Portugal's COVID-19 cases hit record as New Year's restrictions kick in

Reuters

31 December 2020 at 10:19 am·1-min read

FILE PHOTO: A man runs near Tagus river during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Lisbon

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's daily number of coronavirus cases reached a record high of 7,627 on Thursday as the country prepared for a subdued New Year's Eve with an 11 p.m. curfew and no travel between municipalities.

The country, which has so far registered 413,678 cases and 6,906 deaths from the virus, eased restrictions around Christmas but has cracked down again on New Year's Eve with a ban on travel between municipalities and public gatherings, an 11 p.m. curfew and a 1 p.m. curfew from Jan. 1-3.

Cases had risen abruptly to 6,049 on Wednesday from 3,336 on Tuesday, but Prime Minister Antonio Costa said it was too early to say if this was as a result of the Christmas easing of rules.

"In the second week of January we will be able to evaluate the impact of Christmas," he said. "We happily lightened the restrictions but now we need a period of containment to evaluate the results."

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Frances Kerry)

The Telegraph
Wife wars? The real reason the Obamas are not standing up for Biden
When Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States in 2021, much was made of his wife Dr Jill Biden becoming the first First Lady ever to hold a salaried outside job.
The Independent
Dad pleaded for daughter’s ex-boyfriend not to be freed from jail. Days later, her mutilated body was found in a car
‘If they let him out, he was going to kill her,’ Lauren Johansen’s father said he warned a judge just days before his daughter’s death
The Telegraph
Biden vows to ‘beat Trump in 2020’ and says he’s proud to be a black woman in latest gaffes
Joe Biden vowed to beat Donald Trump “in 2020” as he pledged to stay in the presidential race and fight to save his re-election bid.
The Daily Beast
Conservatives Routed in Worst Election Result for 200 Years
LONDON—The Conservatives, the world’s winningest political party, were booted out of power in dramatic style on Thursday after 14 years of chaotic and divisive rule.The Labour Party had secured a landslide victory, ending an era of Conservative rule over Britain that stretches back to 2010; the year that the iPad and Instagram were launched and Lady Gaga wore that meat dress to the MTV music awards.In that time, the Conservatives have cycled through five leaders, each of them dragging the party
Cosmo
Jade Thirlwall frees the nipple in a see-through chainmail top
Jade Thirlwall appears on the cover of beat magazine wearing a see-through chainmail top to free the nipple. See the image shared on social media, here.
People
Tobey Maguire Spotted with Arm Around Actress Lily Chee at Star-Studded Fourth of July Party
The 'Spider-Man' actor, 49, was seen spending time with actress Lily Chee, 20, at a party on July 4
Reuters
China anchors 'monster ship' in South China Sea, Philippine coast guard says
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday that China's largest coastguard vessel has anchored in Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, and is meant to intimidate its smaller Asian neighbour. The China coastguard's 165-meter 'monster ship' entered Manila's 200-nautical mile EEZ on July 2, spokesperson for the PCG Jay Tarriela told a news forum. The PCG warned the Chinese vessel it was in the Philippine's EEZ and asked about their intentions, he said.
The Independent
A couple rented an Airbnb from a ‘friendly’ landlord. Then they wound up dismembered in a suitcase
Michael Lee Dudley seemed like a typical Washington homeowner – until three teenagers stumbled across a suitcase of horrors on a beach
Hello!
Maya Jama's racy red latex plunge dress is seriously spicy
The Love Island host just raised heart rates around the globe in a seriously sultry red latex dress. See photos
The Telegraph
Beijing is laughing at the West’s weakness
Russian aggression in Ukraine poses a threat to world peace and stability. China provides material support for Russia’s actions. All this is entirely clear. In Beijing, immediately after a meeting with Xi Jinping in April this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support”. This included selling huge quantities of machine tools and micro-electronics that would be used in the Russian defence industry.
CNN
9 out of 10 voters say there are important differences between Biden and Trump. Here’s what they see as the biggest ones
If there’s one thing that American voters overwhelmingly agree on, it’s that this year’s presidential election presents a stark choice. In the latest CNN poll by SSRS, 91% of registered voters say they see important differences between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, dwarfing even the 77% of voters who said last fall that there were significant divides between the Democratic and Republican parties. Even among the so-called “double haters” – those with unfavorable views of
The Independent
Voices: Tory downfall: The 9 reasons it has all gone wrong for Rishi Sunak
A series of world events, poor decisions and fatal gaffes conspired to see Rishi Sunak lead the Tories to the worst electoral defeat in his party’s 346-year history
Hello!
Rod Stewart, 79, rocked by divorce news: report
In a surprising turn of events Rod Stewart has received some shocking divorce news. See details.
Evening Standard
All change: When will Rishi Sunak have to move out of Number 10 — and where could he live next?
With the removal vans on standby, the current prime minister has a portfolio of high-end properties to choose from
INSIDER
How Obama mentored the new UK prime minister to help him tell his story
The leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has been mentored by Barack Obama. The relationship is likely to continue if Starmer wins the UK election.
Hello!
Amanda Holden almost bears all in glamorous shower video from lavish bathroom
BGT's Amanda Holden looked sensational when she almost bore all in a candid shower video. See video.
The Telegraph
Horrifying moment husband wheels suitcase containing murdered wife from home while carrying child
A husband who strangled his wife in front of her two children and lover on a video call was captured wheeling the suitcase containing her body out of his home.
Tom's Guide
Netflix has one of my favorite horror sci-fi movies ever — and you just need to watch it
Netflix has one of the best horror sci-fi movies ever — and it’s something that deserves to be seen by everyone.
Reuters
BYD's steep EV discounting in Thailand sparks backlash, PM seeks assurances
Thailand's consumer protection agency has received about 70 complaints since initiating a probe into aggressive discounting by BYD dealers that has left some buyers feeling they overpaid for their Chinese electric vehicles. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told BYD Chief Executive Wang Chuanfu, who was in Thailand to mark the opening of its first Southeast Asian factory this week and paid a courtesy call to the premier on Friday, to better manage customer expectations about pricing and ensure local buyers were protected. Wang gave assurances that future pricing would be appropriate and affected customers would receive support, according to a government spokesman.
Associated Press
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong asks for a lesser sentence in landmark security case
Prominent activist Joshua Wong asked for a lesser sentence in court Friday after he earlier pleaded guilty in Hong Kong's biggest national security case. Wong was one of 47 activists charged in 2021 under a Beijing-imposed national security law with conspiracy to commit subversion for their involvement in an unofficial primary. The activists were accused of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and topple the city’s leader by aiming to win a legislative majority and using it to block city budgets indiscriminately.

Latest stories