Beginning April 1, until further notice, there will be no more direct flights between the United States and Portugal, as part of the effort to fight the spread of the COVID19 pandemic.
US citizens who are considering returning to the United States, and those in the United States who wish to return to Portugal, are advised to make alternative travel arrangements while connecting flights are still available.
Accordingly, TAP Air Portugal has informed on Monday that fights to and from the United States were suspended, effective from April 1 until May 4 or further notice. TAP operated flights from Miami-Lisbon, Boston-Lisbon, and Newark-Lisbon. For more information regarding flight cancellations consult flytap.com.
Effective April 1 through May 4, TAP will operate 2 weekly flights between Lisbon and Ponta Delgada and 1 weekly flight between Lisbon and Terceira in the Azores. In addition, TAP will operate 2 weekly flights between Lisbon and Funchal, Madeira.
TAP has also announced it is laying off 9,000 workers (90%) and is applying a 35% reduction in the salary of management.
From April 1 to at least May 4, TAP will only repatriate citizens, transport medical supplies and operate flights to the Azores and Madeira. All other flights will be suspended.
Portugal had suspended flights to and from Italy in early March and closed the borders to non essential travel with Spain. Additional fights to and from outside countries were suspended on 19 March, with the exception of Canada, the United States, Venezuela, South Africa, and Brazil
Update: Portugal and the Islands
As for Tuesday, March 31, there were a total 160 fatalities in Portugal victims of COVID19, with 7,443 cases of infection confirmed.
Of those infected, 627 people were hospitalized with 188 in intensive care. The number of recovered cases remained at 43. There were 4,610 people awaiting test results.
The North region recorded the highest number of fatalities (83), followed by the Central region (40) and Lisbon and the Tagus Valley (35). There were two fatalities in the Algarve.
The North also registered the highest number of infections (4,452 cases), followed by Lisbon and the Tagus Valley (1,799), Centro region (911), Algarve (137), Alentejo (50).
The areas with the most confirmed cases were Lisbon (505), Porto (462), Vila Nova de Gaia (338), Gondomar (298) and Maia (293).
Most fatalities were among older patients, with 97 of the fatalities being over 80 years old; 38 between the ages of 70 and 79; 17 between the ages of 60 and 69; 6 between the ages of 50 and 59; and two between 40 and 49 years old.
Among those infected with COVID19, there are 853 health professionals, including 209 doctors and 177 nurses.
The Azores reported 48 infected, with cases reported on São Miguel (18), Terceira (9), São Jorge (7), Pico (9) and Faial (5).
Madeira reported a total of 46 cases of COVID19 infections and has limited the number of people allowed to enter its islands to 100 per week with a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The total population of Portugal is estimated at 10,196,709 (2020)
Worldwide on Tuesday, March 31, the COVID19 pandemic had killed 42,043, with 854,000 cases diagnosed in 185 countries and territories. At least 176,908 thousand people were cured so far. In the USA, 186,633 cases were reported, 6,913 had recovered and 3,833 had died. President Trump warned the country to be prepared to lose 100,000 to 240,000 lives to COVID19.
PAJ.Staff
