Portuguese companies suffer massive blow from coronavirus outbreak

Published April 14, 2020
A woman carrying her shopping and wearing a face mask as protection against the new coronavirus leaves a supermarket in Lisbon, Tuesday, April 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) — Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
A woman carrying her shopping and wearing a face mask as protection against the new coronavirus leaves a supermarket in Lisbon, Tuesday, April 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) — Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

Around 80 per cent of Portuguese companies still operating or temporarily shut due to the coronavirus outbreak reported a sharp drop in their revenues, at times exceeding 75pc, as authorities tightened lockdowns, a survey showed on Tuesday.

Around 78pc of businesses blamed the revenue free-fall on restrictions implemented by Portugal's Socialist government as part of a state of emergency to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The emergency was initially declared on March 18 but is set to be extended until May 1.

A woman carrying her shopping and wearing a face mask as protection against the new coronavirus leaves a supermarket in Lisbon, Portugal on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. — AP
A woman carrying her shopping and wearing a face mask as protection against the new coronavirus leaves a supermarket in Lisbon, Portugal on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. — AP

Opinion

Editorial

Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....
Battling hate
Updated 15 Mar, 2026

Battling hate

In the current scenario, geopolitical conflict, racial prejudice and religious bigotry all contribute to the threats Muslims face.
TB drugs shortage
15 Mar, 2026

TB drugs shortage

‘CRIMINAL negligence’ is the phrase that jumps to mind when one considers the disturbing consequences of the...
Chinese diplomacy
Updated 14 Mar, 2026

Chinese diplomacy

THERE are signs that China is taking a more active role in trying to resolve the issue of cross-border terrorism...