Portuguese president declares another 15-day extension of State of Emergency

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Thursday declared in a televised national speech another 15-day extension of the State of Emergency until May 2, in an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Portuguese parliament approved the second extension earlier in the day. Most political parties in the parliament voted in favor of the decree.

The 15-day state of emergency, first of its kind in Portuguese history, was declared on March 18, and renewed on April 2 until April 17. According to the Portuguese Constitution, the state of emergency cannot last longer than 15 days, but it can be renewed with the same time limit.

In his speech, the Portuguese president said that he "hopes to have signed the last extension" of the state of emergency, leaving the message that the economy and society will be reactivated gradually and with caution next month.

"Everything will depend on what we manage to achieve by the end of April," he warned, adding that May must be the month of "the bridge between duty and hope."

Rebelo de Sousa justified that the measure was necessary for three reasons.

The first is to give more time to "care for the homes of the elderly," he explained.

The second is to continue to "stabilize the number of daily hospitalizations" of infected people, so as not to "overload and ensure the response of the National Health System," he said.

The third and "most important" reason for the extension is to give "time and space for the government to define criteria, study and prepare for the end of April the gradual opening of the economy."

"The next 15 days will be decisive. All of this will only be possible if we reach the goals in April. We cannot 'die on the beach'," he said.

To date, Portugal has reported 18,841 COVID-19 cases and 629 deaths, according to the latest bulletin from the health authorities.