LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal will open its greatest vaccination centre but on Wednesday as a surge in COVID-19 infections compelled authorities to impose new restrictions to cease the unfold, together with strict journey curbs to enter the nation by air.
Boasting an 87% vaccination fee, one of many world’s highest, Portugal has seen its an infection fee and each day instances rise sharply over the previous month, though the speed stays beneath ranges seen in nations like Austria or Belgium.
Inaugurated by Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas on Tuesday, the brand new vaccination centre in a pavilion at Parque das Nacoes, a contemporary space by the River Tagus, will open to the general public on Wednesday with the capability to inoculate 6,000 folks per day, a quantity that would rise to 9,000 if wanted.
“This vaccination centre is exclusive within the nation,” Moedas instructed reporters, including that it will permit the capital metropolis to double its vaccination capability.
Well being authorities are giving COVID-19 booster photographs to these aged over 65 and to probably the most susceptible, and hope to manage it to 1 / 4 of the inhabitants by the top of January.
To sort out the most recent surge, the federal government reimposed obligatory mask-wearing in indoor public areas, really helpful distant work at any time when potential and ordered all air passengers, even these vaccinated, to indicate a destructive check on arrival.
Those that have recovered from COVID-19 can use their restoration certificates to journey to Portugal and youngsters aged 12 or beneath are exempt from the requirement, well being authority DGS mentioned on Tuesday.
The measures come into pressure on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
(Reporting by Catarina Demony, Miguel Pereira and Pedro Nunes; Modifying by Andrei Khalip and Janet Lawrence)
