Portugal's COVID-19 nightmare eases but end of lockdown still out of sight

A healthcare worker looks at his phone at Sao Jose Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 19, 2021. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

While the number of COVID-19 cases in Portugal is falling, the the far slower decline in hospitalisations and intensive care patients has left Lisbon residents resigned to the nationwide lockdown lasting for many more weeks.

"I'm a bit optimistic but we cannot think everything is fine," said Ana Maria, 76, as she walked around a Lisbon neighbourhood. "People must continue to be careful. The lockdown should continue for a bit longer so that we can get rid of this once and for all."

A COVID-19 patient lies at Sao Jose Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 19, 2021. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

Portugal, a nation of just over 10 million people, faced its toughest battle against the coronavirus pandemic last month. For weeks it had the world's worst surge.

The nightmare has eased with the lockdown, with daily case and death tolls falling rapidly to just 63 deaths and 1,032 new cases on Tuesday - levels last seen in October when businesses were still open.

But the number of people in hospital remains around double the level authorities say must be reached to alleviate measures. A lockdown put in place on Jan. 15, shutting non-essential services and schools, is expected to last until at least the end of March.

A healthcare worker writes in the hallway of Sao Jose Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 19, 2021. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

"It is going well but the lockdown isn't going to end for now," Antonio Formiga, 58, said as he stood outside the bakery where he works. "We thought it would even if at a slower pace. We really need it (to end) because the business is reaching its limit."

Health experts warned that lifting the lockdown too soon could lead to a rise in cases caused by the variant initially discovered in Britain, currently responsible for almost half of the country's cases.

Another surge would be catastrophic for a fragile health system.

Healthcare workers walk at Sao Jose Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 19, 2021. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

Germany sent on Tuesday a replacement team of military doctors and nurses to take over from the first deployment sent three weeks ago to prop up Lisbon's underresourced hospitals.

"The costs of this endeavour are high but when it comes to European solidarity that's unimportant," German Ambassador Martin Ney said at the military base.

Portugal's total number of infections is 799,106, and the total death toll stands at 16,086 people.

FILE PHOTO: A person walks near Cais do Sodre during the national lockdown, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Lisbon, Portugal, January 23, 2021. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

(Reporting by Catarina Demony and Miguel Pereira, Additional reporting by Patricia Vicente Rua, Editing by Victoria Waldersee and Angus MacSwan)