COVID-19 IN ALENTEJO: BRIEF REMARKS ON LOW DENSITY TERRITORIES AND THEIR FUTURE

Since the beginning of the pandemic, in the context of mainland Portugal, the Alentejo region has stood out since it has the lowest number of confirmed cases and deaths by Covid-19. Although there are other aspects to consider, the low population density that characterizes Alentejo will always be a key element in understanding the evolution of the pandemic. Taking this eminently geographical phenomenon as a pretext, this article, which unfolds in three moments, begins by carrying out a reflection on the low-density territories in mainland Portugal, and then rehearsing an approximation to the way in which Covid-19 has manifested itself in the Alentejo region and, finally, address the issue of the future development of low-density territories, taking into account the potential they contain.