The Portuguese capital and its surrounding municipalities will remain under tougher anti-coronavirus restrictions than the rest of the country until at least the end of August, the government said this Thursday.
Portugal has reported 53,223 infections and 1,764 deaths so far from the coronavirus, much lower than many other European countries including neighbouring Spain, where more than 28,500 have died.
But although the government initially won praise for its quick response to the pandemic, a steady count of several hundred new cases per day in and around Lisbon in June and July, after the end of a nationwide lockdown, prompted authorities to re-impose some curbs a few weeks back.
Even as the number of infections in Lisbon has fallen again, the government wants to take it slow, especially when some of Europe’s top soccer teams are in the city for a special ‘Final Eight’ UEFA Champions League mini-tournament.
Greater Lisbon will stay under the so-called state of contingency, meaning most commercial spaces, excluding restaurants, must shut by 8 p.m. There is also a 10-person limit for gatherings, compared to 20 across the rest of the nation.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa has nevertheless encouraged fans and tourists to visit the country during the Champions League tournament, which kicked off on Wednesday, even though supporters have been barred from the stadiums.
Furthermore, the outbreak is set to leave long-lasting scars on Portugal’s tourism-dependent economy, with the central bank expecting it to contract 9.5% this year. The biggest hit came when Portugal was left off a list of countries Britain, its leading source of tourism, considers safe enough for travel without coronavirus-related restrictions.
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So why are they being encouraged. To gather outside stadiums sharing the virus? Or could it be money and to hell with the health of residents?