LISBON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Minister for Internal Administration Eduardo Cabrita announced on Monday the reintroduction of land border controls with neighboring Spain in an attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported.
The announcement came one day after the Portuguese prime minister held a video conference with his Spanish counterpart.
Cabrita said that Portugal will keep its borders with Spain open for traffic that is strictly necessary, such as the circulation of essential goods, adding that checks control will be performed "in conjunction with the Spanish authorities."
"There will be nine land border crossing points. (We are) establishing mechanisms that limit passage exclusively to merchandise and to workers who have to travel to the other side of the border for work reasons," said the minister, quoted by Noticias ao Minuto.
However, the reintroduction of checks along the border with Spain will not call into question the right of entry of returning Portuguese nationals, nor the right of foreign citizens to return to their countries of origin, the minister added.
"The economy must continue to function, so it is essential to maintain the transport of goods and the circulation of food products within the European Union," he said.
As of Monday, there were 331 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Portugal, with 86 new cases registered in the past 24 hours.
