LISBON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced on Friday that he will propose to parliament the extension of the state of emergency until May 1 in the country.
He said it is time to be "very focused on a fight that is not yet fully won."
The head of state made it clear that he was "convinced" about this decision, and that Portugal was just moving towards a "second phase" of the fight against the novel coronavirus.
Rebelo de Sousa emphasized in his statement that it was necessary and important for the Portuguese people to make the effort to remain in social isolation during the Easter holidays.
"We cannot -- at this decisive moment -- let our guard down," he said.
The president said he will still consult the government on the proposal to renew the state of emergency, which will have to be voted on in parliament next Thursday.
The first period of the state of emergency was declared on March 18, and was renewed on April 2 until April 17.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said that removing the state of emergency would give "a wrong signal to the country," stressing that the restrictions on people's movement during the Easter holidays "are going to be extremely important."
Portugal on Friday reported 1,516 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the highest day-to-day increase to date, bringing the total from 13,956 to 15,472, according to health authorities.
Portugal also registered 435 deaths associated with COVID-19, 26 more than on Thursday, according to the daily bulletin released by the Directorate-General for Health.
