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HEALTH-VIRUS-PORTUGAL
Portugal declares state of alert over coronavirus
LISBON, March 13, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The Portuguese government put the
country on a state of alert on Friday to mobilise civil protection, police
and the army in its efforts to control the spread of coronavirus.
The move comes after Prime Minister Antonio Costa said Thursday that it
would close all schools, nurseries and universities from Monday.
“The interior and health ministers have decided to declare a state of
alert throughout the country, so that civil protection and security forces
are ready to intervene,” the government said in a statement.
A state of alert has been used in Portugal in the past to facilitate the
fight against forest fires or to avoid a fuel shortage during a strike by
tanker drivers.
Portugal has so far registered 78 cases of COVID-19 and has ordered the
cancellation of events grouping more than 1,000 people in enclosed places and
more than 5,000 in open areas.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1908 hrs