LISBON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced on Friday the renewal of the "state of emergency" in the country until Dec. 8 to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I have just decreed the renewal of the state of emergency. The later measures are taken, the less effective they will be," said the president in a televised speech.

"Despite the slowdown in the growth of cases, the number of deaths, intensive care (patients), inpatients in general is increasing and may reach maximum values between the end of November and the beginning of December," he explained.

The president also warned of a possible third wave of COVID-19, saying, "A third wave is likely to occur between January and February, that will be even worse than we had now."

The renewal of the state of emergency for another 15 days was approved by the Portuguese Parliament on Friday, requiring compulsory confinement or active surveillance of people infected, as well as the total or partial closure of establishments, services and companies.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, countries including France, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are racing to find a vaccine.

According to the website of the World Health Organization, as of Nov. 12, there were 212 COVID-19 candidate vaccines being developed worldwide, and 48 of them were in clinical trials. Enditem

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