Portugal president extends state of emergency

Portugal's president announced late on Thursday that the country will be entering another two weeks of state of emergency in its fight against the new coronavirus.

It will "continue to be a radical change in our lives," said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, "but what matters is to know that this change is worth tens of thousands of lives saved."

The televised statement came after both the government and parliament gave their seal of approval to the two-week extension.

Temporary legal changes have already given authorities enhanced powers to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus and allow for a declaration of a lockdown.

The new measures will allow authorities to order nursing home staff to work and order the elderly into hotels for their safety.

Officials will be allowed to release some prisoners, while others may receive pardons.

There are government fears that people will be reluctant to stay at home during the approaching Easter weekend.

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

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

Portugal has officially recorded 9,034 cases of COVID-19 and 209 deaths.

The state of emergency now runs through April 17.