Portugal announces tighter measures to limit spread of coronavirus

LISBON - Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced on Thursday a package of new measures including the closure of all schools from March 16 to April 9, in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

The measures came after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus as a world pandemic on Wednesday and Portugal reported 19 new cases of confirmed COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 78.

"We declare the closure of all classroom activities until the Easter holiday period, subject to reassessment on April 9," Costa said in a televised speech, indicating that as of next Monday, more than 1.6 million students, from pre-school to university, are unable to attend classes.

"We have to avoid social contact as much as possible. Schools are a contact place that favors contamination," said the prime minister.

He urged the Portuguese to observe the instructions from the health authorities. "I appeal to everyone to limit travelling and social connections," he said.

"This is a moment when we must feel what it is like to live in community. We have a duty to protect each other. This outbreak is a fight for our survival," Costa said.

"This pandemic in Portugal has not yet reached its peak, and it is still evolving. We will likely have more patients, and this outbreak may be more lasting than initially estimated. We must be prepared for the worst," he added.

However, Portugal has not yet announced to upgrade the level to mitigation, which means infections within the community.

Meanwhile, access to public places such as restaurants, nightclubs and shopping centers, is restricted.

"We determine the closing of the nightclubs, reducing the maximum limitation of restaurants to one third. Limit the frequency of shopping centers avoiding excess people within the same space," Costa said.

Foreign passengers from cruise ships arriving in Portugal will not be allowed to enter the country, he said.

In the health area, where more than 100 doctors have been quarantined in the country, the prime minister promised that more human resources, protective equipment and the SNS24 telephone line are reinforced.

"These special measures also aim to support health and safety professionals to perform their duties," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Portuguese Football Association (FPF) and the Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP) cancelled all sports activities indefinitely including the first and second league matches.