Portuguese gov't urged to take stronger measures to combat coronavirus: report
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E-mail Xinhua, March 16, 2020
LISBON, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese government was urged to take more stronger measures to limit the spreading coronavirus, Portuguese Lusa News Agency reported on Sunday.
More than 153,000 Portuguese people have signed an electronic petition in favor of mandatory quarantine for all Portuguese and the closing of borders in order to combat the virus, according to Lusa.
Portugal has reported 245 confirmed coronavirus cases by Sunday.
The petition for the Assembly of the Republic, the president and the prime minister was initiated on March 12 by Diana Franco, 37, a psychologist and professional trainer.
"I felt that I was facing a situation that I might not be able to protect my daughter or my parents," Franco was quoted as saying.
"The mandatory quarantine regime for the population in general should be immediately decreed, as well as the closing of borders," and Portugal should adopt more drastic measures for the containment of the virus, Franco said.
The Prime Minister's office on Saturday expressed the willingness to start the control of the borders with Spain, only after Sunday's teleconference between Prime Minister Antonio Costa and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez.
The Portuguese government on Thursday declared a "state of alert", putting civil protection means and security forces and services on standby.
The government has also decided to prohibit the disembarkation of passengers from cruise ships, except for residents in Portugal, and to limit the frequency in shopping centers and supermarkets to ensure the possibility of maintaining a safe distance between people.
Starting on Monday, school activities will be suspended and the operation of nightclubs and the likes will also be restricted, according to Lusa.
At 10 p.m. on Saturday evening, tens of thousands of Portuguese across the country shouted or applauded from their balconies or windows, in solidarity with doctors, nurses and other health professionals working in the frontiers to combat the coronavirus. Enditem
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