Portugal minister says UK COVID-19 variant spreading rapidly across country

FILE PHOTO: Healthcare workers wear personal protective equipment in Santa Maria Hospital Intermediate care unit, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Lisbon, Portugal, January 18, 2021. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

LISBON (Reuters) - The more contagious variant of the coronavirus discovered in Britain is spreading rapidly across Portugal, pressuring the health service at a time when authorities are scrambling to tackle the country's worst outbreak since the pandemic's start.

Around 20% of new COVID-19 cases being reported are of the more transmissible variant, Health Minister Marta Temido told broadcaster RTP late on Wednesday, warning that number could reach 60% as early as next week.