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Coronavirus case fatality rate in China, Italy, Spain, USA and Argentina 0:47
(CNN) - Portugal has temporarily granted full citizenship rights to all migrants and asylum seekers, giving them full access to health care as the outbreak of the new coronavirus intensifies in the country.
The measure "will unequivocally guarantee the rights of all foreign citizens" with pending applications with Portuguese immigration, which means that they are "in a situation of regular stay in the national territory", until June 30, the Council of Portuguese ministers.
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Plaza do Comercio in Lisbon on March 19, 2020. Until March 31, Portugal registered at least 6,400 cases of coronavirus and 140 deaths. (Credit: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images)
The Portuguese Council of Ministers explained that the decision was made to "reduce public health risks" to maintain the current appointment schedule at the immigration office, both for border agents and for immigrants and asylum seekers.
Portugal declared a state of emergency on March 18 that came into effect at midnight on that day and was to last 15 days. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said during a press conference that "democracy will not be suspended."
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The country was a dictatorship for decades, with the restoration of democracy in 1974.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa described the covid-19 pandemic as "a real war", which would bring real challenges to the "way of life and economy of the country".
Rebelo de Sousa also praised the behavior of Portuguese citizens, "who have been exemplary in imposing a self-quarantine," reflecting "a country that has lived through everything."
Portugal has 6,408 coronavirus cases, with 140 deaths and 43 recovered, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
coronavirus