Masks delivered to self-isolating people in Lisbon

Hundreds of face masks have been delivered to some of the most vulnerable people in a community in the Portuguese capital to help protect them as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The historic Mouraria district in Lisbon, where the traditional fado music was born, is home to hundreds of people, many of them within the most vulnerable group with regard to COVID-19.

With that in mind, the parish council of Santa Maria Maior decided to begin a door-to-door delivery of masks, to help curb the spread of the new virus.

With Saint George Castle high up on the hill looking down, council workers walk hours a day on a mission to deliver the reusable masks to every single resident that needs one.

On the first week of the initiative they have been flooded with requests and have already delivered 800 masks door-to-door.

Portugal has been under state of emergency for more than a month.

The country has so far reported  22,797 virus cases and 854 deaths, according to a running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.