Portugal will suspend all flights to and from Brazil until the middle of February due to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation locally and abroad and new variants of the coronavirus detected elsewhere, according to the Ministry of Interior.

The ban takes effect on January 29, a statement from the ministry said adding that only humanitarian and repatriation flights will be allowed to operate.

Travellers on such flights will be required to provide proof of a COVID-19 test taken 72 hours before boarding and they will have to quarantine for 14 days after arrival in Portugal.

On Wednesday, Portugal reported an additional 293 COVID-19-related deaths, the highest daily number since the start of the pandemic, bringing the total number of fatalities to 11,305.

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) also reported a further 15,073 new infections pushing the total to 668,951 cases since March last year.

Portugal is going through its worst moment since the beginning of the pandemic, under a general confinement decreed by a state of emergency until January 30.

The government, presidency of the republic and parliament are already discussing the extension of the maximum level of civil protection alert for another 15 days.

(With input from agencies)