Portugal extends suspension of flights from Great Britain and Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Portugal on Monday (March 29) extended a suspension of flights to and from Britain and Brazil until April 15, with only humanitarian and repatriation flights allowed, the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Administration said in a statement.

The country, which has so far reported 16,837 deaths and 820,407 cases of Covid-19, suspended flights to and from Brazil and the UK in January to prevent the spread of the coronavirus’s variants.

Initially discovered in Britain, the new variant was partly responsible for a devastating increase in the number of cases in early 2021, putting hospitals under severe strain. The situation has improved dramatically since then.

Passengers allowed to return to Portugal from Britain or Brazil and South Africa must present a negative test performed no more than 72 hours before departure and quarantine for 14 days.

A plan is now in place to gradually ease a national blockade imposed on January 15 to tackle what was then the world’s worst covid-19 outbreak, but officials said they would take a step back if necessary.

Source: Agencia Brasil