TORONTO — Portugal is the latest to step up with insurance coverage for people who may be hesitant to book travel because of COVID-19.

Portugal Travel Insurance is available through RNA Assistance Insurance, at portugaltravelinsurance.com.

Coverage extends to the entire country and includes medical, surgical, pharmaceutical and hospital expenses associated with COVID-19, as well as expenses due to cancellation, interruption, or extension of travel due to the pandemic.

The country’s tourism board, Visit Portugal, says it is supporting the insurance initiative for international visitors, adding that it complements other recent programs including the Clean & Safe seal and the renewal of the Portugal Health Passport, which covers COVID-19 tests for visitors.

Canadians can travel to Portugal without restrictions, and only need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test (taken within 72 hours of arrival) if they’re heading to Madeira or the Azores.

Visitors can register for the Portugal Health Passport at no cost, through the Portugal Health Passport site.

Meanwhile by October 2020 TAP Air Portugal will be back in all nine of its North American gateway cities, including Toronto and Montreal as well as New York’s JFK and Newark, Boston, Miami, Washington DC, Chicago and San Francisco.

TAP’s ‘Book with Confidence’ promotion for new bookings through August offers a 15% discount on long-haul flights booked by Aug. 18, for travel through March 31, 2021.  The discount is available from all North American gateways via TAP’s website, flytap.com, using the promocode MULTI15. In addition, for all new bookings made through August, for travel through October, passengers can make a change at no cost, up to 21 days in advance, although any fare differences still apply.