The rate of spread of Covid-19 is increasing at an alarming rate in Portugal, where the more contagious delta variant dominates in the capital, Lisbon.
The situation is also worsening in the tourist region of Algarve, where a number of schools are now closed.
The decision affects over 120 schools in the municipalities of Albufeira, Loulé, Olhão, São Brás de Alportel and Faro, reports the daily newspaper Diário de Notícias.
This is after the overall incidence rate, which measures the number of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, for the municipalities reached over 300. The situation is worst in Albufeira, which records 583 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The spread of infection is explained including the popular region, known for its beaches and golf courses, reopening to tourists in May.
In addition, a number of sporting events have been held around Portugal in recent months. Among other things, thousands of British football fans were allowed into the country and allowed to roam the streets when Chelsea faced Manchester City in the Champions League final in Porto on May 29.
In an attempt to slow the new wave, Portugal decided this week to add the UK to the list of countries from which travelers who cannot prove they are fully vaccinated must quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. The decision is expected to deal a significant blow to the tourism sector, which is a key part of Portugal's economy. The industry has already been hit by similar decisions in London and Berlin on restrictions on travelers from Portugal.
The rules have led to thousands of tourists rebooking their intended trips to Portugal, writes the Spanish news agency Efe.
The hasty school closures in the Algarve are also raising local criticism about the planning difficulties that are now arising for students, parents and teachers who have been caught off guard by the decision.
”This came as a surprise to everyone. School closures have been described as one of the last measures to be taken,” Ana Silva, on the management team of the Oficina Divertida school in Faro, told Diário de Notícias.
The highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus has recently taken over the spread of infection in an increasing number of countries, not least in the UK where it accounts for around 90 percent of all new cases. It is now also dominating the Portuguese capital region, where it is estimated to account for 70 percent of cases – and is spreading increasingly rapidly across the country. Half of all new cases on the Portuguese mainland are said to be caused by the variant.
For the country as a whole, the incidence rate increased by a whopping 42 percent last week compared to the week before, according to the EU's disease control unit ECDC. This meant that Portugal and Cyprus were the only countries in the EU to record an increase when the ECDC's latest statistics were released on Thursday.
On Monday, 902 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths were registered. A total of 875,449 people have tested positive in Portugal since the pandemic broke out and 17,086 people have died.
Source: TT
