LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal reported 1,646 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, the highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic, according to health authority DGS.
The country of 10 million people, which has seen a total of 85,574 coronavirus cases and 2,067 deaths, surpassed 1,000 new cases for the first time since April on Thursday.
The country initially won praise for its quick response to the pandemic, but, like most other European countries, has seen the number of COVID-19 infections rise again, concentrated in Lisbon and the country’s northern region, after a summer lull.
A state of contingency implemented nationwide on Sept. 15 will remain in place until Oct. 14, limiting gatherings to 10 people and restricting opening hours for commercial establishments.
The pandemic is set to leave long-lasting scars on the country’s tourism dependent economy, with the central bank expecting gross domestic product to contract 8.1% this year.
(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Editing by William Maclean)
