic and for those who died alone and without a farewell from their families".

"We have not forgotten them, and it is for them and for the millions and millions that we commit ourselves to overcome this second phase, thus allowing us to overcome the greatest challenge in our lives," he added.