Roundup: Portuguese hospitals under pressure, Italy braces for extra measures

Madrid Desk, Oct 18 (efe-epa).- Portuguese hospitals were feeling the pressure of rising coronavirus infections while Italy braced for extra restrictions on Sunday.

Elsewhere in Europe, a deteriorating contagion situation in Belgium has affected meetings of European Union leaders.

PORTUGAL

Intensive care units have a 67 percent occupancy rate in the country, according to health minister Diogo Serra Lopes.

Portugal’s ICUs, which have a capacity of 569 beds, had a total of 148 Covid patients registered with the majority in the Porto and Lisbon regions, which have the highest infection rates.

Serra Lopes said the pressure on the health service could be reduced as the country has the capacity to increase the number of beds to 944 if needed.

Authorities reported 2,153 cases and 13 deaths on Saturday, bringing the national totals to more than 37,900 and 2,160 respectively.

ITALY

Italy was preparing for new restrictions amid rising infections with almost 11,000 daily cases reported on Saturday, a record high for the country.

Authorities were expected to announce new measures on Sunday to help stem the contagion.