Coronavirus in Portugal: Lisbon sees a resurgence of the pandemic

Text by: Marie-Line Darcy

The Portuguese capital is experiencing a resurgence of new cases of coronavirus. The authorities have decided to introduce geographically targeted "mini-containment".

Publicity

From our correspondent in Lisbon,

Since June 10, a public holiday for the Portuguese national holiday and until Sunday June 14 at midnight, the municipality has imposed exit restrictions. During the feast of Saint Anthony, patron of the city, on June 13, the Lisbon people had to stay at home. Usually, they take to the streets to eat grilled sardines outside, to sing and dance. The night of June 12 to 13 is the big popular parade organized by the residents of the neighborhoods. And on Saint's day on the 13th, a collective marriage of disadvantaged couples is organized under the protection of the patron saint.

But this year because of the coronavirus , none of this happened. Bars and restaurants close earlier. Garlands and flowers are prohibited. Some 1,000 law enforcement officers are responsible for enforcing the prohibition.

Concerned authorities

Without really wanting to admit it, the Portuguese authorities are concerned. The third phase of the deconfinement of the country has also been postponed for Lisbon and the Tagus Valley. Portugal registers on average 300 new cases of Covid-19 per day. It is the second country after Sweden to experience this situation.

300 daily cases is the health alert threshold: it was launched in hospitals. After a clear decrease, hospitalizations started slightly up again. Most of the new Covid-19 cases, 80 or 90%, are in the Lisbon area. Community homes appeared in factories, warehouses, construction companies.

From the start of the deconfinement in May, the pendulum movement peripheries-center resumed with intensity, most often in crowded public transport where it is impossible to respect the rules of social distancing. The cause is not well known but the Ministry of Health has created a special cabinet for Lisbon. He is banking on the extension of screening tests.

An upsurge that embarrasses tourism

We are not in an alarmist context. The speech is rather cautious. But this resurgence of cases is embarrassing. Indeed, the official speech is reassuring, especially when it is addressed outside the country. This is to promote economic recovery and it goes through tourism, the real engine of the Portuguese economy which depends on more than 30%.

The speech of the return to almost normal was already borrowed: he became even more timid. Having entered the epidemic almost a month late, Portugal could also emerge a month later, in the highly volatile context of a coronavirus which is still circulating.

► Read also: Portugal regularizes its immigrants to protect them from the coronavirus

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