Indian Variant of Coronavirus Behind Spike of Cases in Portugal

A doctor takes care of a Covid-19 patient in the intensive care unit at the University Hos
INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images

LISBON, Portugal — Portuguese authorities have confirmed suspicions that the new delta variant of the coronavirus is driving a spike in new cases in the Lisbon region.

Portugal’s National Health Institute said Sunday that the highly infectious variant that was first found in India has a prevalence of 60% of new cases in the nation’s capital.

The recent surge in infections caused authorities last week to ban all travel in and out of Lisbon on the weekends. The measure went into effect on Friday. The Lisbon metropolitan area has around 2.8 million inhabitants.

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