Portuguese Parliament approves mandatory use of masks in busy outdoor areas

LISBON, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese Parliament approved on Friday a bill that imposes the mandatory use of a mask on the street and public spaces, as requested by the government as a measure to contain the rise in coronavirus cases.

Portugal registered on Thursday another 3,270 coronavirus infections, a record single-day increase since the beginning of the pandemic, bringing the country's total cases so far to 109,541. Thursday also saw 16 deaths from COVID-19 confirmed in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 2,245 since March, according to data from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).