Portugal eases coronavirus clamps including night curfew

Portugal on Thursday announced a three-stage plan to lift coronavirus restrictions, including scrapping a night-time curfew, as the country's vaccination rollout speeds up, helping to bring a recent surge in infections under control, Reuters reports.

From Sunday, the 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew will no longer be in force and restrictions on the opening hours of restaurants and shops will also be lifted, Prime Minister Antonio Costa told a news conference.

Fans can return to sporting events under certain conditions, which have yet to be clarified, and although working remotely is still recommended, it will no longer be compulsory.

"Vaccination has contributed very significantly to (allowing) these measures... but we cannot ignore the fact that... the virus continues to circulate.... the pandemic has not disappeared," Costa said.

A new wave of infections spread in Portugal earlier this month, returning to February levels when the country was under a strict lockdown to tackle what was then the world's worst coronavirus surge.

But daily deaths and hospitalizations remain well below February levels, with new infections primarily reported among younger, unvaccinated people who are less likely to fall seriously ill.

More restrictions will be slowly lifted over the next few months as more and more people get their coronavirus jabs. Around half of the population is now fully vaccinated and all those aged 18 or over can now book appointments.