The Portuguese government intends to declare a health emergency enabling stricter curbs to be imposed in the fight against a surge in coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said Monday.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa attends a memorial ceremony for the Covid-19 victims at Belem palace in Lisbon on November 2, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

"We propose that an emergency be declared for preventive purposes, to avoid legal uncertainties," he said after announcing at the weekend a partial lockdown to take effect from Wednesday.

Measures already in place in parts of northern Portugal will be expanded from Wednesday to cover 7.1 million people, or 70 percent of the population.