Portugal's health system on brink of collapse as COVID-19 cases surge

FILE PHOTO: People walk by Rossio square on the first day of the second national lockdown due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Lisbon, Portugal, January 15, 2021. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's public health system is on the verge of collapsing as hospitals in the areas worst-affected by a worrying surge in coronavirus cases are quickly running out of intensive care beds to treat COVID-19 patients.

"Our health system is under a situation of extreme pressure," Health Minister Marta Temido told reporters on Sunday afternoon after a visit to a struggling hospital. "There is a limit and we are very close to it."