How Portugal’s fast response kept coronavirus in check

Health minister tells Graham Keeley country prepared for ‘worst-case scenario’

A woman undergoes Covid-19 screening tests in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal (EPA)

As the world struggles with the worst public health crisis in a century, Portugal has now been hailed internationally as one of the few success stories, especially compared to Spain.

Crucially, the minority socialist government took the decisive action to impose a lockdown in mid-March when there were only 112 confirmed cases and no fatalities.

Spain meanwhile only imposed a state of emergency when it had more than 5,000 cases and 133 deaths.