Coronavirus cases in Portugal have jumped by 2,362 in the past 24 hours, the biggest increase since mid-February, official data showed, as authorities continued to scramble to stop the spread of the more contagious Delta variant.

Portugal, population 10 million, faced its toughest battle against the coronavirus in January but a recent surge in cases brought daily numbers to levels last seen in February, when the country was under a strict lockdown.

Portuguese health authorities have blamed the rise in cases on the Delta variant, first identified in India. It accounts for more than half of cases in the country, which has the European Union's second highest seven-day rolling average of cases per capita.