Lisbon, Jan. 15, 2021 (Lusa) - The President of Portugal spoke on Friday morning with the King of Spain about the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union, the spread of the pandemic and about the low temperatures over the last week.

According to a note published on the President's website, the Portuguese and Spanish heads of state "spoke on the phone this morning" and Felipe VI "wanted to welcome the start of the Portuguese presidency" of the Council of the EU.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the King of Spain also took stock of "the situation regarding the pandemic" of the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, as well as "the situation resulting from the weather conditions, which are causing great difficulties in the neighbouring country, even causing major delays in the movement of goods to Portugal as well".

The communiqué adds that Felipe VI welcomed "the confirmation" that "there was o problem with the health" of the Portuguese President after all - though he was in isolation after a positive result to the presence of SARS-CoV-2, which in the meantime was countered with two consecutive negative results.

In Portugal there have been more than 517,000 coronavirus infections since the beginning of the pandemic and 8,384 people have died, according to the latest epidemiological bulletin from the health authority (DGS), released on Thursday.

In Spain, the latest data provided by the ministry of health show that more than 2,200,000 people have been infected since the pandemic began. More than 53,000 people have died.

The low temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula over the past week have caused snowfalls in several regions of Spain, particularly in Madrid, the capital, where the authorities have closed the airport and recommended that people stay at home.

AFE/ADB // ADB.

Lusa