The Portuguese government has been banning crossing the border with neighboring Spain since Friday. The measure will initially apply for two weeks. Interior Minister Eduardo Cabrita stated that crossing the border in both directions is only allowed in exceptional cases.

The background to the border closure is the current pandemic situation in Portugal. According to official information, the British mutation of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly. This variant is said to already account for around half of the new infections in the Lisbon region.

Various states have already imposed flight and / or entry bans. Germany is also examining this, a decision is expected on Friday. Portugal itself has been banning it for a few days air traffic with Brazil.