Lisbon and the Algarve are high on the travel plans of many holidaymakers for Pentecost. But now there is a threat of a new corona wave: no fewer than 30,000 new cases were recently registered within 24 hours. According to the Portuguese media, the number will soon rise to 60,000. The number of infections, especially in Lisbon, is alarmingly high.
Most recently, Portugal had lifted all corona restrictions, and there is no longer a mask requirement. If the incidence (currently 1835) continues to rise, there could be strict requirements again. Tourism and gastronomy are already worried about business.
Corona in Portugal: BA.5 commt
What’s behind it? A subtype of the omicron variant of the coronavirus is responsible for the high number of infections. This subtype is called BA.5 and is said to be responsible for more than 80 percent of new infections, according to the Portuguese authorities.
Portugal is doing very well in terms of vaccination rates in a European comparison: According to media reports, 63 percent of the population have already had a booster vaccination, and 87 percent have already had two vaccinations. Of course, this raises concerns that the new variants could lead to worse effects in countries with lower vaccination rates.
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