Portugal moves to declare state of emergency to fight coronavirus
Yes, Portugal has indeed declared a state of emergency to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). On March 16, 2020, the Portuguese government announced that it would be declaring a state of emergency for a period of 15 days, effective from March 18, 2020, to March 31, 2020.
This decision was taken to help contain the spread of the virus, which had been rapidly increasing in Portugal at the time. The state of emergency granted the government additional powers to take measures to protect public health, including:
- Restricting public gatherings and events
- Closing non-essential businesses and services
- Implementing travel restrictions
- Increasing surveillance and testing for COVID-19
- Authorizing the military to assist in the response efforts
The state of emergency was later extended several times, with the most recent extension being until June 2, 2020.
Portugal has taken a number of measures to combat the spread of the virus, including:
- Implementing a 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving in the country from high-risk areas
- Closing schools and universities
- Restricting travel to and from high-risk areas
- Implementing social distancing measures, such as limiting the number of people allowed in public spaces
- Increasing the availability of testing and contact tracing
These measures have helped to slow the spread of the virus in Portugal, and the country has seen a decline in new cases in recent weeks. However, the government continues to monitor the situation closely and is prepared to take further measures if necessary to protect public health.